We were pleased as punch to learn that Descenders - the insane, downhill mountain bike racer - was planned for Nintendo Switch, but like all ports, we're always a little cautious when a graphically-demanding game on PC is down-scaled to meet the technical limitations of a handheld.
Thankfully, the task hasn't put off developer RageSquid, which revealed a little more about it's at in terms of bringing the game to a Nintendo machine. In a recent interview with Red Bull, co-founder and lead coder Roel Ezendam confirmed that a Switch port is still on the cards, but that it's going to require, "a lot of work," to make it without the extra oomph afforded by PC and other consoles. "For now, we’ve only decided that we’re doing a Switch version, but we’ve not done much on the actual port yet," admits Ezendam.
Right now, the Dutch studio's priority lies in getting the procedurally-generated courses and stunt madness of Descenders ready for PS4 and Xbox One. Once those are finished, then work will begin in earnest on the portable version. It's great to see a developer being so transparent about a game's development, even if it is acknowledging some of Switch's technical shortcomings.
Does Descenders get your blood pumping? Do you think a game like this could really work on Switch? Sound off with your comments below...
[source redbull.com]
Comments 18
Just look at Ubisoft and Steep. That's another extreme sport and may as well be vapourware at this point.
Also, there's a spelling mistake in the title.
"Bike Racer Descenders Is Stil Coming To Switch, But It'll Require "A Lot Of Work" To Pull It Off"
Forgot the extra "l" in "still".
I know ports to Switch are frowned on by some, but I am tickled whenever a current Gen game from ps4 or Xbox runs on Switch and works decently.
Hope I`m wrong, but this game will be 5/10.
Think we’ve heard this kinda thing all before
@Kalmaro
"Extreme PORTS!"
Ba-dum-tissss.
"I'm here all week, try the veal"
I'm sure they will learn a lot from the exercise.
While I really hope this lovely game will arrive on Switch one day so that all of you guys can play it, but personally I don't really care since I already got it on Steam.
@Dom It's not a first-person game though, you can play it in third person.
We need more vehicle based games, I'm hoping this will turn out to be good if they can get it running on the Switch.
It's got a lot of good word of mouth, so I am optimistic about this if/when it hits.
Reminds me of Downhill Domination on PS2.
Love the trailer, bummed at this news looks like it's headed to Steep- RedOut purgatory
Was interested until procedural. What has happen to level design?
@subpopz Doesn't look that graphically intense at all to me.
@subpopz only thing is, Nintendo's marketing states it's a home console that can also be a portable. Not the other way around. That may be wht some folk talk about the specs still. It's cuz it's supposed to be a console that becomes a portable and still plays console level games.
And just like that you lost yourself a sale, if the switch isn't a priority and you're already making excuses then your innevitable garbage port job won't come in as a surprise.
I'm not sure I can get over the unnatural physics; it seems very floaty
This is way outside my area of interest. But I will be curious to know how well the port goes, just to hear how well 3rd parties are treating ports of this nature on the Switch.
Reminds me of Excite Trucks a bit. Downside being that you don't get to try that same corner and push yourself a little more as it's downhill all the way.
From what little I know, it's a mistake not to port this to Switch first, in my opinion. The thing about the Switch is that it goes out into the world with your game and gets shown to people that would never see it in the owner's home. Plus, this is a fun action race you can try and then just put away. Very natural fit for Switch.
Oh, well. Money, timing, etc.
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