And so this story about The Elder Scrolls Legends and cross-play rumbles on. Last week, Bethesda bigwig Pete Hines said in an interview that the virtual card game may not come to PlayStation 4 if Sony doesn't allow cross-play. And now, speaking to Eurogamer, Hines reiterates that cross-play is "absolutely critical" to The Elder Scrolls Legends.
"Both cross-play, which is how Legends works right now on every device - you're playing against somebody who could be on any device - and, more importantly, cross-platform progression, which means no matter what you do on any platform, you load up the game and so long as you're logged in, here is all your progression, here is everything you had, everything you were doing," he explains.
Hines previously indicated that there isn't much room for negotiation here. If Sony, or any other console manufacturer, won't allow cross-play, then Bethesda won't launch the game on that platform. However, Hines goes on to say that Bethesda is "always" in conversation with Sony about cross-play.
"But in fairness not just with Sony - with everybody. We need everybody to be on board and understand - Nintendo, Microsoft - this is how we're proceeding. I don't want anybody to think I'm trying to single Sony out because I'm not," Hines clarifies.
So with all of that said, what would really happen if Sony didn't budge on its current cross-play stance? "I imagine the answer is fairly dire," Hines says. "But I don't want to jump to conclusions yet because there's a lot of space between 'yes' and 'no'. What if they so 'no' to this but 'yes' to this?"
Perhaps there is some potential middle ground, then, but it's going to be very interesting seeing just how far Bethesda is willing to push this. After all, we're not sure whether The Elder Scrolls Legends has ever received so much attention from the media.
[source eurogamer.net]
Comments 53
if they realy think that this would be a loss for sony,then they realy should think again.
it just doesn't have any appeal to impact sony in a bad way if they do decide to cancel it on ps4.
the fact that this is the most media coverage it had ever since it announcement speaks for itself.
let them keep it,we all know that they won't pull that stunt with their bigger games since they know sony is the 2nd biggest money maker for them after pc.
I like reading these cross play article comments here, and then going to Nintendo Life to do the same.
Personally, I think Sony will sit on their policy until a game so significant requires them to mix it up. If Fortnite isn't that game you have got to wonder if a card trading game is, even with the ES name on it.
"what would really happen if Sony didn't budge on its current cross-play stance?"
Absolutely nothing at all. It's a virtual card game. If Sony aren't going to budge for something like Fortnite, they aren't going to lose any sleep over this.
The only reason cross-play might be "essential" is that there could be hardly anyone playing on PS4. If Bethesda want to cut themselves off from the largest console market, it's their loss.
That being said, I personally never understood the appeal of this type of game. Actual, real, physical card games are tedious enough... why you'd want to play them virtually I've no idea.
As much as I kind of like the push about cross-play that Bethesda are making, realistically they need to get their own house in order before anything else and this is more about farming some positive PR for a change.. (see Bugthesda, No pre-release reviews and Evil Within 2 among others)
I like the companies software in general, but I dont really see a game like this being the "one" to change company policies (although i'd be happy to be proved wrong) , considering the likes of Rocket League and in a different way, Fortnight have not been able to do so themselves despite their current popularity.
I'm relaxed about crossplay on the whole, in some aspects it would be nice, in others, i'm not so sure, but it's good that the conversation has gathered pace nowadays, although with the current state of PS4 sales and user numbers, I can see why they dont feel the need to..
@kyleforrester87 Its like night and day isn't it
Pfff id Bethesta really wants to make their crossplay stance to hit they should not release FallOut 76 on ps4, instead of this free to play card game.
“There’s a lot of space between ‘yes’ and ‘no’”
Uh, I’m not very smart, but it would seem either game will be on PS4 or it won’t. Lol. Not sure what the middle ground is.
Sigh, this situation will be dire if the game in question is fallout 76, all this talk about a card game is just a waste of time. Sony won't budge for fortnite, one of the biggest game on the world, behestda think sony will budge on a friggin card game?
It's just a pr to cover news about behestda suing people that want to sell new ps4 games.
@Th3solution There are no shades of grey on the Internet, but in real life there are tons of compromises that could be made. Maybe they can come to some kind of resolution.
Being a niche game this needs the biggest available number of players. 7 people playing each other across PSN doesn’t make as much sense as having lots of people across other systems to play. May as well not have hassle setting it up on PS4 for people not to use it as they can play with more people on their tablet.
@get2sammyb I suppose the creative minds in charge will come up with something, because surely Bethesda has a lot to lose if they don’t compromise. However, I view a compromise on Sony’s part as the the beginning of a slippery slope toward the day they will jump in all the way with cross-play.
@wiiware actually even then there is people who are mixed about FO76
BUT there is something else for Fallout that people are excited for. Fallout: Miami.
@jdv95
How is PC a big money maker for them? They sell a fraction of copies of any of their titles on the PC compared to the consoles. Your statement literally made my brain hurt but the level of wrong that it was.
Never really like Pete Hines anyway but with every word coming out of his mouth is making me not want to buy any of Bethesda's games (could get them used so they don't get my money) but his company want to start treating PlayStation gamers with respect cos they really haven't since Skyrim came out on PS3.
Either way I didn't have any interest in getting this game. It would be lovely if Sony budged on their cross play policy, but I can't see this game being the one that changes their mind.
@steventonysmith because their main fan focus is still pc gaming.
the biggest bethesda fanbase is still pc (due to mods) closley followed by sony and then xbox.
switch is growing aswell ofcourse.
ofcourse console sales outnumber pc sales but when you look at it platform per platform pc is still the most popular platform for bethesda games.
and that's coming from someone who hates pc gaming.
@adf86 If you read what he's saying he's not exactly being unreasonable. They have a vision, and that vision requires cross play. They shouldn't compromise that vision because of Sony's policies. Equally Sony are entitled not to allow cross play and they have their obvious reasons for not doing so.
Bethesda don't always get it right but they are a brilliant developer and publisher over all.
" "But in fairness not just with Sony - with everybody. We need everybody to be on board and understand - Nintendo, Microsoft - this is how we're proceeding. I don't want anybody to think I'm trying to single Sony out because I'm not," Hines clarifies."
Yh because Bethesa has really cared about their relations with playstation and it's gamers in the past. 😪
@kyleforrester87 brilliant and having tons of bugs anytime they release a big game don't go hand in hand.
inovative and ambition would be the better word.
@jdv95 No noticeable bugs in Doom, Wolfenstein, Wolfenstein 2 and Evil Within 2.. Doom Eternal is looking pretty hot, too. As is Rage 2. Plus pretty solid Switch support. I know your comment is in relation to in-house games like Skyrim and Fallout, but despite this Bethesda are doing good work lately.
@kyleforrester87 that's because bethesda published those games not developed them.
fallout and TES on the other hand are and it shows.
@jdv95
You are wrong. Just to compare apples to apples here are the sales numbers for Skyrim when it came out all the way back in 2011.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim X360 8.88m
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim PS3 6.49m
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim PC 3.97m
So of these three platforms it sold the worst on PC, but yet you are standing there and saying that its most popular on the PC.
@jdv95 And that's why my comment said Bethesda are a brilliant developer and publisher.
Yeah I would struggle to call Bethesda a brilliant developer and publisher. With this, Evil within 2 pre owned controversy, the not sending out early review copies (which they have recently reversed), The overall debacle that was Skyrim saves on ps3. For someone who if I remember correctly slams ubisoft at any chance I fail to see how Bethesda are angels and Ubisoft are the devil.
@adf86 finally someone else thinking clearly. As a longtime playstation gamer i've never felt valued by Bethesda and thus don't care about supporting them.
Plus I find it funny how sony is always the bad guy with this sort of stuff seeing Bethesda are holding a game hostage from 80+ million potential fans over a luxury feature.
@bindiana My issue with Ubisoft is that I don't enjoy games like Watch Dogs, Assassins Creed, The Division. I do enjoy games like Doom and Evil Within 2. Actually I had a lot more fun with a broken version of Skyrim on PS3 than I had with any Ubisoft game ever.
I enjoy single player, open world and multiplayer experiences, but I've got more out of Bethesda's single player linear offerings recently than I have even from Sony's exclusives. They are, in my mind, the best third party developer and publisher right now.
@kyleforrester87 Thats fair enough you like there games but you seem to give them a pass on there shady dealings because you like there games. Not saying ubisoft are amazing but they seem to be doing a lot of good things recently stick with support for games and free dlc for Division 2 but still have a lot to improve on like the state Crew 2 released in.
@bindiana I'm not really looking at the business side of things too much, frankly I try not to. Sounds too much like work lol.
I can be pretty forgiving with "debacles" like Skyrim on PS3 and NMS on PS4, etc. and if a games good I'll give it a shot. That's why i'm pretty comfortable saying I don't enjoy a lot of Ubisoft games, I have actually spent money on them and given them a crack. If EA announced a Dead Space reboot tomorrow I'd be the first person to buy it, despite all the past BS from them.
In this case I can see both Sony and Bethesda have a point. Both sides should stick to their guns.
There are no good guys or bad guys here, only money.
@Kidfried Almost, there will always be the creative element too. Like I say, if Bethesda have a vision they have to follow that - balanced with the business side of things, of course. But I can't ever believe it is JUST about the money. The "good guy bad guy" thing is dumb though and something only people on video game websites (and in playgrounds) will tend to focus on.
@kyleforrester87 I have to disagree on the vision and publisher part. ES Legends has barely grabbed any kind of audience so their desperate for crossplay because it's there only chance to gain any kind of revenue rather then to do with any kind of vision for the game. As for the publisher part I think there pretty poor right now, tons of anti consumer practices and awful marketing.
@adf86 Just to clarify a bit, I'm not saying Bethesda are being particularly smart with certain policies - whether that's the recent position on reviews (which they've changed to be fair) or the plans they have for ES Legends, right down to how they market the software they release. Clearly they want to do things a certain way, not really afraid to try something new and maybe it'll work - maybe it won't. Good or bad, right or wrong, fair play on them IMO.
But what I actually meant was the quality and/or the ambition of the games that they are actually putting out as developers and publishers. No one else is doing single player FPS like Bethesda at the moment, and Evil Within 2 stands with Resi 7 as two of the best survival horror games on console this generation. A genre I'm a particular fan of, and one which hasn't been doing so well in recent times. So I am very grateful to them.
"I dont want to single out sony, but i am going to do two interviews in the same week calling them out". Heres an idea Pete, how about negotiating behind closed doors. You will get more respect from the platform holder and from the community, rather than acting like some kind of champion of cross-buy. And maybe get your own house in order, like not sueing your customers over trivial issues, before calling out Sony.
I fail to see why Sony should do business with all these companies who seem happy to run to the media with soundbytes, which wont in anyway provide a fair or accurate representation of Sony's thought process. It feels unprofessional to me. Sort it out like adults in the board room.
I am reading this article straight after the article about Sony being the only company willing to back the Yakuza series - that is the Sony that deserves mention in the media. The one that backs creativity and innovation. The one that supports studios like media molecule. The one that enables its studios to take risks rather than flogging them to make the same successful product (i.e the last of us, horizon zero dawn).
But no, lets keep calling out sony fpr being arrogant (a ludicrous term to call them) on the issue of cross platform play.
@kyleforrester87 not trolling, promise, but have you played some of Ubisofts non AAA output like Rayman Legends, Child of Light, Beyond Good and Evil - and oc Prince of Persia Sands of Time? All wonderful titles. Ubisoft can be the best in the business when they want to be, they just seem to lose soght of that by churning out annual rehashes of assassins creed, far cry and rainbow six (although AC Origins is great, if still suffering from bloat associated with the ubisoft open world template). Their more linear titles are usually a delight
@Rob_230 Yep, I loved Valiant Hearts (ALMOST got me to tear up that one did) and Child of Light was pretty great although dropped off a bit toward the end. I'll be getting the heavily rumoured sequel and I'm surprised they haven't done it sooner. Beyond Good and Evil was just "okay" in my opinion, it didn't really click with me. Although it's been what, 15 years? I'd try it again given the opportunity. I've played Farcry 1, 2 and 4 - they all had issues that stopped me from finishing them. I've tried AC1, Blackflag and Origins.. I genuinely hate them all. Steep was a wasted oppertunity. Trials is pretty great. Rainbow 6 looks solid if you have a good supply of online friends. Wildlands was bad. Rayman is pretty great. Ubi Art is such a cool engine.
So yeah I do play em, I just think they could do much much better with the massive resources they have. And it's funny that the smaller games they release tend to be so much better. Give some of that creative spirit a bigger pot of cash?
But of course, this is just my opinion, I'm glad other people think otherwise!
Who cares? It's a game you can play on your phone, right?
This is just funny. The guy talks like he is the god and arbiter of all gaming; he's not
@Rob_230 They can’t do that. ES Legends was announced for PS4, and it might not come out on it now. They can’t just say it’s cancelled because Sony could budge, and even if they did cancel it, people would want a reason, which this gives them. You want them to do something dumb which would be a bad business move, because that would make them more “mature.”
To all his own Bethesda and Sony I frankly don't care about card games fortnite and alike. Maybe after all this card game has a niche community on mobile and it better stays there. No need up to light up a Console and a 4k. TV to play a card game. Just saying no one gets offended.
@kyleforrester87 Yeah i totally agree with you. Ubiarts is wonderful, but seems to be under lock and key at the moment. And the future isnt great BG&E2 looks horrible in the trailers. A complete tonal shift from the first game. And then more AC etc. You are so right that with the money available to them there is the potential to achieve so much more. Maybe now the vivendi deal has fallen through, they will be prepared to be more creative?
And i knew i was foegetting something. Valiant Hearts! I need to go back and finish that at some point. Great game.
Um dear Bethesda. Is your game so arrogantly amazing and a must-have that you can justify your crossplay bullying tactics? The bullying aspect has only pushed my wallet into other directions. Fanboy trolling is a bane to gaming community. Corporate trolling is downright political propaganda. Doom... Fallout... No thanks. Voted with my wallet!
tbh this is just another "reason" for them to call out sony.
they never where on good terms for reasons (i think those terms got weakend more because sony did not want mods on skyrim remastered)
i don't think bethesda would make such a fuss about it if xbox did not allow crossplay for it. sure they would be displeased but would work on a solution behind closed doors instead of throwing it out in the public.
@kyleforrester87 Sure, it's not all about money in the gaming industry, but in the context of this debate on cross-platform it is.
Bethesda is not pro-consumer (cancelling an already announced game) and neither is Sony (who rather gets Fortnite money than play well with others). It's money vs. money.
@Kidfried eh I can't say either are 100% anti consumer. Equally I can't name a private company that is 100% pro consumer. It's not black and white like you are suggesting.
Yawn, Sony should stand their ground.
Yeah Bethesda push that agenda and force Sony to make a pro gamer decision.
The Mobile game? Who cares.... We give you everything else but not our iOS game... That will show them! 😂
@steventonysmith And it was a broken mess on the PS3 with some missing expansions. For me i dont want their garbage broken games they did not even bother to fix Fallout 4 on the PS4 oh yeah they removed the mist. 🤔
@kyleforrester87 Valiant Hearts that was a really nice one. I did like Farcry Primal, Assassins Creed Syndicate somehow i like their most hated games.
@Paranoimia there's more reasons, the game has tournaments and the ladder can't be separated, the tournaments are more important than having some more players that play exclusively on ps4.
And again, Bethesda is not trying to be a revolutionary leader the journos are making out to be, they just won't damage their community over Sony's decision, it's not a Bethesda vs Sony.
Sony should release the accounts from being blocked in Fortnite and move on. If Fortnite didn’t lead to a change in policy then there’s no way Skyrim poker will.
@VRDart Well they dont have a problem with releasing a broken mess on the Playstation platform the 🤬ers. 🤔
They sure making big deal out of a F2P Trading Card Game....
Who cares
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