One of the joys of Switch is the sheer variety of games available on the platform. The breadth of experiences across genres and the frequency of releases has made the last three years exciting ones for Switch owners, with many surprises popping up along the way. Earlier this week online first-person shooter Warface became the latest surprise release on the console, launching without previous announcement or fanfare and bringing a hugely popular shooter to Switch's small yet potent FPS library.
We caught up with Ivan Pabiarzhyn, Warface Franchise Producer at MY.GAMES, to ask about the Switch port's development, how it measures up against other versions, and the thinking behind surprise-dropping the game on the eShop...
Nintendo Life: For anyone who perhaps hasn’t played Warface since it first launched in 2013, tell us a little about the game, its history, and what makes it unique in the free-to-play online multiplayer arena.
Ivan Pabiarzhyn: Warface is a key franchise that we’re actively developing. In 2018, we released the PS4 and Xbox One versions, and more recently we launched Warface: Global Operations on mobile. The Nintendo Switch version is our next big step. Warface is a live service game, so it’s very important for us to release new content regularly and make the content of the game as diverse as possible. That’s why we have full-fledged story campaigns in the game, with their own heroes, villains, and plot twists. There are also other types of PvE missions and dozens on PvP modes on numerous maps. Players can choose from 5 playable classes, including the recently added SED robot class, introduced in the Warface: Titan update and already included in the Switch version. Warface is also an eSport title, so we take our game balancing very seriously.
I think what makes Warface fascinating is that it’s still growing. We reported 80M players in total last year, with 13M playing on PS4 and Xbox One and that number is still increasing. The secret is simple: from the very start, we were committed to updating the game every month with new content, new weapons, and new gameplay styles. We even sent our players to Mars! And they loved it.
How long has the Switch version of Warface been in development?
The whole development cycle took about a year. It was made in-house by our Allods Team, which previously ported the game to consoles and also developed Skyforge and its console versions. Working with the Nintendo Switch was a very interesting challenge for the team, and we were very enthusiastic to get the game working perfectly on the Switch.
The game is apparently running on a ‘heavily customized’ version of CryEngine. Tell us about the challenges you faced getting Warface running well on Switch. What were the biggest obstacles compared to the other console versions?
One of the biggest questions for us was how well the CryEngine could work with the Switch hardware. The other challenge was providing stable 30FPS in all gameplay modes. To ensure this, we decided to fix the resolution, both in docked and portable modes, with minimal reduction to image quality. Another challenge was the game’s size - over the years, we have updated Warface every month: adding new maps, weapons, new competitive modes, even story-driven co-op campaigns called “Special Operations”. Fitting this into a 7.5Gb download was quite a task, but because Warface is a downloadable title, we were committed to keeping the footprint of the game small, and we’re quite happy with how it turned out.
at some point it seems every publisher discovers the wonders of launching in different time zones (laughing)
Switch has accrued a rich and varied library of software in nearly three years since launch, although it’s still arguably lacking in shooters, especially the online variety. Why do you think there aren’t more FPS titles on Switch and what made you decide to come to the console when others haven’t (yet)?
The lack of competition on Switch - both in the shooter genre and in the free-to-play service model - is something that made us think about porting the game in the first place. At MY.GAMES, we know the market of online shooters really well, and we have been doing live service games for ages, so we knew had the knowledge to bring such a game to the growing Switch community.
In terms of parity with the PC games and other consoles, the Switch release has some platform-specific extras like gyro, etc. Is there anything missing or significantly different about the Switch version? Would a competitive player on Switch be at any disadvantage compared to other consoles?
Warface on Switch contains the same content and features as PC, Xbox One, and PS4. All modes, all campaigns, everything is in and included in the 7.5GB download size. However, we decided to unlock content gradually, so Nintendo players won’t be overwhelmed by the sheer number of game modes and play styles when they first launch the title. So we will be opening new stuff like Special Operations every week until everything is unlocked. After that, the next big console update will launch simultaneously on the Switch, PS4, and Xbox One.
Crossplay isn’t currently supported but after ‘rock-solid performance’ it’s near the top of the wishlist for many players on console. What are your plans regarding crossplay on Switch?
The most important thing for us is that the experience is the same between all consoles. That means releasing all gameplay and content updates simultaneously. We will be ready to talk about crossplay later, but we are definitely working in that direction.
giving players the option to start playing on Switch immediately was very important for us.
It’s safe to say that the game’s launch came as a surprise, although the eShop release in Australia tipped some people off a little early. Tell us about the challenges of orchestrating a surprise launch. Why was it important to you get the game in players’ hands rather than build hype with a traditional marketing build-up?
Yes, at some point it seems every publisher discovers the wonders of launching in different time zones (laughing). Still, when working on Warface on different platforms, we experimented with a lot of different launch tactics. There are many factors to consider. Warface is a live service online game, it’s free to download, and we actively involve the community in the development of the franchise with our monthly updates. Taking all that into account, we decided that in order to properly speak about the game, we must be able to immediately show it. We wanted to send a clear message: we are committed to developing the Warface franchise across different platforms and giving players the option to start playing on Switch immediately was very important for us.
The Titan update brings console versions of the game in line with the PC release, so after nearly seven years of iteration and evolution, what’s next for Warface (on Switch and elsewhere)?
We’re committed to our monthly update roadmap for Warface. For example, the recently introduced the fifth class, SED, that has flipped the game balance upside down. We’re also adding new special operations and experimenting with new game modes and thematic events.
We’re already preparing the next big console content update that will simultaneously launch on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PS4. In addition to all of that, we recently launched Warface: Global Operations on mobile. But that’s not all, of course. We’re constantly looking into new platforms and new live service models, so expect to hear more about the Warface franchise in 2020.
Our thanks to Ivan. Have you been enjoying Warface since its surprise drop on Switch? We'll have a review ready for you soon, but let us know how you've been getting on with the game by dropping a stealthy comment below.
Comments 39
This game seems really fun, especially sense we don’t really have anything on the switch like it (correct me if I’m wrong) I started downloading it last night, but my internet is so crap that it still has 26 hours left, but I’m also downloading stuff on other platforms so that’s probably why. I hope that it gets done by tomorrow morning so I can download the new Fortnite update, and yes I still play fortnite.
I like what they are planning. If they are going to keep supporting the game like they claim to, this will have a shot at being pretty profitable.
Downloaded it last night, played for an hour then deleted it.
Its not COD but I am actually really enjoying it. Hopefully it is the first of many tactical shooters to come to the switch.
Would help if they had some sort of Server status indicator.
I downloaded it yesterday and played it for a while and liked it enough to revisit it just now.
It downloaded an update before it would start then once it started i keep getting the error unable to connect to warface servers.
If the servers are down for maintenance they should show an indicator for that.
If it’s a problem caused by the update I’ll just delete the software as I can’t be bothered with faffing around with it.
Still feels like a bare bones game overall after 7 years of development. From the whole thing I got that the developer also worked on the console version of Skyforge I would be more interested to see if that now comes over to Switch.
@WickedUnicarnBoi Crap internet? Sounds like you’ve still got dial up!
@DreamerDC you don't have to but that to play any of the game modes it just gets you premium weapons. So you aren't paying to play any additional modes. Will the game be much easier? Yes, but it isn't needed to play the game at all.
Pay to win?
Is there any single-player?
I downloaded it last night and am really enjoying this game, nice to have a good shooter on Switch.
@DreamerDC not arguing there about the ones that do have premium weapons having a major advantage as the overall balance of the game is off and even grinding to level up has no real benefit. There are only a small handful of free games I have invested my time in and that is because all of the main content can be earned in game some way or another those games being Star Trek Online Warframe and DC Universe Online to a certain extent. Although with the last one you still have to pay in some way to get the new story episodes either by subscription or buying them out right. I only really go back to an free game if there is an ever evolving story to keep me interested though. But still despite this games pay to win reputation it is still hugely popular for some reason.
@holygeez03 no the closest thing is a selection of co-op missions that aren't all that varied.
I must say that I am quite fond of this sort of launch strategy.
Though I do suppose that this would be impossible for a studio with a bigger name, it's not like Platinum will be dropping Bayonetta 3 next week.
But I will add that I absolutely sodding hate the drip feed tease announcement model.
Ideally I would prefer that developers and publishers shut their traps until they're ready to launch.
We live in a world where Beyonce' drops whole albums out of nowhere. There's no reason games can't do it too.
That said, I, and probably few others, have never heard of My.Games, so I doubt a big press/ad leadup would've done any better. It's a shooter that looks just like hundreds of others from this and last console generation. The only eyebrow raiser here is the fact that it's on Switch.
This is actually a very fun game, I can see why it has 80million players.
@jarvismp yeah just about it. I don’t know what’s been wrong with it the last few days, it’s usually ok but lately it’s sucked. Hopefully it’s just because it’s been cloudy and rainy the last few days
My excitement quickly vanished upon discovering that this is a pay to win game...
@BIG45-70 it's more of a twitch shooter imo. Like the type of game where you put fov 120 and run around. I liked it but it gets pay to win after level 13. I would live for R6S or Insurgency to come to Switch
@BIG45-70 They have put quite a bit of mobile games on switch maybe they could put cod mobile on it that would be awesome.
This game is an awful shooter - It has been on PC for years and it is the definition of PC P2W.
@Agramonte Well, 80 million players seem to strongly disagree with you, so they must at the very least be doing something right...
@Kalmaro They already supported the game for 7 years. It's a old shooter, but upgraded later.
@Ventilator Yeah, and they are STILL supporting it, that says a lot to me.
So tired of these multiplayer-only shooters
@JayJ This is not multiplayer only.
There is loads of 5 player co-op missions in this game with replayability.
@DreamerDC You can play it without buying DLC.
So much false information here about this game. Why not try it as it's free?
@ThanosReXXX If we go by that logic Mobile has some of the best games ever created and we should all be playing COD 😀
@Ventilator coop is multiplayer my man. There is not single player content.
@Agramonte Well, that's of course not the entire story. You can have 80 million players, or you can have 80 million registered players, so it's not like people keep dipping in and out. If a game truly is THAT bad, then it would never retain that large a public.
Mind you, I'm not saying that it's a great game: I've played it for a bit, and while it's okay, it's nothing special, but on the other hand, it also isn't a bad game. And that's basically what I meant with "they must be doing something right", otherwise people would all walk away and nobody would be playing this, or that 80 million registered players would dwindle down to a considerably lower number.
And to be fair to COD, the older games were great far as I'm concerned, but I'd say that the steep decline came around the time of Black Ops 3, and Modern Warfare 3 was also rather mediocre, but the rest before that was still pretty good.
@Snakesglowcaps True. More like PvE then.
@DreamerDC That never stopped me. Also some of the paid DLC is free like resurrection coins which pops up as daily gift now and then.
@ThanosReXXX Well I have no idea how they count players. But they been on PC since 2014 and they have always barely get 2K players at a time on the Steam Chart in all this time. They probably still counting me as part of the "player base"
Last COD I played was the one with the ship you need to run out at the very start. But my point is, they all sell truckloads every year. And all I hear is how "embarrassing" it is still #1 in the UK and how it is a gambling trap targeting children. Not "Must be doing something right" 😉
I mean It is "free". But you can get Division 2 for $3 and COD WW2 for $1. So even that does not mean much.
@Agramonte The one with the ship, that would be COD 4: Modern Warfare.
Those prices you mentioned are of course only on Steam, and not on console, or are they?
As for how they measure: there's obviously all kinds of metrics, so besides active players, there's also download data, which simply keeps tabs of the number of times the game has been downloaded, but that obviously doesn't reflect an active number of players, and because they so specifically mentioned "80 million players" it would seem to strongly indicate that it is indeed the former, and not the latter, otherwise they would have just said "80 million downloads", so I think that the answer is in the specific wording.
But, of course, if we're putting on our suspicious glasses, then they are of course embellishing this number, or the actual activity of the players, but personally, I don't think so, because that would be decidedly bad marketing, and marketing is what I do for a living, so that's also the way I look at it...
@DreamerDC Have you ever tried Warframe? That's another f2p game, and it is great, even without paying for it. It just takes longer, but contrary to Warface, you actually can play solo in Warframe. And it's a really solid game, with large, open worlds, great graphics and good gameplay. It's a shame to pass on good games just because of a general idea that none of them are good or that you can only succeed in them if you pay for added content or gear.
There's even an active Warframe topic in the forums here, where they explain how you can get the most out of it, without ever having to pay a single penny.
@ThanosReXXX really?!... COD4. Hahaha, now I have a name for my memory. Thanks! 😃
They all do it really. Hey, they were people when I logged on back in the day. So somebody playing (Unless they get the staff to suit up)
Division 2 is a $3 digital promotion across PC/Consoles. WW2 is $1 on PC... console is 14.99 on Amazon.
I got COD WW2 from a $12 Humble Bundle because I wanted Spyro and Crash for me collection. Yet to download it... 84 GIGs 🙄
https://blog.humblebundle.com/2019/10/04/get-call-of-duty-wwii-crash-bandicoot-spyro-with-november-2019-humble-monthly/
@Agramonte A name for your memory? COD 4: Modern Warfare? Or am I missing something here?
EDIT:
I'm not gonna fall for that monthly trap. To pay only $12 for these games is a great deal, but you never know what you're going to get next month, and so far, I've only bought a Humble Bundle twice, only on Nintendo consoles, and these were only one time deals, so no subscription. Besides, I already own a physical copy of COD: WWII, so I don't need a double...
@ThanosReXXX Yeah... I now can stop calling it "the one with the exploding ship" 👍
@Agramonte Added an edit to the previous comment...
@ThanosReXXX yeah I saw... I just payed the $12 and canceled it. I did not even wait for the later reveals.
@Agramonte Ah, okay, that's also an option. I guess you're now one of 80 million Humble Bundle subscribers...
The last Humble Bundle I bought, was the one on the Wii U, with Darksiders 2 and a couple of indie games in them.
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