Five Xbox 360 Games That Could Be Ported to the PS3
- February 4th, 2010
- Posted in Articles
- By nineinchnailed
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It’s clear that the current console war between Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony’s PlayStation 3 at least partially hinges on exclusive content. With such evenly matched hardware and a heavy reliance on 3rd party development of games, often the decision on which console to buy simply comes down to which one has the better games.
One of the main critcisms of the PlayStation 3 at launch was that it barely had any good games, whereas the Xbox 360, with its 12 month headstart, had plenty, with even more in the pipeline. Fortunately for Sony, the tide may be turning and developers are starting to take the PS3 seriously. Long-standing Microsoft-friendly developers like Bioware are starting to realise the potential to make money by releasing new games on both platforms. But what about older games that were originally Microsoft exclusive? Well, games that are actually published by Microsoft are going nowhere and likewise there are some games that the PS3 simply doesn’t need. Those aside, here are our suggestions of which console-exclusive games should get ported across:
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The Secret of Monkey Island – Special Edition
One of the most famous and best-loved ‘adventure’ games ever, The Secret of Monkey Island was re-released for the PC and Xbox 360 in 2009 in glorious high definition with the addition of vocals provided by many of the cast from the Curse of Monkey Island (the 3rd game in the franchise). LucasArts, who published the game, hinted around the time of release that they would consider releasing it for ‘other platforms’ if it was successful enough. Since then we have heard nothing. Although the game looks fantastic compared to the original, it would barely stretch the legs of an Xbox 360 to run it, so it’s likely that it would be fairly simple to port it across to the PS3.
Chance of appearing on the PS3? 60%.
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Mass Effect / Mass Effect 2
Renowned RPG developers Bioware brought the now-classic Sci-Fi RPG Mass Effect to the Xbox 360 in 2007 and it was later ported it to the PC by Demiurge Studios. Like virtually all Bioware RPGs, the game has amassed a large and faithful following since release, most of whom seemed to buy the recent sequel Mass Effect 2, judging by the staggering sales figures it has reached since release. Many considered Bioware to be solely focussed on Microsoft until the surprise announcement that their new IP, Dragon Age: Origins, would be coming to Xbox 360, PC and PS3 almost simultaneously. With rumours flying that Mass Effect might one day make it to the PS3, the fire was well stoked by the eventual success of Dragon Age on the PS3 platform. References to the PS3 hardware discovered in the code of Mass Effect 2 has now pushed the rumour mill into overdrive. Dragon Age proved that Bioware are capable and willing to develop for the PS3, the only question is whether or not they’re willing to go back to Mass Effect/Mass Effect 2 to bring them to Sony’s machine – that is, unless they’ve been planning it all along…
Chance of appearing on the PS3? 65%.
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Left 4 Dead 2
Developed by one of the best loved PC game developers in the world, Valve, Left 4 Dead 2 found a natural place on the Xbox 360. With the Xbox 360 being a similar platform to a Windows PC, it doesn’t require an enormous amount of development time to bring a game from one to the other and clearly Valve are very happy with their dual-development process. The only Valve games to appear on the PS3 were ported across by EA as the ‘Orange Box’ and met with considerable criticism for being sub-standard. Since then, Valve have stated that they should never have allowed that to happen and presumably will not let it happen again. That leaves them with two options; port the games themselves or simply refuse to allow them to be ported by anyone. Unfortunately for Sony, Valve’s open hostility to the PS3 over the years makes the latter seem the most likely.
Chance of appearing on the PS3? 10%.
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The ’Real’ Oblivion GOTY Edition
When Oblivion was first released on the PS3, there were high hopes. It had an ‘exclusive’ add-on pack called ‘Knights of the Nine’ and was equipped with the latest visual tricks to take full advantage of the PS3′s formidable hardware. Since then, times changed. The PS3′s slow start in the market led the developers, Bethesda, to seemingly forget about Oblivion for the PS3. The add-on pack was eventually released for both Xbox 360 and PC, as well as half a dozen minor addons or ‘plugins’, which were all followed by a full expansion by the name of ‘Shivering Isles’. Owners of the original game on either Xbox 360 or PC could buy one or all of these packs to bring their game up to the date with the latest content. Not so for the PS3. Even when the game was re-released as the GOTY Edition, it only included Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles - missing out all of the other smaller DLC, which to this day are not available on the PSN Store either.
What makes many fans angry about the lack of DLC is the fact that Oblivion is so good. Oblivion set the benchmark that most next-gen RPGs are measured against and PS3 owners are left with a lesser experience of the game. The only tiny glimmer of hope is that, originally, another Bethesda game by the name of Fallout 3 (basically Oblivion set in the Fallout universe) seemed like it would be going down the same path with DLC that Oblivion did. Then out of the blue, months after its initial release, Bethesda announced that not only would the forthcoming GOTY Edition of Fallout 3 on PS3 contain all of the DLC content, but that they were actually going to make it available on the PSN Store, rekindling the idea that one day the Oblivion DLC might make it too. In reality, the GOTY edition will never be re-released to include the extra DLC, but could the DLC appear one day appear on the PSN Store?
Chance of appearing on the PS3? 25%
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Splinter Cell: Conviction
Pretty much the only exciting Xbox 360 console-exclusive game coming out in 2010 that isn’t published by Microsoft is Splinter Cell: Conviction. Despite very good reviews, the last two Tom Clancy games on the PS3 (Rainbox Six: Vegas 1 & 2) were not particulary well received by fans and sales weren’t fantastic, so perhaps that is one of the reasons Ubisoft are sticking to Microsoft platforms for the fifth installment of their Splinter Cell franchise. This has led to disappointment for many PS3 owners, who see no reason why the series should leave them out in the cold. According to the developers themselves, there is something of a “link of heart” between Microsoft and the Splinter Cell series; exactly what that means is anyone’s guess but at the moment it doesn’t look like the PS3 will be seeing Splinter Cell: Conviction any time soon.
Chances of appearing on the PS3? 25%
This time last year, the number of Xbox 360 exclusives probably gave Sony something to worry about, and the addition of any of these games to the PS3 catalogue would have been a welcome boost for the PS3. Fast-forward twelve months however, and the situation has virtually turn on its head. In 2010 alone, PS3 owners can look forward to playing exclusive versions of Gran Turismo 5, Heavy Rain, God of War 3, White Knight Chronicles, MAG, The Last Guardian and, reportedly, Final Fantasy Versus XIII and well as the timed console-exclusive version of Final Fantasy XIV. Does the PS3 need any of the Microsoft exclusives to be brought across? Probably not. Would it be fun? Well, you tell us what you think…
sony needs everything they can get only thing that sells on the sysytem is the exclusives but keep dreamin mass effect signed a triology deal with microsoft splinter cell never not convinction
Amazing to see Mass Effect get it’s recognition now with rumors flying about for a PS3 port. Shame the editor hasn’t seen Bioware recently say that “Mass Effect is staying on the 360 and PC”. Everyone else reading this guy’s crap about ME’s hidden PS3 code, bear in mind that’s the engine code used to make the game. What that means is any game using the Unreal Engine will have the _PS3.code on the disc, some notables for using this engine are Mass Effect AND Gears of War. Notice anything inconsistent with what he’s written now?
Thanks for your comments. I know that the code theory has been debunked by Bioware but my point was that it provoked even more rumours about the supposed PS3 port. As far as I know, Bioware have never absolutely denied that Mass Effect will appear on the PS3 eventually. If you do know of any statement issued to the contrary, please let us know.
oblevion goty has all the dlc (shivering, knights and some other stuff) in eu.. dont know about crap state us
Unfortunately Oblivion GOTY Edition in the EU, the same as every other region, contains Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine but NONE of the extra DLC such as the Wizard’s Tower or the Horse Armour.
@nineinchnailed
Here you go:
http://www.destructoid.com/bioware-no-mass-effect-2-isn-t-coming-to-the-ps3-162433.phtml
Thanks for the link. I see your point, but they only state “Mass Effect is for the PC and Xbox 360″. It’s not an outright denial that it will ever make it to the PS3 – maybe they will issue a more definitive statement later but given that they have had already had several opportunities to make out an outright denial, I can’t see it.
i don’t know what kind of goty edition of oblivion you have for the ps3, but mine included shivering isles.
Hi Matt. Mine includes that too but it Shivering Isles is classed as a full expansion by Bethesda rather than DLC – perhaps it’s not clear enough but the point I was trying to make was solely about the lack of the official DLC or plugins as they are known; the only ‘plugin’ available on the PS3 is the Knights of the Nine which comes built-in with both PS3 editions.
I want Splinter Cell to come to PS3 !! Oh well, I was planing on buying a 360 soon anyway. haha maybe I’ll become less of a fanboy. Cmon 360 has some great titles coming out this year. PS3 still top notch to me.
Mass Effect 2 and Splinter Cell: Conviction are coming to the PS3, like most 360 games. 360 sales are so poor it loses all it’s exclusives. Bioshock, Lost Planet, Star Ocean, GTA: IV DLC……all gone because the PS3 constantly outsells the 360, so expect ME and SC to make the jump as well seeing as how the developers will actually want their games to, you know, sell.
@shawn
LOL, Sony doesn’t need any of the 360′s ganmes. PS3 games like Uncharted 2 win GOTY while 360 games are so low quality they don’t even get a mention.
The only reason 360 games come to the PS3 is because the PS3 outsells the 360 every single week with ease.
Keep Dreaming
@nineinchnailed
No, Bioware has stated other times that ME:2 is only happening on 360 and PC. The link I show you says the versions released are lockdown’d. Plz throughly check Bioware’s statements pre/post ME:2 release to see that they’ve denied it to stop spreading this wildfire when it’s been denied before. Not to be harsh but you need to get your head out of the clouds if the only way you’ll be swayed is by an outright denial from Bioware.
The only two exclusives on 360 that I would be interested in are Splinter Cell and Alan Wake. Other than that, it has nothing that interests me. Glad I’m not the other way round, wanted GoWIII, Heavy Rain and Uncharted 2!