 | The Elder Scrolls Online Could Potentially Come To Consoles Written Wednesday, July 18, 2012 By Richard Walker View author's profile |
The Elder Scrolls Online is an MMO coming exclusively to PCs in 2013, but Zenimax Online studio head Matt Firor has told GamesIndustry.biz in so many words that a console version hasn't been ruled out. THe only thing holding a console version back is uncertainty surrounding the next-generation of consoles. "There are a lot of rumours swirling around the next-gen coming back together with PCs," Firor stated. "It seems like things are going back to a more standard platform. That being said, we haven't thought about it heavily right now. The worst thing you can do is worry about new platforms while in development." The studio is looking to expand The Elder Scrolls Online however and that plan could extend to console versions in the future. "We want to do what we're doing right now and then look around for further opportunities. Certainly we're open to new opportunities, and we're going to be looking into new territories beyond North America and Europe," said Firor. Were there to be a console version of The Elder Scrolls Online, it's possible that it could connect with the PC version a la Final Fantasy XI. "It's the classic desk vs. couch argument, but it is blurring over time. The current-gen and previous-gen MMOs were all about using the keyboard and mouse, and sure, everyone used things like Ventrilo and other voice chat services, but that only works in a small group. A lot of that has been thanks to design problems that people haven't focused on a lot, such as typing and controlling at the same time," Firor explained. "The 360, when announced was a pretty ridiculously cool device, but it is not so good anymore compared to PCs and even when it was announced PCs were still better than it," he added. "The technology was a little limiting for the size and scope of the world you could have. It mostly comes down to PCs being wide open. Online game development is all about doing whatever you want, pushing limitations, and it's just easier to do on an open platform. Someday, it may all change." [Via IGN | Thanks, Leland] | |
