"PC easily a generation ahead" - Crytek
But consoles are handicapping it.
In terms of raw grunt, the PC is "easily a generation ahead" of consoles, Crysis maker Crytek believes.
But games can't tear ahead because publishers are self-inflicting handicaps in order to satisfy the living room.
"PC is easily a generation ahead right now," Crytek boss Cervat Yerli told Edge Magazine (via CVG). "With 360 and PS3 we believe the quality of games beyond Crysis 2 and other CryEngine developments will be pretty much limited to what their creative expression is - what the content is. You won't be able to squeeze more juice from those rocks.
"As long as the current console generation exists and as long as we keep pushing the PC as well, the more difficult it'll be to really get the benefit of both."
Crytek is renowned/infamous for Crysis' demanding PC system requirements. The result was a fantastic visual treat, but the barrier to entry was high. As a result, Crytek opted to make Crysis 2 a multi-platform endeavour.
"If you're working on blockbuster productions then you have to sell blockbuster numbers, and those are only made nowadays in the living room," he said. "As long as PC gaming doesn't have its approval from gamers there, I think it's going to be difficult to push next-gen gaming on it."
"This is a commercially driven industry. If you want next-generation technology-driven games, you'll have to wait for next-generation home entertainment devices that can power better graphics and more computation time."
"A lot [of developers] don't consider PC a big issue any more," Yerli added. "Their expectations are nowhere near what they are for the console versions. Until the PC market creates comparable revenues, companies are not going to spend enough on the PC SKU of the game."
Crytek isn't shy, and confidence in Crysis 2 is sky-high - at least publicly. Executive producer Nathan Camarillo told Eurogamer Crysis 2 can be as big as Call of Duty - "We say why not?" - before blabbering on about how hard it will be to reach the assumed 90 per cent review score.
Crysis 2 will be released in March 2011. Christian Donlan took a long, hard look at the game earlier this year.