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Ubisoft Wants New Consoles
Although both Microsoft and Sony say that they're comfortable with their current consoles, Ubisoft co-founder and CEO Yves Guillemot begs to differ.
In an interview with MCV, Guillemot says that at this time in the current home platforms' life cycles, innovation begins to wane. "Consumers like the current formats, but there is not enough creativity at the end of a cycle to really spark the business."
The cure, according to him, is new systems, which will apparently allow for more innovation through new franchises. "If we look at the industry’s history we see that there are times when it is right to introduce new IP and times when it is harder. At this stage in the consoles’ life cycles it is possible to do new IP, but it will be more attractive when new consoles come along. That’s when consumers are more open to trying new things."
Not only are consumers excited when new consoles come out, Guillemot adds, but its the development teams too. "Each time there is new hardware it gives our creative teams more freedom and they don’t have to follow the same rules. They can try new things because the consumer expects and wants new things."
While Guillemot's right that new systems are exciting, we all know that the early period for those consoles are usually a mixed bag, and it's not always filled with great new IP. Old franchises are often relied upon for the sake of familiarity and to help sell the system, and almost all the games for a new platform – whether old or new IP – don't maximize the system enough. So, I'm not sure that new systems are going to be the renaissance that Guillemot hopes they will be.
Of course, third-party publishers are always outspoken when it comes to trying to nudge console makers in certain directions. Ubisoft is a huge partner for both Sony and Microsoft, and Guillemot and co. hope that these kinds of public comments from a major CEO partner get Sony and Microsoft thinking.
If anything, here's hoping that there are new systems with new franchises, if only so Guillemot and Ubisoft don't run Assassin's Creed into the ground on the current platforms...
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