GamingBolt recently caught up with S.J. Mueller, Creative Director on DC Universe Online to know how the Xbox One version is shaping up. Check out the entire interview below.
Note: This interview was conducted before the Xbox One version was launched.
What prompted the decision to bring DC Universe Online to Xbox One, especially considering it first released in 2011 and arrived on PS4 in November 2013?
When we transitioned to Daybreak Games last year, it opened up a lot of opportunities for us – we were able to redefine and evolve as a company. This also meant that we were able to develop games on different platforms like Xbox One. DC Universe Online has a thriving community and Xbox one users have been asking for us to bring the game over to the Xbox so that they too can be part of the DC Universe. We’re really excited that they’ll have the opportunity to work alongside (or against) Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Circe, Lex Luthor and the Joker this April when DCUO launches on the XB1.
Given the game’s success on PS3 and PS4, what are your goals for its Xbox One release?
Our top priority is a fun and immersive player experience. We aren’t changing the game’s core gameplay, and we hope that players on the Xbox One will have just as much fun as our current players exploring Gotham City, Metropolis, and beyond.
"DC Universe Online has a tremendous amount of content available, much of it for free. Since we launched the original game in 2011, we’ve put out 23+ Episodes of content (missions, instances, raids, etc.) to the end game."
What can you tell us about the current content for DC Universe Online and what Xbox One players can look forward to?
DC Universe Online has a tremendous amount of content available, much of it for free. Since we launched the original game in 2011, we’ve put out 23+ Episodes of content (missions, instances, raids, etc.) to the end game. It’s the ultimate DC experience with over 220 iconic DC characters. We’ve also got a lot of level-agnostic content like Legends, where players can actually PvP or run certain pieces of content as some of the most iconic DC characters like Batman, Green Lantern, and dozens more.
Will the game run at 1080p resolution and 60 FPS on the Xbox One?
The game will run at 1080P and 30+ FPS.
How are you dealing with the Xbox One’s complicated architecture, especially with eSRAM in the mix?
We are using the Unreal 3 engine which supports this architecture.
Are you using the 7th core CPU on the Xbox One to improve performance?
We aren’t using the 7th core, instead, we are using Unreal engine 3 to optimize performance on the Xbox One.
"Shortly after launch on Xbox One, we’ll be releasing Episodes 24 which means Darkseid is coming to DCUO! I can’t wait to see players work hard to get powerful enough to take him on."
What kind of new updates can we expect to coincide with the Xbox One release?
Shortly after launch on Xbox One, we’ll be releasing Episodes 24 which means Darkseid is coming to DCUO! I can’t wait to see players work hard to get powerful enough to take him on. Also, we’re adding new Harley Quinn missions to the game that are quite fun (and ridiculous). Around this time, we’ll also have our annual Spring seasonal event going on, which features Poison Ivy and Swamp Thing. Players can expect lots of updates throughout 2016, including more new features and lots of new story content.
What kind of modifications have you done to the game to better suit the Xbox One’s controller?
We want to make sure our game, including the controls, is familiar across all platforms to give players the best experience possible. No modifications to the controller were made.
Is there anything else you want to tell us before we let you go?
We just revamped the website (www.dcuniverseonline.com) and added a bunch of new content to help new players get started on the Xbox One. The site looks great, you should check it out!