Ubisoft: No New IPs Without a New Console Generation

[thethingthatlurks]

Apologies to those who are not fluent in German [http://www.gamestar.de/news/branche/2317506/ubisoft.html]
The article basically says that Ubisoft is not willing to risk the development of new triple A IPs on the current console generation, as that apparently poses too much of a financial risk. Given the mindblowing success of CoD6:MW2, I can certainly understand that. Essentially, we'll have Ass-Creed XXX before some amazing completely new game.
So for discussion, is it time for a new console generation? And if not, why not?

 

[SimuLord]

It's hard to believe the market can support the development and marketing costs for a new console generation with the economy the way it is. Companies are finally starting to make back the costs from the last cycle and it's in Sony, MS, and Nintendo's best interest to draw out the length of these console generations as long as possible because all the profit's on the back end.

The arms race in the last decade damn near bankrupted Sony's and MS's game divisions. So we'll just have to get more crap from unimaginative morons like Ubisoft's marketing people. Or play PC games on Steam.

 

[Sebenko]

Ah well, with their DRM still in place, it's not like they'd make any new IPs worth playing.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

Ah well, with their DRM still in place, it's not like they'd make any new IPs worth playing.

*sigh* why did I know somebody would end up posting this? Not that you're wrong, but sadly predictable...

 

[Sebenko]

Ah well, with their DRM still in place, it's not like they'd make any new IPs worth playing.

*sigh* why did I know somebody would end up posting this? Not that you're wrong, but sadly predictable...

What's wrong with being predictable if I'm right?

I'm not just going to forget Ubisoft's godawful DRM.

 

[TPiddy]

The next cycle won't hit until at least 2014.... given 2 year release cycles on most franchises I would expect that games like Assassin's Creed will only be up to 3 or 4 by then.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

Ah well, with their DRM still in place, it's not like they'd make any new IPs worth playing.

*sigh* why did I know somebody would end up posting this? Not that you're wrong, but sadly predictable...

What's wrong with being predictable if I'm right?

I'm not just going to forget Ubisoft's godawful DRM.

Being predictable? Dunno, seems boring to me. But hey, at least you're not wrong

 

[kintaris]

No new IPs until 2014 means they might finally get around to releasing Beyond Good and Evil 2! But probably not.

Instead: AssCreed in Napoleonic France! AssCreed in Cold War Russia! AssCreed in Space! AssCreed vs. Dinosaurs!

Every media company loves a successful franchise with a time travel element.

 

[Scobie]

DELETED

 

[MisterShine]

I could have sworn I'd heard they were abandoning that. Which is good, because then I might get to play some of their games again.

For the next game it is being removed. Whether entirely or not from all future and current games.. we don't know. I'd make the assumption that depending on how well it sells/how much it is pirated, will be a major factor in that decision.

OT: I don't mind that much. As long as I get my Beyond Good and Evil sequel

 

[Chewster]

That's a shame, since their two best (Prince of Persia and Splinter Cell) have both gone rather stale. I guess we can wait for the conclusion to Assassin's Creed, the second of which was a vast improvement. Let us hope it keeps up.

And no, it is not time for a new generation of game consoles. What are you people made of, gold bars?

 

[Scobie]

DELETED

 

[Missing SHODAN]

Honestly, I'd say that the argument Ubisoft is making more justifies not ever making new IP. Making a triple A blockbuster for the PS3 or Xbox360 is much more expensive than it was for the PS2 or XBox, and I doubt that the next generation of consoles will magically get cheaper for developers - in fact, I'm almost certain the cost will only go up. New generations of hardware tend to require more assets which make them more expensive. That's pretty much how it's been since the 16-bit days and I doubt it's changing as companies and consumers push for better graphics.

I think it's just a weaksauce argument to justify cranking out sequels for now, since we're not seeing the PS4 or XBox 720 or whatever they'll call it anytime soon.

 

[Sebenko]

I could have sworn I'd heard they were abandoning that. Which is good, because then I might get to play some of their games again.

For the next game it is being removed. Whether entirely or not from all future and current games.. we don't know. I'd make the assumption that depending on how well it sells/how much it is pirated, will be a major factor in that decision.

OT: I don't mind that much. As long as I get my Beyond Good and Evil sequel

Oh, OK. I knew I'd heard something along those lines. Hopefully they will conclude that it's not worth it. I'm a PC gamer and I'm not going to buy anything with that crap on it.

I love your username and title, by the way. Thud was an awesome book.

The word is that it's only being removed from Ruse, and will still be making my purchasing decisions for the foreseeable future

 

[Booze Zombie]

The intellectual property of something is the weakest part of it, it's the energy and skill put into creation that makes a game truly shine or smoulder.
That's not to say you don't get stupid IPs or that the IP can't effect what a team can do, but it is to say that a talented team can turn a stupid IP into a whole lot of (profitable) fun.

 

[TPiddy]

The next cycle won't hit until at least 2014.... given 2 year release cycles on most franchises I would expect that games like Assassin's Creed will only be up to 3 or 4 by then.

Honestly, the PS3 came out in 2006, and with Sony claiming a 10yr span on the PS3, we won't see anything until 2016, and Microsoft will surely work on countering sony around then, so realistically we'd see a "AAA" title from Ubisoft around late 2016, early 2017 at the least. Though whether or not those would really be AAA is a good question, given that the developers would have to get used to a new kit to design with.

MS won't let it go on that long. It's not going to run 6 more years on its current platform given how far behind the system already is. In 2-3 years when more devs unlock the PS3's potential it'll look like an even better deal than it does now. MS will start to take an ass-kicking in sales. MS brings out a new console by 2014. Mark my words.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

The next cycle won't hit until at least 2014.... given 2 year release cycles on most franchises I would expect that games like Assassin's Creed will only be up to 3 or 4 by then.

Honestly, the PS3 came out in 2006, and with Sony claiming a 10yr span on the PS3, we won't see anything until 2016, and Microsoft will surely work on countering sony around then, so realistically we'd see a "AAA" title from Ubisoft around late 2016, early 2017 at the least. Though whether or not those would really be AAA is a good question, given that the developers would have to get used to a new kit to design with.

So we'll have something other than 'screed XXX (now taking place in the year 3000 under brutal Mole People rule), or Splinter Cell 65433.2 (Sam now being 78 years old and living in a retirement community) in six years? Sometimes I wish I could put myself in a coma...

 

[chinangel]

Apologies to those who are not fluent in German [http://www.gamestar.de/news/branche/2317506/ubisoft.html]
The article basically says that Ubisoft is not willing to risk the development of new triple A IPs on the current console generation, as that apparently poses too much of a financial risk. Given the mindblowing success of CoD6:MW2, I can certainly understand that. Essentially, we'll have Ass-Creed XXX before some amazing completely new game.
So for discussion, is it time for a new console generation? And if not, why not?

I am happy with what I have at the moment. Especially with this acta thing in place, I think we need to see how it pans out first. it will effect game designers too, so it may not be in their best interest to start looking at manufacturing a new game system