Blizzard: Microsoft isn't doing enough for PC gaming

Posted Jun 30th 2008 8:30PM by Samuel Axon
Filed under: Biz, Interviews, Mac

Two Blizzard bigwigs -- SVP Rob Pardo and COO Paul Sams -- criticized Microsoft for not doing enough to support and propagate PC gaming in Windows, according to Gamasutra. At GDC Paris, Pardo said: "With Microsoft, I think they have a bit of lip service with PC gaming. They have their own game system now, so I don't think it's really in their best interest to support [PC]." He also suggested that Apple might step up to the plate that Microsoft has allegedly abandoned.

In a yet-to-be-published interview with Gamasutra, Sams continued where Pardo left off. "I kind of look at it and say to myself, and I think similarly to Rob, is that it would be great if they put more emphasis on the Windows operating system, certainly probably the most prominent operating system in the world. Even more so than console boxes," he said. "I think that there's more that can be done."

So add their voices to the increasingly discordant choir of developers simultaneously singing about the life and death of PC gaming. It should be no surprise that Blizzard is committed to the platform, though. Its recently-announced-megaton-of-a game Diablo III will be exclusive to Windows and Mac computers.

Tags: 360, apple, blizzard, diablo-3, diablo-iii, gdc-paris, gdc-paris-2008, interview, mac, microsoft, paris-gdc, paris-gdc-2008, paul-sams, pc-gaming, rob-pardo, windows, xbox-360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Well console last for a couple of years whereas PC become outdated every six months. PC can cost upwards of thousands of dollars and a console can be bought for about 300-600 dollars.Posted at 9:57PM on Jun 30th 2008 by Rambler

Well, add to the fact that piracy is so rampant, that would put most people off.

Though true that people who pirate it most likely would not buy it anyway, so it isnt "lost sales". A point that Crytek CEO missed entirely. Even if 20 people pirate for every sale, that does not mean you should have done 20 million in sales, lol.Posted at 12:03AM on Jul 1st 2008 by Xaijin

It's funny how these PC gaming companies always say Microsoft needs to do more for PC gaming, but they never seem to know what exactly Microsoft should be doing....its always "I think that there's more that can be done."Posted at 1:02AM on Jul 1st 2008 by Neil

Rambler: "...PC become outdated every six months."

Yes, better hardware may be released every six months, but a gaming-capable PC should be able to play every new game released with good quality graphics for at least two years, maybe even three, before needing to upgrade. And upgrading shouldn't be too expensive. Around $150 should get you a powerful graphics card that would be able to play the newest games with great graphics.Posted at 2:53AM on Jul 1st 2008 by Einhanderkiller

The problem with PC gaming is the prevalent practice of using copyright protection to 'proteck our preshous IP from piratez'. No-one likes having SecuRom/Starforce farqing up the computer they also have to use for work.Posted at 4:03AM on Jul 1st 2008 by waigore

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