Discussion Famitsu Interview with James Windeler (Narrative Director Guerrilla) on bringing Lego Horizon to Switch

[SirArthur]

https://www.famitsu.com/article/202406/7945

These quotes are translated using deepL.

The reason for bringing the game to switch.

Katada - I was even more surprised to hear that "Horizon," which has a strong impression of being a SIE first-party title, is also being developed for the Switch. Did you encounter any resistance to supplying software to a hardware rival?　What kind of discussions took place?

James- This is a very exciting and unique opportunity to tag team Nintendo. We are humbled and humbled by Nintendo's acceptance of this project.
Our main goal and objective in developing this game is to bring Hrizon to a wider audience of game fans. We want to make the game accessible to a wider audience.

For example, my wife and I can sit on the couch and play together, or I can go online and play co-op with a hardcore Horizon fan on the other side of the world, or I have an 11-year-old niece and an 8-year-old niece, and a lot of the games I've made have been for older people. I have an 11-year-old niece and an 8-year-old niece.

When I thought about making a family-friendly title that these children could play together, I decided that the Nintendo Switch hardware would be a great choice.

On developing for switch hardware.

Katada: Wasn't this the first time for you to make a game for the Switch? Were there any difficulties in development?

James: Personally, it was my first time, but there were many staff members on the team who had experience developing for the Switch, so there were no special difficulties.

Regardless of the hardware, we wanted to bring "Horizon" to as many people as possible, so we tried to keep the controls as simple as possible. In that sense, it may have been a first for us, but rather than calling it difficult, we took it as a positive opportunity and proceeded with development.

Nintendo has been very supportive of our development on the Nintendo Switch.

The interview goes deeper into difficulty levels, co-op play, among other topics, give it a look.

Additional information:

https://tweakers.net/reviews/12200/...mende-najaar-raytracing-in-een-lego-game.html

The game is using Unreal 5

On PlayStation 5 you have to choose between Performance Mode and Fidelity Mode. You can play at the first mode in 60fps, but then you can return some quality. In the second mode you have a better image, but you play in 30fps. I noticed that while playing, because LEGO Horizon Adventures just didn't feel completely fluent.

About Ray Tracing

James Windeler couldn't go into the details of that, but it does explain that there are visual similarities between Builder's Journey and LEGO Horizon Adventures

 

[ILikeFeet]

with people already experienced with switch development and a game scoped out for the system originally, it goes a long way into making the game smoothly scalable. wonder what tools they're using for this. doubt it's Decima Engine

 

[Lant_War]

with people already experienced with switch development and a game scoped out for the system originally, it goes a long way into making the game smoothly scalable. wonder what tools they're using for this. doubt it's Decima Engine

It's UE5, confirmed in some dutch interview

 

[Steve]

I’m curious if this will be the start of Sony releasing titles on the Switch and Switch 2. Not big releases, but smaller and more family oriented titles.

It's UE5, confirmed in some dutch interview

I’m curious if the Switch version is using UE5?

 

[SirArthur]

with people already experienced with switch development and a game scoped out for the system originally, it goes a long way into making the game smoothly scalable. wonder what tools they're using for this. doubt it's Decima Engine

It's UE5, confirmed in some dutch interview

This is the interview on the tech

https://tweakers.net/reviews/12200/...mende-najaar-raytracing-in-een-lego-game.html

On PlayStation 5 you have to choose between Performance Mode and Fidelity Mode. You can play at the first mode in 60fps, but then you can return some quality. In the second mode you have a better image, but you play in 30fps. I noticed that while playing, because LEGO Horizon Adventures just didn't feel completely fluent.

About Ray Tracing

James Windeler couldn't go into the details of that, but it does explain that there are visual similarities between Builder's Journey and LEGO Horizon Adventures

 

[ILikeFeet]

I’m curious if the Switch version is using UE5?

it will be. no one does multiple engines for ports anymore, thankfully

 

[Hero of Hyrule]

I’m curious if this will be the start of Sony releasing titles on the Switch and Switch 2. Not big releases, but smaller and more family oriented titles.


I’m curious if the Switch version is using UE5?

UE5 is Switch compatible so I assume

 

[Hero of Hyrule]

By the way this basically confirms it wasn't LEGO who forced Sony to do this but that Sony themselves made this decision

 

[Imitatio]

By the way this basically confirms it wasn't LEGO who forced Sony to do this but that Sony themselves made this decision

I can’t believe Sony PlayStation would do such a horrible thing to their customers. That’s not how you win the war, how you destroy the enemy.

 

[Jahranimo]

It's UE5, confirmed in some dutch interview

Very cool to see more UE5 games on Switch, even in its final couple of years.

 

[Dardan Sandiego]

Makes sense, this way Horizon fans who don’t have a PS5 also get to play it.

 

[robertman2]

By the way this basically confirms it wasn't LEGO who forced Sony to do this but that Sony themselves made this decision

Sony just shot themselves in the foot.

I don't know how much the rest of you know about PlayStation culture (I'm an expert), but honor and shame are huge parts of it. It's not like it is in Nintendo where you can become successful by being an asshole. If you screw someone over in PlayStation, you bring shame to yourself, and the only way to get rid of that shame is repentance.

What this means is the PlayStation public, after hearing about this, is not going to want to purchase Lego Horizon for either system, nor will they purchase any of Sony's games. This is HUGE. You can laugh all you want, but Sony has alienated an entire market with this move.

Sony, publicly apologize and cancel Lego Horizon for Switch or you can kiss your business goodbye.

 

[SkaizoAgain]

Sony just shot themselves in the foot.

I don't know how much the rest of you know about PlayStation culture (I'm an expert), but honor and shame are huge parts of it. It's not like it is in Nintendo where you can become successful by being an asshole. If you screw someone over in PlayStation, you bring shame to yourself, and the only way to get rid of that shame is repentance.

What this means is the PlayStation public, after hearing about this, is not going to want to purchase Lego Horizon for either system, nor will they purchase any of Sony's games. This is HUGE. You can laugh all you want, but Sony has alienated an entire market with this move.

Sony, publicly apologize and cancel Lego Horizon for Switch or you can kiss your business goodbye.

I recognize this copypasta, but I can’t remember the original version.

 

[robertman2]

I recognize this copypasta, but I can’t remember the original version.

It was about Final Fantasy XIII getting a port to Xbox 360

 

[mazi]

Sony just shot themselves in the foot.

I don't know how much the rest of you know about PlayStation culture (I'm an expert), but honor and shame are huge parts of it. It's not like it is in Nintendo where you can become successful by being an asshole. If you screw someone over in PlayStation, you bring shame to yourself, and the only way to get rid of that shame is repentance.

What this means is the PlayStation public, after hearing about this, is not going to want to purchase Lego Horizon for either system, nor will they purchase any of Sony's games. This is HUGE. You can laugh all you want, but Sony has alienated an entire market with this move.

Sony, publicly apologize and cancel Lego Horizon for Switch or you can kiss your business goodbye.

 

[AxkilAvenger]

I can’t believe Sony PlayStation would do such a horrible thing to their customers. That’s not how you win the war, how you destroy the enemy.

I’ve been told Sony and Nintendo are not competing

 

[Tentacle-tropes]

It was about Final Fantasy XIII getting a port to Xbox 360

Time really flies. I remember reading that & it has since been immortalized along with the Switch failure copypasta.

 

[ziggyrivers]

It was about Final Fantasy XIII getting a port to Xbox 360

Is it that old? wow

So it was originally intended to Square Enix?

 

[Linkstrikesback]

I’ve been told Sony and Nintendo are not competing

In the same way, how was it Loki put it? "A boot doesn't concern itself with an ant", perhaps.

 

[ILikeFeet]

Is it that old? wow

So it was originally intended to Square Enix?

aye. shit was a trip back then

 

[Jahranimo]

I guess the Xbox platform just isn't a natural fit for this game.

 

[Hero of Legend]

It was about Final Fantasy XIII getting a port to Xbox 360

Indeed, I even uploaded an IGN HD camera grab of that very trailer!

I guess the Xbox platform just isn't a natural fit for this game.

I was glancing at the UK Charts over the recent weeks, and my god, Xbox versions of any LEGO game sell in the single digits and I can't imagine the digital share is THAT high to make up for it. Switch on the other hand seems to commonly lead by at least 50% of all tracked sales and I think even as high as 80%?

I wanted to find any MLB The Show breakdowns, but I can't even find concrete proof any even release in PAL regions. Even Nintendo didn't bother with Super Sluggers in EU. Maybe someone with NPD access can divulge.

 

[Koren Lesthe]

UE5 is Switch compatible so I assume

Fortnite runs on Switch.

 

[Sampdoria]

Probably because Lego games sell more on Nintendo consoles.

 

[Look over there]

And that's confirmation of the awareness of the long term battle for future generations. They're not fools.

 

[Mr Swine]

I can’t believe Sony PlayStation would do such a horrible thing to their customers. That’s not how you win the war, how you destroy the enemy.

Oh they are destroying Nintendo! by releasing games that run at 240p/20fps with N64 like textures, geometry and effects while having ads showing how good the PS5 version is at 4K! Smart Sony is smart!

/s


is there any Switch footage or are they putting all focus on the PS5 version?

 

[Mendinso]

Even though it's a Lego license, the wording in there absolutely is really interesting. This'll be the third Sony IP published on a Nintendo system since launch of PlayStation, correct? Prior two were Return to PoPoLoCrois on 3DS (Via Marvelous), and MLB the Show.

 

[thoughthaver]

just port the og horizon zero dawn game to switch 2 and maybe switch 1. this stuff about trying to draw in younger switch gamers to a 500 dollar console feels like an exercise in futility. might as well go to the place where they are. they have already broken the "playstation exclusive on a nintendo console" taboo too.

 

[sagadego20]

Even though it's a Lego license, the wording in there absolutely is really interesting. This'll be the third Sony IP published on a Nintendo system since launch of PlayStation, correct? Prior two were Return to PoPoLoCrois on 3DS (Via Marvelous), and MLB the Show.

Free ape escape please

 

[Look over there]

just port the og horizon zero dawn game to switch 2 and maybe switch 1. this stuff about trying to draw in younger switch gamers to a 500 dollar console feels like an exercise in futility. might as well go to the place where they are. they have already broken the "playstation exclusive on a nintendo console" taboo too.

Ehh, I wouldn't go that far just yet. I think that they can keep that veneer of exclusivity for the IP by keeping the 'mainline' entries off other consoles, while letting the 'deliberately all-ages' spinoffs come to Nintendo.
Spin it as, 'guys, guys, no need to freak out. Those are for the kiddies. But the real, mainline entries for grown ups remain a Playstation special'

 

[Hero of Hyrule]

Fortnite runs on Switch.

That's what I am saying

 

[Steve]

That's what I am saying

it's running with hopes and dreams.

 

[Hero of Legend]

Free ape escape please

Add inhales:

Jak & Daxter
Sly Cooper
Ratchet & Clank
Gravity Rush
Wild Arms
Arc the Lad
Parappa the Rapper
Loco Roco
Patapon
Little Big Planet/Sack Boy
Tearaway
Puppeteer
Tokyo Jungle
Brave Story (remember that one?)
Dark Cloud
Everybody's/Hot Shots Golf
2013 GOTY Knack

Likely missing some, but that should cover the vast majority of family and anime/JP games under Sony that some would quote unquote "clash" with the uber hardcore AAA aesthetic Sony's cultivated these days. I'd love to see The last Guardian on Switch 2 (hell Switch 1 should work with its PS3 roots), and I don't think that was a big seller either, but who knows is that "counts?". Shadow of the Colossus is sort of Sony's one Japanese AAA PS2 title really that does fit that current mold. HELL, I wonder if an official sequel WOULD sell to the current audience... I dunno. Demon's Souls Remake cratered didn't it? But I wonder if the fact it was by Bluepoint (with notable artistic changes) vs. from, er, FROM Software being a reason.

I'd be fine with any amount of the list above really. Just today I was happily imagining a Sly Collection with all four games on Switch, all on the cart (should easily fit in a 16GB one, even 8GB depending). Even if Sanzaru is in Meta hell, get Engine Software on it, they got the chops or anyone else who'd happily take the job.

 

[SirArthur]

is there any Switch footage or are they putting all focus on the PS5 version?

All the previews were on PS5

 

[Dardan Sandiego]

Add inhales:

Jak & Daxter
Sly Cooper
Ratchet & Clank
Gravity Rush
Wild Arms
Arc the Lad
Parappa the Rapper
Loco Roco
Patapon
Little Big Planet/Sack Boy
Tearaway
Puppeteer
Tokyo Jungle
Brave Story (remember that one?)
Dark Cloud
Everybody's/Hot Shots Golf
2013 GOTY Knack

Likely missing some, but that should cover the vast majority of family and anime/JP games under Sony that some would quote unquote "clash" with the uber hardcore AAA aesthetic Sony's cultivated these days. I'd love to see The last Guardian on Switch 2 (hell Switch 1 should work with its PS3 roots), and I don't think that was a big seller either, but who knows is that "counts?". Shadow of the Colossus is sort of Sony's one Japanese AAA PS2 title really that does fit that current mold. HELL, I wonder if an official sequel WOULD sell to the current audience... I dunno. Demon's Souls Remake cratered didn't it? But I wonder if the fact it was by Bluepoint (with notable artistic changes) vs. from, er, FROM Software being a reason.

I'd be fine with any amount of the list above really. Just today I was happily imagining a Sly Collection with all four games on Switch, all on the cart (should easily fit in a 16GB one, even 8GB depending). Even if Sanzaru is in Meta hell, get Engine Software on it, they got the chops or anyone else who'd happily take the job.

You won't believe this but I have the product for you that will allow you to play most of these.

 

[Hero of Legend]

You won't believe this but I have the product for you that will allow you to play most of these.

I'm not spending $500 to play these.

 

[Steve]

You won't believe this but I have the product for you that will allow you to play most of these.

Would be nice if we got new installments for most of these titles.

Gravity rush, my belove.

 

[Hero of Hyrule]

I'm not spending $500 to play these.

I mean fine, but you're basically asking a platform holder to port over a very substantial portion of their first party catalog to a competing system. That seems misguided at best.

EDIT: Demon's Souls remake did not "crater", it sold as much as a pre-Elden Ring exclusive Souls game as a launch title would have (it had sold 1.4 million in six months)

 

[Hajeman]

This Lego Horizon better price at $40 or $30 because I didn't buy $60 game that last only 7 hours

 

[Hajeman]

Makes sense, this way Horizon fans who don’t have a PS5 also get to play it.

It's not full fledged Horizon game, this lego version only around 7 hours of gameplay

 

[criticalhit]

Add inhales:

Jak & Daxter
Sly Cooper
Ratchet & Clank
Gravity Rush
Wild Arms
Arc the Lad
Parappa the Rapper
Loco Roco
Patapon
Little Big Planet/Sack Boy
Tearaway
Puppeteer
Tokyo Jungle
Brave Story (remember that one?)
Dark Cloud
Everybody's/Hot Shots Golf
2013 GOTY Knack

Likely missing some, but that should cover the vast majority of family and anime/JP games under Sony that some would quote unquote "clash" with the uber hardcore AAA aesthetic Sony's cultivated these days. I'd love to see The last Guardian on Switch 2 (hell Switch 1 should work with its PS3 roots), and I don't think that was a big seller either, but who knows is that "counts?". Shadow of the Colossus is sort of Sony's one Japanese AAA PS2 title really that does fit that current mold. HELL, I wonder if an official sequel WOULD sell to the current audience... I dunno. Demon's Souls Remake cratered didn't it? But I wonder if the fact it was by Bluepoint (with notable artistic changes) vs. from, er, FROM Software being a reason.

I'd be fine with any amount of the list above really. Just today I was happily imagining a Sly Collection with all four games on Switch, all on the cart (should easily fit in a 16GB one, even 8GB depending). Even if Sanzaru is in Meta hell, get Engine Software on it, they got the chops or anyone else who'd happily take the job.

Post is a little ridiculous. The Last Guardian, Demon's Souls, and Shadow of the Colossus have... very little in common in terms of what they offer. They're all... Japanese? Why would Sony ever port those games over lol? Think about it the other way around -- would Nintendo port their games that don't sell as well as their major franchises over? What about the IPs they no longer make new games for? Should they port those over, too?

It's OK for IP to be moved on from.

 

[Tentacle-tropes]

Even though it's a Lego license, the wording in there absolutely is really interesting. This'll be the third Sony IP published on a Nintendo system since launch of PlayStation, correct? Prior two were Return to PoPoLoCrois on 3DS (Via Marvelous), and MLB the Show.

It’s not a Sony IP but I still giggle when I see Aniplex (Sony Music) having an exclusive in Today’s Menu for the Emiya Family

 

[Hero of Legend]

It’s not a Sony IP but I still giggle when I see Aniplex (Sony Music) having an exclusive in Today’s Menu for the Emiya Family

It was super brief but they also released that Demon Slayer Sweep the Board game on Switch exclusively. It's getting ported in short order, but that was a big surprise and the ports were only announced after release IIRC.

 

[Mendinso]

It was super brief but they also released that Demon Slayer Sweep the Board game on Switch exclusively. It's getting ported in short order, but that was a big surprise and the ports were only announced after release IIRC.

Yeah. It's kinda wild that Aniplex titles are showing up on Switch first at times, but I also get Aniplex tends to be more agnostic in terms of divisions for Sony and has often pushed against interference from what I've heard on the anime side of things. Heck, Sony's PC division was similar in they were operated separately from the PlayStation side up until some years ago (barring me not misremembering things).

The more interesting thing was PoPoLoCrois since that was a first party title with co-owner with the creator (PoPoLoCrois is a unique IP for Sony, honestly given the parties involved). When the game was announced for the 3DS around 2016 or so, that was a clear indicator that Sony was absolutely done with the Vita if they were allowing their own IP on 3DS via a cross over title. It's also really wild to see all of (at the time named) Sony Computer Entertainment information on the 3DS packaging, eShop, and such, even if Marvelous was the publisher (via XseeD for parts of the world outside of Japan).

Things are really weird right now in the games industry for where titles are showing up and honestly, I "really" hope Sony decides to continue releasing General Audience and Family/Kids games on Switch (and the successor), since those titles can be pretty restrictive with building a younger demographic and sometimes the absolute death song for those type of games. Hopefully Astro Bot proves me wrong in how well it does, but we'll see.

 

[AllEchse]

I’m curious if this will be the start of Sony releasing titles on the Switch and Switch 2. Not big releases, but smaller and more family oriented titles.


I’m curious if the Switch version is using UE5?

Imagine Astro Bot with all those playstation references on a Nintendo console lol

 

[ILikeFeet]

Yeah. It's kinda wild that Aniplex titles are showing up on Switch first at times, but I also get Aniplex tends to be more agnostic in terms of divisions for Sony and has often pushed against interference from what I've heard on the anime side of things. Heck, Sony's PC division was similar in they were operated separately from the PlayStation side up until some years ago (barring me not misremembering things).

Is that really weird though? Sony Music, Sony Electronics, and Sony Interactive Entertainment are 3 independent companies under a conglomerate. Despite the whole "one sony" thing, they put their best interests firsts

 

[Celine]

Other family-friendly SIE IPs like Astro Bot, Sackboy, Tearway and Ratchet & Clank etc. would benefit from Nintendo's expanded audience.
Even more niche japanophile titles like Gravity Rush would greatly benefit from it.

 

[Bonejack]

If you told me 10 - 15 years ago, the high times of "Nintendo needs to go 3rd party" mindset (not mine of course), that in the year 2024 a Nintendo system would be receiving games from their 1st party console-maker competitors, and doing so by their own decision and motivation, i would've laughed at you.

But here we are.