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E3 2014: Why Magicka 2 Is Coming to PS4, but Not Xbox One (for Now)

Paradox CEO Fredrik Wester says Sony's plans for hardcore gamers were "more solid" than Microsoft's.

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Speaking with GameSpot today at E3, Paradox Interactive CEO Fredrik Wester explained why the company is choosing to release Magicka 2 on the PlayStation 4 and not the Xbox One. According to Wester, Sony was better focused on hardcore gamers than Microsoft, at least at the time when Paradox signed a deal to bring the game to the PS4. On top of that, Wester already had connections at Sony, he said.

"We hope to go to the Xbox One as well. We want to be on all platforms where our gamers are." -- Fredrik Wester

"I think the fact that we had some personal connections with Sony and we also felt that their offerings toward the hardcore gamers that we were after were more solid than the ones Microsoft had," Wester said. "Now I think, looking back at it, it's probably quite equal. But back then, it sounded like Sony had a more solid offering. But we hope to go to the Xbox One as well. We want to be on all platforms where our gamers are."

Also during our interview, Wester revealed that Paradox's deal with Sony for Magicka 2 is only a timed exclusive, meaning the game could someday come to the Xbox One. "We'll see if Microsoft is still interested in working with Magicka when that time is up. We'd be happy to bring it to the Xbox One."

In addition to the PS4, Magicka 2 is coming to the PC. The game includes four-player co-op, as well as a story-driven campaign and "plenty of surprises," according to Paradox. We'll have more from our interview with Wester in the days ahead.

See more coverage of E3 2014 →

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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BDRTFM

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lol, this CEO is not very bright. He thought only PlayStation owners would be hard core gamers? He thought only non-HC gamers would buy an X1? Most so-called hard core gamers buy both consoles. And what does it matter? Does he really think most people interested in this game are the hard cores? He bought into the Sony hype like a 10-year-old and now regrets it. Did he really think the X1 was going to die or something? Like a minimum of 5 million extra customers wasn't worthy of his game? This company might want to consider a new CEO.

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constantterror

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I could be a crybaby about the cod 30 exclusive dlc that xbox does but I don't cause I can careless about it I won't buy it even when it is released on Playstation cause Playstation has better games than xbox ever will have period.

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constantterror

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Hey news flash Playstation gamers are more hardcore but if you actually read the post you would understand what he meant and the reason Playstation has more hardcore gamers is because we're not waiting on another retarded halo or cod or any fps we love all sorts of games not hust fps's so yes we Playstation gamers are more hardcore than xbox just deal with it and one more thing EAT IT..........

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poopoohed

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<< LINK REMOVED >> You mad?

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meatz666

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<< LINK REMOVED >> You should read the article first. He didn't say X1 has no HC gamers

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monkeypukefight

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> people seem to lack the ability to read between the lines nowadays...

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Vegeta-sama

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Exclusive deal is an automagical work around the parity clause

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wallacom

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Well a lot of ID@XBOX are timed exclusives also. Personally I couldn't care less about indies, unless they are really good, like antichamber.

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Vegeta-sama

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<< LINK REMOVED >> that Ori and the Dark Forest llooks sweet and the one that looks like a old classic cartoon

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Jeager_Titan

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Cuphead.

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Isane-Bishop

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No! It was not because of Sony has solid plans for hardcore gamers. Its because of those PERSONAL CONNECTIONS ( MONEY HAT! ) Thats why this game is coming to PS4 and not Xbox One.

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Remoticons

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lol, of course you want to be on every platform... duh.. but it appears sony came to you and asked for something, or you watched ps4 beat xboxone, whatever the reason, this is sad to be asking MS to invite you to the prom and be grateful you are expanding your audience

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franken_stein

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Your extreme bias makes anything you say automatically invalid just an FYI.

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Harrason

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I guess people are already forgetting about those idiotic polices in ID@XBox.

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Vegeta-sama

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> the exclusive deal makes those moot... assuming you're talking about parity clause...

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Isane-Bishop

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<< LINK REMOVED >> If it so IDIOTIC. Why are games are being made for it?

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Harrason

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<< LINK REMOVED >>

You think everybody who would have liked to make games on it did so?

Simply, some people could afford to release for all the platforms at the same time, so that's no trouble.

To others, just merely because they developed for one platform in which they are more familiar with first, they had to actually fork out even more costs to get on the other console, otherwise they can't get in.

But then again, maybe you didn't think about that, so I don't really blame you.

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insloanwetrust

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Nope MS will throw the toys out of the pram and state parity clause.

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Thanatos2k

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Working with Microsoft is a pain, we've heard this over and over from indie devs. Microsoft also imposes idiotic restrictions on when and when people can't release their own game.

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Vegeta-sama

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I'm pretty sure ID@Xbox allows them to choose that date and price stuff for themselves

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rasterror

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I hate that term hard core gamer. What truly is a hard core gamer? If one person plays a game on their phone for hours a day everyday, are they less hard core than someone that might play a game like Dark Souls 4 or 5 hours a week? I hate the label. It's almost like you have to conform to a certain standard or play specific games to be considered a gamer. Should we have been stuck in the Genesis and SNES era seeing that their systems only offered games, or should we be happy that a gaming console can also act as our main media hub? Sure I understand having a better relationship with console maker A or B but labeling one group gamers and the others not seems down right insulting.

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Thanatos2k

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<< LINK REMOVED >> A gamer is someone that seeks out gaming because they enjoy it, and does not play games simply to pass the time (casual).


A hardcore gamer plays more gamers than your average gamer, is more knowledgeable about gaming than your average gamer, and actively learns more about gaming like keeping up with gaming news to learn about future titles. A regular gamer just buys things that come out when they hear about them.


In summary - while a gamer likes video games, a hardcore gamer CARES about gaming.

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deactivated-5d762a7e1423c

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@Thanatos2k @rasterror How is it possible 6 people approved of this comment? Gamers may or may not like the game, they're just killing time....hardcore gamers, now they really like playing the games...what %^$ rubbish.


If you want to delineate between casual gamers and 'hardcore' gamers, the only possible way to do so is based on the amount of time they spend playing....not based on your guess at how much they enjoy playing....good grief.

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meatz666

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Now 7. Don't get attached to the word "hardcore", it's just a term to define how much you like games, not how much time you spend on them. To make easy for ya:

Casual Movie goer = casual gamer

Cinephile = hardcore gamer

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Thanatos2k

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<< LINK REMOVED >> How much you care about something determines how invested you are in it. Not just in gaming, in anything.


If you play Candy Crush and don't own a console, you are not a hardcore gamer no matter how much you play it.

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rasterror

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Valid point. But what if someone, like myself, doesn't have much time to play but follows news or one person might love app store games and follows them? I'm not saying there isn't a difference I just hate when the term is in a way to discredit people. It's like when the Wii came out and you had a huge influx of people that normally wouldn't play games now playing them. Shouldn't we encourage new people and have them appreciate what we've loved all along or should we scoff at them and make them feel unwelcome?

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Thanatos2k

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@rasterror Yes, we should encourage people new people to play video games. Real video games. Not free to play games. Not games with DLC and microtransactions. Real honest games. Mobile gaming is not encouraging them, that's exposing them to garbage.


It would be like getting someone into movies by forcing them to watch Transformers 2.

In regards to the Wii - my parents own a Wii. They own exactly one game for the system - Wii Sports. The system isn't even hooked up anymore.

These people are not gamers, let alone hardcore gamers. If they deigned to voice an opinion about gaming they SHOULD be discredited because they have no idea what they're talking about.

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meatz666

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Lol. I was going for that Transformers analogy.

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rasterror

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But why should we judge someone for what they like? I remember people judging people for liking 3D games and not sticking to traditional platforms, or people making fun of American RPG's, and so many other new styles of gaming at that time. We should encourage new forms but not abandon the old completely. There's gonna be a point, like in Japan, where mobile gaming is king. We just have to make it so that that are favorite console game makers don't feel like they're selling out when they move there eventually.

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Thanatos2k

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Uh, what? Judging people based on what they like and don't like is a perfectly normal human reaction that occurs in all facets of life.

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rasterror

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I guess you someone might be too young to remember paying either half or the same price for expansion packs or SNES or Genesis games. I remember my mom paying $80 for Streets of Rage 2 and my dad paying $130 for Sonic 2 and the turbo controller. Then I remember paying $30 for 2 hour long expansion packs. Sure some are poorly priced but games have more value now then they've ever had.

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Vodoo

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It's kinda hard to avoid games with dlc & microtransactions. All, or most, of the best games have them these days.

And not all dlc is bad. The chapters in Telltales' Walking Dead games are dlc. It comes down to individual value. If I feel a dlc pack brought added value to my game, then that's a good dlc add-on. Others may not find that the same pack adds any value to their game. Different things suit different gamers. Dlc is not always a bad thing.

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Thanatos2k

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Walking Dead DLC is just a way to get you to buy the game before they finish it. I only purchase episodic games once all episodes are complete.

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Billzihang

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If it's anything like the first one, this game is going to be immense fun

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