Any management that would greenlight a global version of a game centered around Chinese restrictions is a moron. Not once have restrictions gone well for ANY game much less one with an already existing player base.
They don't need to do anything except weather some consumer backlash for a title or two. Eventually as publishers make their games compatible with Chinese regulations, they'll stop making games with content that offends China. Players may not even realize it's happening and publishers get to spend less money. So say goodbye to skeletons and such in massive games.
Very possible for AAA games. But that’s also the reason some indie games are hitting it out of the park so it’s not all downside when AAA games are censored. That being said Baldur’s Gate 3’s success, I’m sure, opened publishers eyes.
Will Microsoft also bend the knee to China for gaming $$$? We'll soon find out.
Why would they not?
I remember for Rainbow 6 Siege the cost of updating two separate instances of the game (Chinese version had slot machines on maps removed, no blood, no skull/death icons, etc) was adding development time so devs tried to push a single “global” version to everyone. They claimed it was going to save on development time but the player base was not pleased
Any management that would greenlight a global version of a game centered around Chinese restrictions is a moron. Not once have restrictions gone well for ANY game much less one with an already existing player base.
They don't need to do anything except weather some consumer backlash for a title or two. Eventually as publishers make their games compatible with Chinese regulations, they'll stop making games with content that offends China. Players may not even realize it's happening and publishers get to spend less money. So say goodbye to skeletons and such in massive games.
Very possible for AAA games. But that’s also the reason some indie games are hitting it out of the park so it’s not all downside when AAA games are censored. That being said Baldur’s Gate 3’s success, I’m sure, opened publishers eyes.
You seem to be under the impression this mega-corporation cares about what the playerbase thinks.
They only care about money.