They’re just trying to do the double dipping strategy that worked so well for them for GTA V, and possibly RDR2. The big thing that’s changed even since RDR2 came out though is that PC is now the largest platform for this type of game. Some percentage of people will go buy a PS5 to play this game as soon as possible, but I’ll bet more people will be patient for a PC version this time around. Of course, with a 2026 release date, the next Xbox might be launched or imminent by the time the console version comes out, and that next Xbox might basically just be a dressed up PC.
Other then they’re different systems, console is much easier to test/develop on because its a consistent environment, PCs by comparison have so many potential differences per device that it’s much more nuanced.
Would you rather they release a broken ass game on PC or wait and let them optimize and potentially add extra functionality?
You have your reasons for choosing to play on console, but that’s not really relevant to this discussion. For any publisher other than Rockstar, you’re shooting yourself in the foot by not releasing on PC at the same time, and even Rockstar might not be immune to some foot-shooting this time around. It’s just too much money left on the table. It would be like if a third party decided to launch on Xbox but not PlayStation; PlayStation is just too big of a market of potential players to ignore. PC is larger still.
You wouldn’t put out console first and PC later, if you were any other company, because then your marketing spend has to be split between two dates, and PC players won’t put as much value on playing the game so far after launch, so you can’t command as high of a price out of them. For instance, I’ll buy Final Fantasy and Horizon games but definitely not at full price; if I have to dodge spoilers during GOTY season until it comes out for my platform, I’m no longer willing to spend as much when it’s finally made available for me.
You’re refusing to understand the reality of developing for the PC market and instead just shifting all the blame on corporate greed and corporate incompetence at the same time.
The only recent console I own is the switch, everything else is PC all day.
I waited for GTA V to come to PC and played it a lot when it did, so… Maybe if you only expect the fomo crowd to be the only gamers in existence… Sure.
Go check out how the rest of the market is working out right now. Helldivers is only as successful as it is because it had a PC version that outsold its console counterpart several times over. Square Enix took a beating on timed exclusivity and won’t be going forward with it. Take a look around: who else is postponing their PC version and saying they want to continue to do so? Who else is postponing their PC version without Sony greasing the wheels in the first place? It kind of doesn’t matter if it’s harder to make a good PC version; the economical thing to do is to prioritize it, unless you’re the exception to the rule like Grand Theft Auto that can get people to buy it twice.
They’re just trying to do the double dipping strategy that worked so well for them for GTA V, and possibly RDR2. The big thing that’s changed even since RDR2 came out though is that PC is now the largest platform for this type of game. Some percentage of people will go buy a PS5 to play this game as soon as possible, but I’ll bet more people will be patient for a PC version this time around. Of course, with a 2026 release date, the next Xbox might be launched or imminent by the time the console version comes out, and that next Xbox might basically just be a dressed up PC.
To be fair, when gta v did release on PC, it had a bunch of extra features they couldn’t get working performatively on the last Gen console hardware.
Being fair, there’s no other possible reason you wouldn’t launch on PC these days than trying to get two sales out of the same customer.
Other then they’re different systems, console is much easier to test/develop on because its a consistent environment, PCs by comparison have so many potential differences per device that it’s much more nuanced.
Would you rather they release a broken ass game on PC or wait and let them optimize and potentially add extra functionality?
I know what I’m picking…
You have your reasons for choosing to play on console, but that’s not really relevant to this discussion. For any publisher other than Rockstar, you’re shooting yourself in the foot by not releasing on PC at the same time, and even Rockstar might not be immune to some foot-shooting this time around. It’s just too much money left on the table. It would be like if a third party decided to launch on Xbox but not PlayStation; PlayStation is just too big of a market of potential players to ignore. PC is larger still.
You wouldn’t put out console first and PC later, if you were any other company, because then your marketing spend has to be split between two dates, and PC players won’t put as much value on playing the game so far after launch, so you can’t command as high of a price out of them. For instance, I’ll buy Final Fantasy and Horizon games but definitely not at full price; if I have to dodge spoilers during GOTY season until it comes out for my platform, I’m no longer willing to spend as much when it’s finally made available for me.
You’re refusing to understand the reality of developing for the PC market and instead just shifting all the blame on corporate greed and corporate incompetence at the same time.
The only recent console I own is the switch, everything else is PC all day.
I waited for GTA V to come to PC and played it a lot when it did, so… Maybe if you only expect the fomo crowd to be the only gamers in existence… Sure.
Go check out how the rest of the market is working out right now. Helldivers is only as successful as it is because it had a PC version that outsold its console counterpart several times over. Square Enix took a beating on timed exclusivity and won’t be going forward with it. Take a look around: who else is postponing their PC version and saying they want to continue to do so? Who else is postponing their PC version without Sony greasing the wheels in the first place? It kind of doesn’t matter if it’s harder to make a good PC version; the economical thing to do is to prioritize it, unless you’re the exception to the rule like Grand Theft Auto that can get people to buy it twice.
Companies do different things? Madness! It must be a conspiracy!
I didn’t once call it one, and since this is where you’re headed with this conversation, I think we’re done here.