Games Thirst – Amazing Life
Pro Evolution Soccer used to lead the industry, it wasn’t always FIFA. In fact, the tables have seen quite the turn, as PES used to be in FIFA’s current spot. One of the main reasons for the switch in quality was PES’s first PS3 game, which came below the quality of its PS2 days, and a downward spiral ensued, with FIFA leapfrogging the brand.
So although it came as somewhat of a surprise that PES 2014 won’t be released on PS4 and Xbox One, we certainly understand the hesitation: “We’re kind of damned if we do and damned if we don’t,” PES team leader Jon Murphy told CVG in an interview on developing a next generation PES. “I think we’re in a slightly different position [to FIFA], because we’ve been criticised in the past about producing a ‘next gen’ version when we weren’t ready”.
He added:
We can’t get away with producing a version that isn’t absolutely shit-hot on next generation.
I think we want to be confident when we do bring something out and not in a position where people are criticising us for producing a sloppy, second rate port. We’re going to produce something that puts us back to where we should be in terms of quality.
Manorito Hosoda, a marketing executive at Konami revealed to CVG that part of the decision to skip PS4 and Xbox One with PES 2014 was the install base issue, as they’re not sure how fast it’ll grow, and if it’ll be worth the investment so soon.
“We’re not sure how quickly the uptake of the next generation will go,” Hosoda said.
“The fan base is with the current gen, and before moving on we want to make a good game with the new engine.”
PES 2014 will be released for Xbox 360, PS3, PC and PSP this autumn.
