A cross-platform video game (or multi-platform)is one that is released on two or more systems at the same time. There are times when a video game may be exclusive for some period of time (usually several months) and then release for a competing system. This is known as a timed exclusive.
Several games were released on the Xbox and Xbox 360 that were later released on the PC, notably the Halo series and Gears of War. These are still considered cross-platform, although they are console exclusives for the Xbox 360.
Some games may not become cross-platform because of licensing agreements between the developers and the maker of the video game console which state that the game will only be made for one particular console. As an example, Disney could create a new game and wish to release it on the latest Nintendo and Sony game consoles. If Disney licenses the game with Sony first, Disney may be required to only release the game on Sony’s console for a short time (timed-exclusive), or indefinitely—effectively prohibiting the game from cross-platform at least for a period of time.
Developers benefit from creating games for multiple platforms than developing for solely one system. Adding a PS3 SKU to a 360 game adds little to the cost (as little as 10% by some estimates) and increases the game's sales by significantly, as much as 30%. The Wii's unique controls and relatively low graphical power make porting games more cumbersome and time consuming.
- Games that were once exclusive but now multi-platform
- Games that were once multi-platform but now exclusive
Best selling cross-platform video games[]
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (timed exclusive)
- Grand Theft Auto III (timed exclusive)
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (timed exclusive)
- Tom Clancy series: Splinter Cell, and Ghost Recon
 |
This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Cross platform games. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Video Game Sales Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License. |
