PlayStation 3 version: Why Bother?

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

Final Fantasy XI was released for the PlayStation 2 first before other platforms, during the height of that console's popularity. The PS2 slim hadn't even been announced yet. And yet today, the PS2 version of Seekers of Adoulin will not be released in North America, and in general it is the PC version that seems to get the most support and attention from Square-Enix.

Now we have ARR on the horizon. 1.0, at least, was written for and graced the PC first. Meanwhile, all indications are the next PlayStation will be announced by the time ARR hits shelves; and there's certainly no guarantee that Sony's next console will play PS3 games.

With the cards already stacked against the PS3 version, and with the history of FFXI showing that support for console versions will get axed well before the PC version, why is Square-Enix bothering with releasing the PS3 version of the game at all at this point? And why should players make the commitment of buying the PS3 version when history shows they'll just have to move to the PC eventually anyway?

[Phe]

compare the price of a PC able to run FFXIV smoothly with the price of a PS3.

[Riastrad]

I believe the reason is very clear. Get the game out to as many people as possible. True the PS3 will eventually be dated and more than likely retired as an avenue to play the game. However, by that time the system specs required to run the game at a decent level may be a bit more feasible for some people. I say the more the merrier.

[ArkhamNative]

compare the price of a PC able to run FFXIV smoothly with the price of a PS3.

... and then double or triple it in single households where multiple gamers want to play.

Also, multi-platform games tend to sell many times more copies for consoles than the PC, even in the US.

[Pseudopsia]

PS3: "Units sold 70.2 million (as of September 30, 2012)"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3

That's a huge market, of course SE would want it released for the PS3. Sony will continue to support the PS3 for a long time to come.

Did you know sony just recently stopped production of the PS2?
http://www.newser.com/story/160422/s...s-the-ps2.html

[lolodin]

by the time ps3 is no longer the preferred way to play ffxiv for consoles the ps4 will be affordable.. <.<

[Andrien]

It is SE fault for not making a FFXI port for the PS3, not Sony. Sony didn't suddenly stop selling PS2 when the PS3 was released.

SE promised a PS3 version of FFXIV, and thankfully Yoshi-P is a genius because FFXIV ARR graphic engine is scalable, so a PS4 port will be easy.

[Warlock]

compare the price of a PC able to run FFXIV smoothly with the price of a PS3.

I have seen them go as low as 170$ ..that's like a good Graphic's card only lol ... good luck playing game with that XD

[Alhanelem]

they will most likely make sure that it works on the ps4 since it's on its way.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

by the time ps3 is no longer the preferred way to play ffxiv for consoles the ps4 will be affordable.. <.<

That might mean something if we could expect XIV to be ported to the next PlayStation. Meanwhile, there's no PS3 port for XI.

SE promised a PS3 version of FFXIV

It would certainly not be the first time that an announced game or port of a game was cancelled before its release.

they will most likely make sure that it works on the ps4 since it's on its way.

Latest speculation has the next PlayStation having pretty much nothing in common with the PS3, meaning it may not be backwards-compatible. And if S-E is really keen on writing new versions for completely different platforms, the Wii U is already out.