Ubisoft's explained the long absence of a proper Ghost Recon for PC, claiming the "retail market" put it off creating a dedicated product... until now.
"We knew it was a platform we wanted to come back to. However, until recently, the retail market for PC made it difficult to invest in a big, dedicated product," he explained.
"The emergence of online business models has brought back the opportunity to produce something dedicated to PC fans, rather than just ported multiplatform content."
Developed by Ubisoft Singapore and also set for release on Wii U, the developer says the free-to-play cover shooter "offers all the best qualities of the Ghost Recon franchise in a downloadable, dynamic, PC-based online game".
Ubisoft also promises a "rich lobby platform" and regular events and game content updates. Find more details here.
Sanders added: "Ghost Recon Online uses the recipes for fun that have always set Ghost Recon games apart from other shooters - which mostly tend to clump around the run and gun style.
"Pair that with high production values in a game conceptualised from the start to feel native to PC and it's a compelling mix. Ghost Recon Online having an attractive price point - free - doesn't hurt either."
Comments
8 comments so far...
FlacidDonkeyGuy on 18 Jul '11 said:
"now the right time to create another dedicated PC instalment."
3 Hear
2 We
1 Go
"also set for release on Wii U"
"rich lobby platform" = p2p no thanks, that's why I gave up on consoles
gmcb007 on 18 Jul '11 said:
Ubisoft's obsession with the market means they keep p**sing off their fanbase in the process. This is no excuse to miss out on a major platform.
@flacid
Ok, we get it, you hate p2p and consoles so stop bringing it up in every post.
FlacidDonkeyGuy on 18 Jul '11 said:
No I just hate p2p in general, don't matter what platform it's just prevalent on consoles. And what about the PS3 & 360 not major then?
I know GRFS is (maybe there taking there sweet time about it) coming to consoles that's why I kept Conviction all this time. But would not a XBLA, PSN release go down well as well? The games over a year away, mind you given Microsofts stance on F2P maybe just a PSN launch.
gmcb007 on 18 Jul '11 said:
Did I say they weren't major platforms?
I'm saying that they left one out. Like i said before just because you hate p2p doesn't mean you have to badmouth it at every chance you get.
The_KFD_Case on 18 Jul '11 said:
Well, isn't it his choice whether he wants to take a shot a P2P? It is an utter rubbish service in an awful lot of cases, and always pales in comparison to dedicated servers. I strongly suspect that if more console-only gamers knew what online multi-player gaming is like on a half decent PC, they'd have a hard time going back to the sorry scraps that P2P is.
As for this article, meh! Go home, Ubisoft! You still suck a big one and I refuse to buy your products at full value, if at all, and I make a point of buying your games second hand for my Xbox 360 when I do.
Yellow6 on 19 Jul '11 said:
"Ubisoft" + "free"?
Not two words I would expect to go together.
Probably riddled with micro-transactions.
Sleepaphobic on 19 Jul '11 said:
More people should be like this. Smthg that just annoys the s**t out of me is when people are all talk then just buy whatever it is anyway.
+ man be careful about bad mouthing the online infrastructure of consoles because you know you will probably get some who think xbox live is the best thing of all time.
Raptor117 on 20 Jul '11 said:
Retail market kept Ubisoft away from the PC......now they want to come back to make a proper PC Ghost Recon....
The problem is they are giving the PC gamers Ghost Recon ONLINE. A multiplayer game. Where noobs run around shooting anything that move and pros who squad up to hunt down the noobs. A frag fest to say the least. While the PS3 and X Box gamers get the one with the campaign story and try out some tactics.
It's strange to see developers and publishers who ignored the PC all the years are crawling back with offerings of FREE. We have Ubisoft and FREE Ghost Recon. Before that Microsoft with it's FREE Age of Empire and Flight Simulator. I would've shouted in joy to have the PC supported again from those people who abandoned but seeing what they have to offer in return is saddening. They left us for the consoles, gave the consoles the best of the PC gaming and now they are courting us with cell shaded (Age of Empire Online, not sure about the GRO) clones of MMORPG dressed in shooter/RTS skin. They want a piece of the PC's online pie but still distrust it with the full package.
-sigh-