You might imagine, seeing that the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are both essentially PC’s that porting games between them would be easy. You’d be wrong – according to Bethesda, cross platform development between the PS4 and Xbox One is a bit of a nightmare.
While the company is finding the transition to the new consoles easy, they admit they’re struggling with cross platform development.
"It’s really not easy, but it’s certainly much easier," Bethesda’s Pete Hines said. "I’m not trying to insult Sony or Microsoft, but they’re high-end PCs, the way they’re architectured. Though they’re still in development, they’re not done, they’re much easier to develop for."
Unless you’re working on both of them at the same time, that is.
"They don’t all play with each other. PC and Mac play together, but Xbox One is its own thing and PS4 is its own thing. The whole cross-platform thing is just a nightmare."
Of course, the reality is that they’re different machines; the PS4 has that GDDR5, while the XBOX One has ESRAM to help move data along at high speed so of course it’s going to be tricky to do cross-platform development . It’s much funnier to just point and laugh at Bethesda though, who have a bit of history of having one version of their games being a shoddy port.
The Elder Scrolls Online is coming to PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 next year. One version will probably be not quite as good as the others.
Last Updated: July 9, 2013
TiMsTeR1033
July 9, 2013 at 09:08
thats right Xbox one you suck it! your version will suck donkey balls coz of its shittyass Ram and Ps4 will look beautiful and run at a smooth 60fps and be amazing.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
July 9, 2013 at 09:11
Ok easy there sparky. Lol.
DarthofZA
July 9, 2013 at 09:28
Why does he have an upvote and not a legion of downvotes? You get downvoted to hell and back for saying “Knack looks stupid” just because its a PS4 exclusive and the legions of retarded PS fanboys can’t handle it, but make a statement as stupid as this and no downvotes?
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
July 9, 2013 at 09:34
Because he’s quite obviously mental – and it’s best to rather just step away. 😉
RinceWind
July 9, 2013 at 09:37
HAHAHAH! Agreed, we don’t kick injured animals 😛
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
July 9, 2013 at 09:41
XD
DarthofZA
July 9, 2013 at 09:53
The world makes a bit more sense now 😛
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
July 9, 2013 at 09:35
How dare you say Knack looks stupid….it looks absolutely retarded
Mark Treloar
July 9, 2013 at 10:32
Stop making fun of retarded people, they were born that way and cant help it. Knack on the other hand….well that takes a special kind of devolution to create.
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
July 9, 2013 at 10:51
No one is making fun of retarded people though
TiMsTeR1033
July 9, 2013 at 10:53
this is though
Argentil
July 9, 2013 at 10:50
As someone who still wants to play this game for it’s cute, casual appeal, what does this make me? :/
I still think the game will be worth playing through. If I do end up holding out on my PS4 purchase until next year, I will pick up a copy for cheap. There’s something inexplicably appealing about it – and I’m fully aware that it could be the urge to play a good old mascot platformer. I’ll wait for the final reviews before I condemn the game, because I’m being optimistic.
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
July 9, 2013 at 10:53
It makes you human lol, now I feel bad 🙁
Argentil
July 9, 2013 at 10:54
Not my intention. I realise I’m the minority, and it makes me feel sorry for the underdog (Knack), so I’m just putting my voice out there 😛
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
July 9, 2013 at 11:05
I wana like Knack too bad , it looks a bit … yeah well you know what the general feelings are about that game. Hope it’s good
TiMsTeR1033
July 9, 2013 at 10:37
Dude As i have said in the past I have lost all respect for Ms and xbox one, they change their minds to pretend to care, offer a console which has lower specs than ps4 and costs more, they say they gonna rely on the cloud for future titles, meaning if your internet connection aint up to speed no game for you. I’ll be honest Knack doesnt look the best. Its not bad but not great. I will admit at E3 the xbox one games looked cool. But I’m sorry I am not a sony fan boy just a converted 360 owner who has seen how much Ms really cares about the gamers lets not forget the #DEALWITH IT. I mean seriously Sony exclusives even today are still many reasons why so many love Ps. Gt, God of war, Last of us, Little big Planet, Metal gear solid (4 at least) unchartered, Killzone, Infamous and so many more.
DarthofZA
July 9, 2013 at 10:43
That doesn’t make you not a Sony fanboy. This makes you a Sony fanboy that was a 360 owner. The PS4 is also my console of choice at the moment. It is winning that race by quite a bit. But I don’t put out comments like yours. My attitude is still very open to the XBOne. You don’t have to be an extreme fanboy on one side of the fence, even if you’re only planning on getting one.
Argentil
July 9, 2013 at 10:44
I would say it doesn’t make him a Sony fanboy at all actually. If anything it makes him anti-MS. There’s a big difference there.
RinceWind
July 9, 2013 at 10:50
What you said. I love how if you are angry with one console it automatically makes you a fanboy of another. I am bloody angry with MS at the moment. Doesn’t make me a Sonyfanboy.
DarthofZA
July 9, 2013 at 11:34
I agree with you, a lot of people are super Anti-Xbox fanboys, no so much Sony fanboys. Never really thought of it that way. Its just most of the time when I pick on Sony for their faults and stupid decision they have been making, I get attacked from all angles from these anti-Xbox fanboys. I have been more disappointed with both MS and Sony this coming generation.
Argentil
July 9, 2013 at 11:42
I think it’s because there’s a lingering intent of playing down Microsoft’s faults in the process. That would probably push buttons and cause people to get overly unfriendly.
Sony’s mistakes in the last 5 years are a grain of sand apiece in Microsoft’s vast desert of poor decisions. You can’t fault people for keeping a grudge, they have a right to hold Microsoft to earning their goodwill again. The hostility can only push Microsoft to better themselves and refocus their campaign, which is sorely needed at the moment.
TiMsTeR1033
July 9, 2013 at 10:51
*sigh* dude you say I’m a fanboy when your buying a Ps4, look I hope Ms fixes their issues but I dont see that happening in this next gen race maybe xbox two they will see what they did in the past and make it better, who knows maybe Nintendo will rise from the ashes make a new console in the future that kicks the ps4 and the xbox ones teeth in. Im anti Ms for a reason Windows 8 sucks balls and xbox one DRM was the way ms wanted to play until they saw just how bad that sat with people. I mean look at old Don Matrick he left, you know why Steve Ballmer He is the reason why Ms is slowly killing themselves he needs the boot. If he left and they handed it over to someone like bill gates then you will see me Whistle a different tune with Ms but mark my words Ms dont give a crap about gamers right now and they cared more about tv, which will later screw them over…. When it happens dont let me say I told you so.
Sageville
July 9, 2013 at 13:40
“legions of retarded PS fanboys”.
Indeed, when insulting people it’s always best to group them all together by some arbitrary classification, you know such as race or if they disagree with your opinion, stuff like that. Then you don’t have to spend your time insulting each person individually. Thats smart bigotry right there.
RinceWind
July 9, 2013 at 09:36
Hands calm pills. “I’d suggest the blue one” 🙂
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
July 9, 2013 at 09:11
Well that sucks a bit. Would have thought it would be rather easy. There goes that hope of proper ports 🙁
Xelus
July 9, 2013 at 10:19
I’m fairly tired of seeing game ports from developers just because they were to lazy to create a proper game on another platform, and then still expecting one to pay through your nostrils for it. I say, death to ports, do a proper job for another platform or leave it.
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
July 9, 2013 at 09:12
God….Lemme not mention PS3 version of Skyrim …. oh wait I mentioned it 🙁
TiMsTeR1033
July 9, 2013 at 09:13
YOU SEE. my point exactly
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
July 9, 2013 at 09:13
By the way Geoff, brilliant header!
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
July 9, 2013 at 09:13
Was just about to say that!
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
July 9, 2013 at 10:19
Yaaaaay
Slade Boender
July 9, 2013 at 09:23
Wait a sec, xbones on ES now? Man I need to be on the internet more, I thought it was just regular old DDR3, oh well.
Cant blame the guys at Bethseda, even porting from Mac to Pc (or vice versa) is a mission and a half. Considering both platforms (xbone and PS4) were designed only using PC components has no relevance to how they are actually laid out on the PCB and which chipset controllers are used, bus layouts etc etc. Amongst a whole host of other factors, not even including the OS. The dudes point about the tech also still being in late development stages also must be somewhat of a nightmare to deal with. Lets hope the lads get is right.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
July 9, 2013 at 09:26
Xbone is DDR3 – but there’s a section of ESRAM to help with transfer.
TiMsTeR1033
July 9, 2013 at 09:43
Frankly the xboxone version could be utter crap I wouldnt care, just hope for the ps4 and pc gamers they get a glitch free experience
DarthofZA
July 9, 2013 at 09:55
Frankly, I hope the PS4 and PC and XBOne versions are all awesome. If their history is anything to go by, Bethesda have a great relationship with MS and that will be their primary version, and end up being the best overall. But I seriously hope the PS4 version doesn’t get shafted or just handed off to an outsourced studio like they have done in the past. Gamers everywhere deserve great versions.
Admiral Chief Groot Wors
July 9, 2013 at 10:06
Amen dude
TiMsTeR1033
July 9, 2013 at 10:31
Yeah I get what your saying, but I have lost all respect for ms pulling this crap on us. I have a 360 @ home and I enjoyed many games on it, but now the whole console underpowered, DRM then no DRM then replying on the cloud talk. plus ps plus has sooo many games to get for free while what my xbox live gold 1 year membership allows me to get joy ride turbo this month while ps plus members get demon souls and sleeping dogs. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth for Ms xbone.
Slade Boender
July 9, 2013 at 10:28
Bethseda? Glitch free? Man, if that ever happens Im pretty certain it would start the apocalypse.
TiMsTeR1033
July 9, 2013 at 10:31
I know but one can dream cant they! lol
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
July 9, 2013 at 10:08
Neither does the PC have oodles of GDDR RAM lying around. Sony will have to throw in extra cash at devs to make their version superior to the other two.
DarthofZA
July 9, 2013 at 10:23
This is sad but true. At least for the start of generation, I don’t see the PS4’s RAM being taken advantage of by multi-plat devs.
Argentil
July 9, 2013 at 11:03
On an unrelated note: Grats on 3,5 Million copies sold Naughty Dog. TLoU is now the PS3’s fastest selling title.
Argentil
July 9, 2013 at 10:32
Bethesda are terrible developers. If a game like FFXIV can run on PC, PS3 and PS4 OR Phantasy Star can run on PSVita and PC, what is his argument? They’re damn lucky they tell decent stories, and pull off vast environments, because as developers they are really weak. They can’t even develop a stable game on their primary platform, let alone cross platform.
And by ‘run’ I mean share servers and play together without bugs and crashes.
Paul Fouche
July 9, 2013 at 11:09
ever played FFXIV on pc then play on ps3? its horrid half the textures are missing and the fps rate is just shocking! especially when turning your character LOL loading times are horrid , so i believe bethesda CAN do it but rather would not due to loss of quality . just my 5 cents
Argentil
July 9, 2013 at 11:13
Are you serious? Of course I’ve played on PS3 and it was great. I have a mid-high end pc that runs the game beautifully, but the PS3 version is responsive and probably runs at about the mid-range level of graphical detail. What would you expect from a 7 year old console? Regardless, the game looks good on PS3, but only pales when compared to the PC version. Dat lighting engine. As for loading times, I played 2 different characters with friends (on PC) and never noticed I was loading slower than they were. The biggest issue with the PS3 version, is targeting, but the game supports mouse and keyboard anyway.
Paul Fouche
July 9, 2013 at 11:19
fair point the console is old , yeah the lighting and shadows O_O i wont lie . i dunno i prefer it when a game is on all platforms but to sacrifice performance or eye candy *nom nom* that sometimes grinds my gears anyway you have made valid points wont argue that
Argentil
July 9, 2013 at 11:26
Well, if the PS3 version doesn’t deliver the performance, the PC version is available. Having the option to play the game on the platform is really nice, and I will be purchasing the game if it is available on PSN. Otherwise I will wait for the PS4 version. Controller support lends itself to a completely different feel for the game. Lounging on my couch, stabbing things with a spear. I would never heal an instance with the controller though, as I said, the targeting takes a lot of getting used to.
On graphics alone, I would rate the game much higher than Dragon’s Dogma – and it’s an MMO.
PC/PS3 Video footage.