Praetorians, in a glorious remastered skin, will be landing on PC next week nearly two decades after the original was debuted in 2003. The game will also be releasing for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One but around spring, a small delay that was necessary to ensure a similar streamlined experience between all platforms.
Speaking with SegmentNext in a recent interview, publisher Kalypso Media and developer Torus Games took turns discussing a few aspects about Praetorians in its new and shiny form.
Kalypso Media stated that Praetorians “is still a great game today” and hence, felt obliged to jump in for a remaster. That being said, a complete remake is not out of the question. The publisher stated that a brand new entry could be possible in the future. In addition, Kalypso Media noted that the remastered Praetorians could also be released on Google Stadia. However, the publisher and developer will both need to assess if the move will prove viable.
The following is the rest of the interview, which you can go through at your leisure.
Why have the console versions been delayed as compared to PC?
To ensure console players received as good a game as those on PC, we took extra care making sure the controls and the UI functioned well, looked great, and translated nicely to a controller. This took a bit longer than we had anticipated but we’re happy with the result.
Working on consoles, what were the unique challenges associated with the different platforms?
One of our main areas of focus was ensuring that the game felt good to play with a controller. RTS games have had a rocky history when it comes to controller support, as there are often too many things on-screen to select. Because of our focus in this area, we feel that the controller inputs for Praetorians – HD Remaster are streamlined and intuitive.
Are there any differences between console and PC ports?
There are no notable differences. You’ll be able to enjoy Praetorians – HD Remaster the same across all platforms.
Let’s talk about microtransactions. What sort of microtransactions can players can expect to encounter?
Kalypso has never had a game with microtransactions and this will continue into Praetorians – HD Remaster and beyond.
Regarding the multiplayer element – how is the team planning to tackle that element of the game since there is no GameSpy? How will the social elements work, if there are any?
With Praetorians – HD Remaster, there’s no need for GameSpy anymore as the multiplayer is built directly into the game. We’ve also updated the way multiplayer lobbies are handled. You can select from a list of available matches or host your own, inviting your friends (or foes) to join you. With regards to in-game communication, VOIP is supported on the Xbox One and PS4 versions as well as in-game text chat.
Is the team planning to bring any additional content to the remaster post-release?
We don’t have anything planned at the moment.
You guys have chosen Unreal Engine for the remaster. Any specific reasons for this selection?
Unreal is a terrific engine that gives us a lot of power in processing effects such as lighting and assets. Moreover, the original game was written in C, so it makes sense to continue with Unreal and get that leg up with regards to development tools.
We ask every developer about their views on the next-gen consoles. How do you think it will impact gaming, especially the world of remasters and remakes?
The last couple of generations have been all about improved access. This means having a library of your favourite games, movies and shows all only a button push away. We think this trend will continue and we’re excited to be a part of it. Improved access supports indie developers and the next generation of great new IP.
What’s the most exciting thing for you for new platforms i.e. Xbox Series X and PS5?
SSDs as default hardware in both the XBSX and PS5 means less time spent looking at loading screens… the bane of any gamer’s existence. Ray tracing also has a huge impact to a game’s visuals. If you’re a core console player, you have no idea what you’re in for! 8K resolutions at 120Hz make devs like us drool at the potential to deliver the highest quality gaming experiences ever seen.
