I’ve always seen multiplayer as a complimentary expansion to a game, something to be enjoyed once the end credits have rolled on a single-player experience. But the thing is, I’m starting to lean more and more towards that online side of gaming, with games like Borderlands 2 making it worthwhile. And according to Ubisoft Toronto boss Jade Raymond, multiplayer will be the defining default feature of future games.
Speaking to Digital Spy about the upcoming Ubisoft next-gen games, Raymond explained that consoles such as the Playstation 4 and Xbox One could be powerful enough to create multiplayer experiences that were heavy on the narrative side. In other words, more friends, more story for your gaming pleasure.
“Let’s say a game where instead of having crowds where there are a hundred of them, what if there are 1,000 in the street, and you really feel that, and they’re acting intelligently,” Raymond said.
To me, it’s all about the gameplay experience and how there’s stuff we’re doing in terms of investment and performance that isn’t just about cinematics and cutscenes.
It’s how that performance that makes sense and enriches the experience in a multiplayer context, where you’re not even watching a cinematic, but it’s performance of your character and the other characters being played by people, right?
If you think of it now, for example, you could be playing multiplayer games and you could be like, ‘Oh crap, what’s going on? Let’s go hide there!’ or whatever you’re saying, and your character is just still walking on or whatever.
Because of those ideas, multiplayer would indeed become a more popular choice for gamers further into the future of these consoles according to Raymond, but that to do so, the online challenge would need to encompass all manner of skill levels. “I think the key is how do we make those games appeal to a broader audience,” Raymond said.
I think a lot of them are intimidating to people, unless you’re an amazing first-person shooter player, you probably don’t want to go online for most of those games and even try them.
Maybe that’s not something that a lot of people are thinking about, but to me, if all these games are online now by default or that’s the primary mode, then how do we make sure they’re still enjoyable for different people?
It’s an interesting challenge, make no mistake. Destiny happens to be a next-gen title that has an emphasis on online narrative play, while Ubisoft has their own multiplayer coming up on those consoles, by the name of the Division.
Like it or hate it, this could indeed be the way that games are going to be in the future.
Last Updated: August 6, 2013
Admiral Chief Minion 47
August 6, 2013 at 07:54
Sad news indeed
Trevor Davies
August 6, 2013 at 07:59
If other people are optional, like Borderlands 2, then I’m quite happy. If other people are required, then I’m not interested.
Admiral Chief Minion 47
August 6, 2013 at 08:27
Indeed
I am John's smirking revenge
August 6, 2013 at 08:33
I agree. I liked venturing on my own in Skyrim though. But if that had a co-op feature. Oh my.
Trevor Davies
August 6, 2013 at 08:40
It all depends how it’s implemented. I like how it’s done in Dark Souls, but a while back I played Torchlight 2 MP – it was so boring, SP was way more interesting.
I am John's smirking revenge
August 6, 2013 at 08:57
Ah. Quite so. Only played Torchlight SP myself.
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
August 6, 2013 at 08:03
Like it or hate it…hate it. I can’t see SP ever going away. This is all from a stand point of games like Ass Creed and shooters … What about the Okami’s? Murdered: Soul Suspect’s? the Half Life’s? as if those if the COD’s and Ass Creed’s define gaming. F*** 1000’s of people in a crowd …. I’m fine with sh*ty NPC AI. If it’s optional then hey, fine, I enjoy playing BLands solo. Dark Souls is brilliant way to implement without forcing it on the player…..meh these industry “Leaders” are a bunch of wankers. I would rather play with some string than support the idea of having multiplayer as a default for all games in the future
No Longer SIR Twakkus
August 6, 2013 at 08:22
The thing is some games are fun with a buddy which would otherwise be boring such as Borderlands 2 but others like the last Dead Space was completely ruined for me. Their was absolutely NO tension in the game since I never listened to any character while plying with my buddy. It was like trying to get into a good book while your friend is sitting next to you reading the same book. You are just never invested as you could have been. I love MP games like ARMA3 and BF3 but real gaming has always been SP for me.
I am John's smirking revenge
August 6, 2013 at 08:29
I don’t want this!!!
ElimiNathan
August 6, 2013 at 08:30
I approve of this news
Lourens Jordaan
August 6, 2013 at 09:33
I’m not entirely against it, but it should co-exist next to SP games. I had a couple of nasty experiences during co-op gameplay where my so-called-buddy kept on rushing me cause he’s done it all before and knows the story while, I was seeing it for the first time. Fine, he’s a douche but that sours the entire experience. So, I like it but not enough for this leap.
Trevor Davies
August 6, 2013 at 09:38
I hate being rushed, I like paying attention to the story too.
CypherGate
August 6, 2013 at 09:04
I love my singleplayer experience. They should stick to having that ingame if someone doesnt want to do the whole multiplayer gaming though.
OupaKarools
August 6, 2013 at 09:06
The idea of SP and MP will somehow overlap as it does in some current games. You do your own thing in the world while others do theirs. But yes, I would agree with some that pure SP will never vanish.
I like to play FPS games on my own, but I suck at them in MP. Example was BF3, got pewned the whole time and after a while I did not enjoy it because I sucked at it. Sometimes it is fun to struggle in order to get better at something, but if you only have limited time to spend on gaming, then I am not going to waste it on something I do not enjoy doing.
Sageville
August 6, 2013 at 09:41
It very hard to tell a story in MP.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
August 6, 2013 at 23:47
That’s depressing…