When Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 was announced, it was with a dark cloud overhead. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions wouldn’t have a single player or cooperative campaign for players to enjoy. Only the current generation systems, that is the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows PC, would offer a story-based experience. Instead, the last generation consoles will only be able to experience the Zombies and Multiplayer Modes. It’s distressing, sure, but maybe there’s a more optimistic way to look at it.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is coming to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. While these two consoles aren’t exactly dead yet, their libraries haven’t been growing at the same rate as their big brothers. Companies have been focusing on the current generation systems. There have been about 60 PlayStation 3 games and about 30 Xbox 360 games released so far in 2015. The number of PlayStation 4 and Xbox One games is far higher. At this point in the system’s lives, we should be thankful when companies don’t completely pass them by.
Especially since other games didn’t make it to the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 this year, even though some should have had them. Instead, companies shifted focus. Remember Dying Light ? It was supposed to be a multiplatform game from Techland for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, as well as PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Technical limitations left the last generation behind. This isn’t recent either. Back in 2014, Turtle Rock talked about how Evolve wasn’t possible for the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 due to the vision the developer had for the game. Even smaller releases like N++ , the Mega Man Legacy Collection , and Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse didn’t get released everywhere.
Which is fine. Sometimes that happens with new IPs. But established series have been skipping the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 as of late. Mortal Kombat X wasn’t supposed to be limited to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows PC. However, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment cancelled the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 ports earlier this year. Assassin’s Creed Syndicate and the Need for Speed reboot are both skipping last generation consoles. Even Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China , a 2.5D side-story originally rumored to be a PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 game, ended up being exclusive to current generation systems. Wolfenstein: The Old Blood stayed on the current generation of systems too.
All of these things are telling. It’s indicative of a trend. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are starting to be left behind. That Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 did remain is something to celebrate, not criticise. Especially since so much of it is intact. For many, the Multiplayer and Zombies modes are the reasons they buy the game. To know those will be there, exactly as people would expect and remember, is something to celebrate.
People should be thankful for what we do get. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are nearing the end of their lifespans. Companies are jumping ship. We could see releases slow to a trickle as early as next year. Instead of criticising a company for taking what might seem like an “easy” way out, we should be happy that as many people as possible will get to enjoy one of 2015’s biggest releases.