Crytek to PC Gamers: Don't Fear Next-Gen Consoles
Don't fear the next-generation console wave, as Crytek's free-to-play movement should keep things alive on the PC front.
Earlier this month at E3 2012, Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli told CVG that PC gamers shouldn't fear the next wave of consoles -- namely the Xbox 720 and the PlayStation 4 (Wii U is in a class all by itself). The platform will always be in the public's eyes despite the advancements in dedicated hardware. Sure, developers prefer the console sector because of piracy and stability issues, but that doesn't mean the PC platform will be neglected... at least, not if Crytek has anything to do with it.
"The only thing that will happen is that PC gaming is going to change and adopt different business models - and we are trying to change it ourselves with high quality, premium free-to-play titles," he said. "There is absolutely no reason why gamers shouldn't get triple-A games for free. Absolutely no reason. But we're going to bite the bullet and do it. Somebody has to lead the way."
But isn't producing a AAA free-to-play title just a little insane? After all, gamers aren't fronting any money while developers shell out up to $30 million in anticipation that these gamers may actually purchase items -- with no guarantee. Many newer developers may point out that it's just not possible without additional streams of revenue while others may argue over the definition of "AAA."
Still, as Yerli points out, if the free-to-play model works in the East, then surely it will work in the West.
"How can you justify 10-30 million in production going in to a game that people are going to play for free? There is no royalty calculation possible in traditional minds," he said. "What everybody needs to do is look at the Eastern world and how they make their royalty calculations and business plans, and literally bring that to the West, but apply the Western quality standards."
And that's exactly what Crytek did with Warface and the G-Face social platform.
"I went to Korea in 2006 and I was blown away by the way people play games - online, connection and social... that's their lifestyle. There are pro-gamers making more money that some sports guys," he said. "So in 2006 I saw the future. A future with crappy quality at that point, but with games that were creating revenues and business models that were astonishing."
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"So when I came back I said, 'I want that kind of business model in the Western world with the quality of a Crysis,'" he added.
Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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gorillagarrett Crytek: We don't want you're free to play crappy games, we want quality PC games.If you can't do that, then just disappear.Reply -
DroKing "Sure, developers prefer the console sector because of piracy" I am getting sick and tired of hearing this tired ass excuse. Piracy is EVERYWHERE its not exclusive to PC FFS. People make fake copies of real physical items and these dumb devs and publishers act like piracy is only rampant in PC world when its just the same for consoles and real life items. STUPID ASS PEOPLE.Reply -
fightingslu I don't fear consoles near so much as a feel crappy FTP games where you are extremely underpowered unless you pay $100+, if a company spends 10-30 million you are not going to get anywhere in the game for free.Reply -
aggroboy DroKing"Sure, developers prefer the console sector because of piracy" I am getting sick and tired of hearing this tired ass excuse. Piracy is EVERYWHERE its not exclusive to PC FFS. People make fake copies of real physical items and these dumb devs and publishers act like piracy is only rampant in PC world when its just the same for consoles and real life items. STUPID ASS PEOPLE.So... do you have any statistical data to back that up?Reply -
Just as free-to-play games are not all destined to be crappy, not all pay-to-play (subscription or one time cost) games are destined to be great. Personally, I'd like to see Crytek to raise the bar for free to play games and hope they can avoid a pay-to-win type service.Reply
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joafu "Sure, developers prefer the console sector because of piracy"Reply
People are pirating free games now? No wonder all my facebook friends aren't responding to my farmville requests, they've pirated it and are playing offline!
/stay irrelevant Crytek -
kcorp2003 LOL i don't fear consoles. I fear the new direction games are being made for the casual. i get it, everyone wants MORE MONEY! I play whatever I like. convince me and you have my money. if not i'll just pocket my money and whistle by it.Reply -
PuckerFactor I'm still amazed why Crytek (particularly Cevat Yerli) think they have a say in these matters. Their game engine is not licensed by many developers despite how good it looks. Those that have licensed it have not made an impression in the game industry (what does that say?) The Unreal Engine 4 now looks like it can deliver the same graphics as CryEngine, and deliver it to a hundred times more licensees on more platforms. Crytek and Cevat Yerli are irrelevent with their opinions.Reply