Eidos Montreal taps partner studio for PC version of Deus Ex: Human Revolution

In an upcoming interview with Shacknews, Deus Ex: Human Revolution game director Jean-François Dugas clarified that the PC version of the upcoming game is not being solely developed by the team at Eidos Montreal...

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In an upcoming interview with Shacknews, Deus Ex: Human Revolution game director Jean-François Dugas clarified that the PC version of the upcoming game is not being solely developed by the team at Eidos Montreal.

When asked whether or not the PC version was developed in-house, Dugas told Shack: "No. Well, it was done in-house, but with a partnership." According to Dugas, Eidos Montreal will utilize the services of Netherlands-based developer Nixxes Software BV to bring Human Revolution to PC gamers this August.

For a number of years, Nixxes has been the go-to team for Eidos' multi-platform release calendar. Most recently, Nixxes helped deliver the PS3 and PC version of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, a "full featured PC port" of Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days, and porting the PS3 and PC versions of Tomb Raider Underworld. Ties to Eidos with Nixxes goes back as far as bringing Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver to the Dreamcast.

Neither the official Deus Ex: Human Revolution or Nixxes websites make any mention of the partnership; however, various employees at Nixxes have been actively promoting their involvement on the game via social media for some time.

In the upcoming interview, Dugas promises that the team at Eidos Montreal is very involved with the game's PC version. "All the design and changes to the design has been done in Montreal and sent to [Nixxes]," he told Shacknews. "We review the builds. We review and then give comments about what works and what doesn't. It's the same process. It's the exact same process, except that the programmers aren't in the same office. It's the same game and the same creative team taking care of it."

The reason for the partnership is due to logistics, Dugas said. Eidos Montreal was established in 2007 and does not have the manpower to effectively develop all three versions at once. "It was more of a logistic problem more than anything else and having enough people to make sure it's all on the same level, all the time. So, yeah. It was more about manpower and logistics."

Dugas also noted that he, personally, is currently playing the game exclusively on the PC.

The complete interview with Deus Ex: Human Revolution game director Jean-François Dugas will hit sometime later today.

Xav de Matos was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    March 23, 2011 11:45 AM

    Comment on Outside developer working on PC version of Deus Ex: Human Revolution, by Xav de Matos.

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 11:46 AM

      Summary: Deus Ex game director clarifies that the PC version of Human Revolution is being developed by Nixxes, a Netherlands-based dev, while Eidos Montreal oversees the process.

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 11:55 AM

      Whoa. This is interesting.

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      March 23, 2011 12:12 PM

      So, the game dev version of ghost writing?

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 12:12 PM

      whaaaat

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 12:15 PM

      Well that kills my confidence in the game

      • reply
        March 23, 2011 12:36 PM

        Yeah when has that ever worked out? Definitely a wait and see situation now.

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          March 23, 2011 12:47 PM

          Mass Effect 1? The PC version was far superior, though it was done after the Xbox version. Demiurge did a great job with the port though.

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            March 23, 2011 6:21 PM

            They didn't though.

            - numerous sound problems because of that shit they pulled with Creative and hardware acceleration;
            - the "dynamic shadows" were fucked up and pixelly for a lot of people;
            - their interface "improvements" consisted of a horribly inconvenient pause screen and a lot of nothing;
            - Mako controls were worse than on the 360;
            - some encounter scripts became broken (whole of Noveria / Peak 15 is fucked)
            - THEY FORGOT GARRUS' FACE FOR FUCKS SAKE (at least beyond 256x256 res)

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              March 23, 2011 8:50 PM

              I still liked the control better than 2.

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              March 23, 2011 11:23 PM

              I played the PC version, twice, completely, and the only issues I had were:

              - lava didn't show up even after the fix
              - no post release support
              - okay Interface but not a huge improvement

              I didn't have any issues with the mako.

              I also beat the game on the 360 twice so I'd like to think I'm qualified.

              • reply
                March 24, 2011 2:24 AM

                I hope this doesn't rub you the wrong way, but I'd say I'm more qualified. My first playthrough on a loaner I gave up around Noveria because of bugs and the Mako being a pita. After getting the game on Steam (http://steamcommunity.com/id/killergrapefruit/games?tab=all) I put 80 hrs into it across three playthroughs on two computers with multiple problems (sound especially). After that someone gifted me her Xbox 360 copy of ME which I S-Ranked (except for the DLC) and generally the UI was faster and less confusing to use. I also had none of the mentioned problems, except for sometimes blocky shadows.

                And if you don't believe me, just ask my brother. http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197997782307/games?tab=all
                I hope it's not private, because then you can see he's got 191 hrs in Mass Effect and 241 hrs in Mass Effect 2. He's breathing the Universe by now, it's his Star Wars and he had massive problems with the first game.

                And I just remember that Alt-Tab didn't work properly either. :(

                • reply
                  March 24, 2011 10:34 PM

                  I'd say your "qualification" is horse shit. I've played it far more than you have, guaranteed. If you want to try playthroughs, I have twice as many. Time played is also twice as many. Your issues are not common for everyone. The only issue I noticed that you're talking about is the blocky shadows.


                  The game was awesome, and one of the best ports in the past 5 years./

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 12:17 PM

      I will wait till retail, yet again, to decide this game's fate.

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        March 23, 2011 12:28 PM

        It's kind of sad we aren't able to enthusiastically await a game's release. A lot of news one hears about DE:HR makes you wonder if the game will be any good at all.

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          March 23, 2011 12:29 PM

          Really? I don't see it that way. Our previews have been positive.

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            March 23, 2011 12:35 PM

            Which is exactly how they are carefully designed to look.

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              March 23, 2011 12:44 PM

              Looking is one thing... if it played like shit, we'd say it played like shit.

              My job is to be honest with you, the reader... not to be kind to devs.

              If they fuck up, they know they did... and they'll hear about it.

              I'm just not going to throw away my anticipation for any game upon hearing news. I'll reserve judgement for my own hands-on experience.

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                March 23, 2011 1:05 PM

                Please show me a negative review you have done.

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                  March 23, 2011 2:28 PM

                  I don't think that it's fair to ask this.

                  • reply
                    March 23, 2011 2:53 PM

                    i dont think its fair for your neck to have to carry around your FACE

              • reply
                March 23, 2011 1:45 PM

                I've never seen you post one negative thing about a game, sorry.

              • reply
                March 23, 2011 1:47 PM

                Couldn't resist:
                http://i.imgur.com/IBPqh.jpg
                #joke

              • reply
                March 23, 2011 2:02 PM

                What does the PC version play like?

              • reply
                March 23, 2011 2:08 PM

                Oh come on Xav, we all like you but we are not idiots.

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                  March 23, 2011 2:13 PM

                  After reading this chatty all afternoon, I have to disagree with you there.

                  • reply
                    March 23, 2011 2:54 PM

                    thats true of any afternoon, to be fair. nights too. and mornings.

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                March 23, 2011 7:01 PM

                I am optimistic! Half-Full reply: Would you rather have the same company diverting resources to port, or be honest with itself and decide a port is worth paying an entire office full of other people to because they have better resources. Besides that, what makes me REALLY feel good is that Dugas says he plays it on PC. Side note: I totally understand the critical eye we give reviews, but shacknews is a website that doesn't hold back, in spite of who owns it. Xav sounds honest and I think most people here are.

          • reply
            March 23, 2011 12:40 PM

            You may not necessarily agree with me, but at least try to agree with this: the game is looking very much different than the original DE.

            I ask myself why do they have to innovate so much? Sticking to the bulletproof formula would have been enough to ensure the success of this game. But seeing as how they innovate I get many worries.

            • reply
              March 23, 2011 12:44 PM

              Why is innovation a bad thing?

              Sounds like you want Deus Ex HD and not a sequel.

              It's an 11 year old game (almost).

              • reply
                March 23, 2011 12:46 PM

                Let me clarify... in no way am I saying Deus Ex is a bad game. I just don't get everyone's apprehension to change.

                • reply
                  March 23, 2011 12:51 PM

                  people's nostalgia severely distorts their opinions on sequels and future games in the lineup

                  • reply
                    March 23, 2011 2:03 PM

                    Nope. Played DX again last year, 8 years after my first playthrough. Still as good as ever.

                    • reply
                      March 23, 2011 2:05 PM

                      Yes. The gameplay still holds up, once you adjust your eyes to the graphics. It's harder to adjust to Deus Ex than to System Shock 2, but MUCH easier than adjusting to System Shock.

                  • reply
                    March 23, 2011 2:29 PM

                    Hype does the same.

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                  March 23, 2011 2:56 PM

                  "Less is more", they say, and this definitely applies to success in game design innovations. Just ask yourself this: how many times have you heard fans telling developers to innovate? Thats right - zero times. Most of the fans who liked the original only want the sequel to correct the mistakes of the original, nothing more.

                  Too many times innovations ruin sequels.

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              March 24, 2011 1:49 AM

              Hmm? What's really innovative with the game they've shown so far? Seems to me every mechanic they've added since the original is from previous, successful console games.

          • reply
            March 23, 2011 2:27 PM

            Aren't previews usually always positive or non negative?

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 12:18 PM

      Has there ever been a third party pc port that wasn't absolute rubbish? Most of the companies are going the opposite direction and doing it all in house because a shitty pc port is worse than no pc port.

      • reply
        March 23, 2011 12:21 PM

        The company that did the PC port of Mass Effect did a good job. That is all that comes to mind right now.

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        March 23, 2011 1:12 PM

        Mass Effect for PC was done by DemiUrge I think

      • reply
        March 23, 2011 1:22 PM

        Beenox started out as a third-party developer for the PC. The few games I've played from them that they've ported from console to PC were Marvel Ultimate Alliance, X-Men Legends II, Gun and THPS 3. They were all fine other than maybe a controller would have been more useful. But otherwise fine.

      • reply
        March 23, 2011 6:31 PM

        Nixxes has made several ports for Eidos and they all were outstanding.

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 12:22 PM

      so DX is being made for consoles and then ported for pc by another studio... sad times.

      • reply
        March 23, 2011 12:38 PM

        What pisses me off isn't just that they're doing this, but they blatantly lie about it. They tell us the PC version is going to be awesome, then we find out it's a pile of shit churned out by an off-shore sweatshop. See: Borderlands.

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          March 23, 2011 12:39 PM

          I'm pretty sure Borderlands PC was in house.

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            March 23, 2011 12:43 PM

            Oh. Well it stands as a good example of a shitty port regardless.

            How about RE4 PC? That was outsourced and it's a fucking disaster.

            • reply
              March 23, 2011 12:46 PM

              Clearly the outsourcing has nothing to do with it though. It just the nature of porting something that is already out and made most of its money. Short schedule and no one gives a shit.

            • reply
              March 23, 2011 12:47 PM

              How can you "port" something that isn't done?

              They are being built at the same time, according to the dev team.

              • reply
                March 23, 2011 12:56 PM

                I would consider it a "port" if the core design is based around the console version.

                • reply
                  March 23, 2011 1:03 PM

                  Well, there are some changing coming to the PC version. A little more coming in the interview later today.

              • reply
                March 23, 2011 6:37 PM

                "Some companies make a game on PCs for a console, and then hit the compile button." -- Jake Rodkin, Idle Thumbs 38

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 12:35 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 12:36 PM

      Not a huge deal I would think. Has anyone played the PC version of Kane & Lynch 2 or those Lara Croft games?

      • reply
        March 23, 2011 12:38 PM

        Yeah, the new Tomb Raider games were alright on the PC. That said, any game with lock-on aiming is least in need of mouse controls.

      • reply
        March 23, 2011 12:46 PM

        Kane & Lynch controls kind of sloppily, to be honest.

        Guardian of Light and Underworld control really nicely, though.

      • reply
        March 23, 2011 1:19 PM

        They were fine. Had no big issues. Kane and lynch 2 was a bit consoley

      • reply
        March 23, 2011 1:26 PM

        Underworld was a reasonably good port with quite a few PC-centric options available.

      • reply
        March 23, 2011 1:50 PM

        Yeah I played K&L 2, very clunky controls.

        • reply
          March 23, 2011 6:33 PM

          I think it's because the base game is clunky. I found the port to be generally well done. The game was kinda cool in some spots and replicated the Shangai feeling sublimely.

      • reply
        March 23, 2011 2:19 PM

        I have played Tomb Raider Legend/Anniversary/Underworld on PC and they are all great. though Underworld's camera is a lot worse than I remember the other two being. it's still doing that annoying prediction thing that works great with a stick but awful with a mouse. maybe I forgot to turn off mouse smoothing or something though? the first two were great though.

      • reply
        March 23, 2011 8:50 PM

        TR Underworld played great and looked great on PC, people should relax

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 12:46 PM

      If they fuck this up I'm going to very pissed. The original Deus Ex is what many consider to be one of the best (if not the best) PC games of all time. The PC should be the focus for its revival.

      ... God damn it.

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 12:54 PM

      They're the same dudes who did the PC port of most of the later tomb raider games, including guardian of light. All very good ports. I think it's in good hands.

      • reply
        March 23, 2011 1:08 PM

        This "guardian of light" was a amazing port, top notch no joke. Great game too.

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 1:07 PM

      Big deal, they have made great ports for various games.

      Sure I would want the main guys to do the PC version and say they are gona pimp it out. But lets be realistic here it is what it is and I am happy the game is coming to the PC at all.

      I will judge it when the game is in my hands and I am plying it, that really is the bottom line, you can not right it off as shit without knowing or playing it yet.

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 1:08 PM

      whaaaaaat

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 1:24 PM

      [deleted]

      • reply
        March 23, 2011 2:04 PM

        I think they weren't going to, but someone noticed Nixxes people tweeting about it. At least, that's what I gathered.

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 2:04 PM

      oh, momma nooo!

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 2:11 PM

      Nixxes worked on the recent Tomb Raider PC versions, they did good.

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 3:18 PM

      Our complete interview with Deus Ex: Human Revolution's game director can be read here: http://www.shacknews.com/article/67902/interview-deus-ex-human-revolution-1

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 6:35 PM

      RPS caption: "If there's no cursor on the menus, kill them all." http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/03/23/deus-ex-3-pc-being-co-developed-by-nixxes/

      • reply
        March 23, 2011 7:12 PM

        haha.

        though in a world of ports, getting a good PC game is basically a lottery, so there being an external studio doesn't really mean anything of itself, good or bad.

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 7:09 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 7:34 PM

      They ported Soul Reaver. They're ok in my book!!!

      • reply
        March 23, 2011 7:47 PM

        I personally thought the controls for that game were a bit wonky. I feel the same way about the menus for Guardian of Light.
        Maybe it's just me I dunno. They're still pretty decent ports though.

        • reply
          March 23, 2011 8:07 PM

          I was just thankful i could play it at all because it was such a typical console game.

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 7:54 PM

      Instant buy to "there's no way I'm not waiting for reviews"

    • reply
      March 23, 2011 8:54 PM

      Meh, I'm still excited. At least the content will be the same. They can't fuck up the controls that much could they?

    • reply
      March 24, 2011 3:42 AM

      The PC version will also contain a unique UI, adapted for our deft-handed ways
      Heh. I've read this before. It's usually been a flat-out lie. Here's hoping it's not this time around.

      • reply
        March 24, 2011 6:16 AM

        I've rarely actually heard someone specifically talking about a specific UI.

        • reply
          March 24, 2011 6:42 AM

          This team has a good history with their ports. See my post above.

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