Dead Space 2 canned on PC?

By Tom Bramwell Published 10 February, 2010

"PC SKU is not in the plan", apparently.

EA has reportedly said that Dead Space 2 is not on its way to PC after all.

"As of right now a PC SKU is not in the plan," a spokesperson told Blue's News.

The game was originally announced for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 in December.

This week the publisher said to expect the game between January and March 2011.

We've contacted EA to clarify the loss of the PC version.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (52) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Doctor_What #1 2 years ago

    How odd. Surely a Steam release could make some money for them? Though this is EA, so I think they're trying to avoid giving Valve money if they can avoid it.

    It's a sign of how bad piracy is on the PC when a 360 release isn't going to be ported. Is it really so hard to make development worthwhile on that platform now?

  • Negotiator #2 2 years ago

    This is the end of PC gaming, nevermind.

  • matrim83 #3 2 years ago

    DS 1 on the PC was an abysmal effort. Its not really a huge loss.

  • misinformed #4 2 years ago

    Yep no great loss.

  • bluem4gic #5 2 years ago

    I bought the first one PC as well as PS3 is that not enough EA?

  • Shakey_Jake33 #6 2 years ago

    Wow, this was quite high on my 'to buy' list. Their loss, there's not a shortage of great games this year.

  • Schiraman #7 2 years ago

    I really enjoyed Dead Space on the PC, so a sequel would have been a definite buy for me. Oh well, their loss.

  • Eraysor #8 2 years ago

    Anyone who's only played DS on a PC should give it a try on a console. The PC version was absolutely horrendous compared to the 360 version; it was nowhere near as dark and the mouse control was incredibly floaty.

  • FogHeart #9 2 years ago

    The mouse control was utterly gash - and then you turn on vsync, and suddenly it was perfect. As a bizarre side-effect, load and save times became instantaneous - to the point that I had to double-check that a save had actually happened.

    Try it again, if you still have it installed!

    Oh, and to comment on the news. (Expletive) pirates. That is all. `(¬_¬)

  • Murton #10 2 years ago

    I don't think piracy is the issue, if it was then we'd be seeing less 360 games and way less DS games than we do currently. Dead Space 1, though much beloved by fans didn't sell very well, nowhere near the numbers that EA was expecting. Also Dead Space 1 on the PC was a truly bad port, I seem to remember the reaction it received being along the lines of "if you're not going to do it properly then don't bother" seems that EA may have listened.

  • Negotiator #11 2 years ago

    PC games in general don't sell anymore, thats why you will start to see less and less games coming to PC, nevermind.

  • bad09 #12 2 years ago

    No way, I'm loving DS on PC! So is disappointment all PC gamers have to look forward to? I had 2 already in 2010 with pad support on ME2 and Bioshock, one of my 2009 disappointments is coming to an end with PC finally getting last years AC2 next month and before even March they are lining up my 2011 heartbreaks!

    Christ, devs ignoring pad users, unreasonable DRM, late releases, dropping PC for for titles completely. I've only been back PC since last August and I am starting to wonder if the conspiracy theories on people being herded onto closed platform consoles might hold some weight after all.

    No PC = no sale EA (and a PC consumer with money unhappy with YOUR actions)
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 09:43

  • LHH #13 2 years ago

    Probably because they wanted to sell some copies rather than watch it get pirated to shit

  • StooMonster #14 2 years ago

    No!

    I loved the PC version and planned to buy Dead Space 2 on PC too, this does not mean I am going to buy this titles on a console ... I'll prolly buy a different PC game instead.

    EA, you just lost some revenue.

  • jebus #15 2 years ago

    @Murton
    "I don't think piracy is the issue..."

    Well it's certainly got something to do with it. Companies live and die by their ROI. PC versions have got to the point (through piracy as well as other issues but mainly piracy I'd guess) where that ROI falls below that accepted value. Even though DS on PC was a total abortion of a port there is still a significant development cost to porting it and that cost and profit determine the ROI. Once the margins are too small - no PC version. It's pretty simple really, they are a business at the end of the day not a benveolent father figure.
    Sadly I think it's more and more likley with the odd PC game bucking the trend. Mainly huge titles that even though pirated heavily still make a profit simply because even though there are only 33% sold and 66% pirated 33% of a huge number is still a lot of cash and profit and MMO's and other subcription services.

  • jellyhead #16 2 years ago

    Oh, well. Looks like EA are allergic to my money. DS1 was fine on PC both with mouse and Joypad and especially at the nutty resolutions i could play it at. No PC version, no purchase.

  • ZuluHero #17 2 years ago

    Is this the beginning of the end?

  • Tangled #18 2 years ago

    What was bad about the PC port? It's the only version I played, and didn't notice anything bad. Maybe I'm used to even worse conversions :)

  • bad09 #19 2 years ago

    "Is this the beginning of the end? "

    If it is then it's the end of my love affair with gaming. Now I'm on PC for all my gaming I'm not going back to expensive consoles, if they force me to I will hack a 360 and pirate the shit out of EVERYTHING!

  • thesombrerokid #20 2 years ago

    Piracy is worse on the 360 than it is on the PC, it's nothing to do with piracy it's because the developer made a console exclusive and doesn't want to backport the tech, end of story.

  • LHH #21 2 years ago

    Piracy is worse on the 360 than it is on the PC, it's nothing to do with piracy it's because the developer made a console exclusive and doesn't want to backport the tech, end of story.

    oh you.

  • Seoh #22 2 years ago

    On the topic of PC piracy i think digital distribution is helping with the problem. Whats the point of pirating a a game if you know you can get it on steam for £10 during an offer.

    If anything i am now buying more games on the PC even tho i own both consoles eg bioshock 2 PS3 = £37. PC version + bio 1 = £26

  • ChaK #23 2 years ago

    You stupid piece of fucking monkey scum EA.

    I hate you

    edit : @Tangled : No, I played it and it was perfectly fine too. I loved it.

    man that sucks
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 11:15

  • Haloboy #24 2 years ago

    @ Negotiator

    Yes because digital distribution doesn't work now does it, well obviously. Apart from this pretty much everything else is coming to PC very soon or by the end of the year at least. So whatyoutalkinaboutwillis?

  • bad09 #25 2 years ago

    "I know pc fans will get angry over this, but DS:2 should be played on a huge HD screen on your couch and scare you shitless, it's that kind of game. If I played it on my pc with superior (twitchy/unrealistic) mouse controls and a screen 1/4th the size it wouldn't nearly have captivated me as much."

    :)

    Dude step out of the 90's!

    / plays DS on a 42" HDTV on the couch....on PC

  • FogHeart #26 2 years ago

    Erm...I did play it on the couch using a big telly. And I only bought the PC version. PC does not mean "can't use a telly".

    Nagging spouse who doesn't want PC in living room means that :p

  • Haloboy #27 2 years ago

    I had a nagging spouse when playing the first DS, mostly thanks to me shouting out 'FUUUUUCK!!!' every few minutes.

  • FooAtari #28 2 years ago

    /facepalm at the PC gaming is dead comments, and especially the huge TV and couch post (notmyrealname).

    Luckily for my time, I've lost the will to argue about it.

    I guess EA are selectively releasing games on the PC. Dragons Age sold very well as far as I know.

    The only real problem I have with EG is the console bias of it's readership, always some real ignorant comments about PC gaming. And I don't think I have come across another site where it's readers are so eager for a platform to die out.
    Edited by 2 at 10/02/10 @ 11:33

  • RESIDENT_nEVILe #29 2 years ago

    Blimey. Its like HDMI/VGA never existed.

    Have I wandered into a parallel dimension? Mummy!
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 11:30

  • Hypercube #30 2 years ago

    Played it on PC, liked it, set it up so the controls were good, graphics were superior to 360, large monitor closer had a better picture than big TV further away.

    I wonder what the real reason was.

  • metalmike25 #31 2 years ago

    @FooAtari

    Totally agree with you about the readers on this site having bias against PC gaming. I don't actually play any games on my PC because it rubbish but even i know you can hook it up to the TV. In the Darwinia review the reviewer claimed that playing it on the couch was exclusive to the XBox version so maybe it's not just the readers who don't like PCs

  • bad09 #32 2 years ago

    @ metalmike25

    I don't think it's a case of liking it's just a lot of people don't really know what PC is about these days (even some PC gamers TBH).

    To nick Richard Leadbetter's term (2nd time today!) it's become the "4th console" for many in recent years, a lot of people don't seem to get that.

  • Murton #33 2 years ago

    The "playing on the couch" argument is based on the assumption that the vast majority of PCs are plugged into regular monitors and live on a desk while the console is plugged into the big screen and lives in the living room, and it's not an unfair assumption to be honest.

  • metalmike25 #34 2 years ago

    @ Murton

    I see what you mean, maybe its a case of raising awareness of how easy it is to get the best out of a PC. It seems that there are a lot of PC gamers who treat PC gaming as an elite club that don't like to include anyone. So you have console dicks who have a chip on their shoulder about PCs on one side and on the other side PC snobs who look down on consoles.

  • jellyhead #35 2 years ago

    "And to those who claim the piracy is no problem for developers... "

    What? ... give us an answer, man! :)

    Piracy is an issue but it's not soley a PC issue and not soley the reason for the PC being killed by publishers. In fact the 360 version of MW2 was cracked and released before the PC was. I'm still not convinced that every pirated game is a lost sale but that a different topic for another place.
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 12:43

  • Faldrath #36 2 years ago

    I tried to play Dead Space on the PC. I don't own a console, but it was still easy to detect a shoddy port. First the V-Sync issue that was mentioned before. Second, the fact that a lot of the keys weren't remappable without a 3rd-party hack (I am a lefty, and thus do not play with WASD - but you couldn't remap that in Dead Space). Third, the issue with the difficulty level suddenly changing without notice, which I believe was never fixed.

    That, and the fact that aiming was ridiculous, ruined it for me. I'm glad I only wasted something like $5 on it because of the Steam holiday sale.
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 13:08

  • jambo74 #37 2 years ago

    Unlucky PC gamers - wake up and see that the PC was not designed as a mass produced games machine. Yes it plays games but that it not it's 'real' function.

    Quit the wine and instead of your next GFX card upggrade go and get a console this time.
    You will miss one itteration of GFX update and open a new door for you games.
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 13:30

  • FogHeart #38 2 years ago

    "Quit the wine..."

    Never!

    /Glug

  • bealios #39 2 years ago

    We should all be concerned if PC gaming dies out. With most multiformat games, the PC version is the best version. No questions. Better graphics, sound etc.. Problem is that its the most expensive to play.

    Does that mean that it is not a viable platform, because it costs more to play better versions? No, it never should. But we live in a world where profit is king, and if a publisher can squeeze more profit out of an inferior product, then it will.

    Look what happened to Concorde - better version of flying than a 747, but not as cheap and suitable for the mass market, therefore a technological achievement is binned because there are easier ways to make money.

    Its a wonder we ever made it to the moon.

  • TSYNDMonkfish #40 2 years ago

    Its not going to happen Jambo, Consols are great & all but there is huge market for people who want to play the most varied inovative selection of games on the best available technology. Thats the part of the market only a PC can fill.

  • Gunzberg #41 2 years ago

    Nooo. I found it hard to play on the PS3, so bought it on the PC and completed it on that platform....

    EA, how about making it download only or something or the other if it's a piracy issue, but I guess this has to do with sales.

  • Murton #42 2 years ago

    I'll never get this whole PC owner superiority complex. Up until a couple of years ago I'd have called myself a mostly PC gamer, but that was in the PS2 days where consoles clearly weren't on par with the PC for quality or complexity in games, still owned and enjoyed games on the PS2 though, including multiplatforms. With the 360 and PS3 though that gap has closed significantly yet PC owners seem to believe that no progress has been made with the consoles this generation, which I think even the most vehement of "console-haters" knows to be utter bull.

    The publishers are making their decision to concentrate on the consoles rather than the PC, it's unfortunate but it's happening and no amount of technological willy-waving is going to change their minds, it's time to move on.

  • bad09 #43 2 years ago

    @ Murton

    "With the 360 and PS3 though that gap has closed significantly yet PC owners seem to believe that no progress has been made with the consoles this generation, which I think even the most vehement of "console-haters" knows to be utter bull."

    When they launched they did of course...but technology evolves and can be updated in PC. My PC is only mid range but still absolutely kills the consoles. No PC elitism (I've owned all the consoles this gen as well) just fact.

    Of course when the next round of consoles hit the gap will narrow again and of course with time graphic technology will mean the PC pulls away again. The circle continues....
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 14:37

  • bealios #44 2 years ago

    @Murton

    I don't think its a superiority complex, its just that most people who have gone to the lengths to register on Eurogamer could quite fairly be called gaming enthusiasts. Enthusiasts tend to want to play the best version of the game that is available, its part of the geekiness in us all.

    I love my PS3, use it all of the time, mainly because my personal home set up involves my PS3 on a 50" HDTV with surround, and my PC doesn't (at the moment). But if I had the choice I would prefer to play the PC version of a multi format game, and not the PS3 version (or Xbox)

  • RESIDENT_nEVILe #45 2 years ago

    @Murton

    I used to have the same view as you, but surely if people have the money to spend then they should be allowed to by the best version on of the game.

    PC gaming can get expensive, but the fact is we are all gamers looking for the very best experience possible. Like every gen of consoles we're reaching the peak performance possible without a hardware upgrade, whilst the PC marches on in front.

    Lots of developers are denying us the choice of making use of cutting edge technology because of the increasingly lucrative console market. Its nothing to do with elitism - it's all about gaming.

  • FogHeart #46 2 years ago

    I don't think PC gaming is expensive - what you spend in upgrades you recoup through the lower cost of the games themselves. Sometimes there's a discrepancy of £15 per game, and over the course of a year the saving will pay for a new GPU, or CPU.

    I had a 360. I was burgled. I never bothered to replace it because even up to that point I kept buying the PC version of games which were usually superior due to the higher spec of the PC - and of course not having to pay to play online was a bonus.

    incoming360fanboynegavalanche! (but I'd rather you find a flaw in my argument, eh?)
    Edited by 1 at 10/02/10 @ 15:31

  • bad09 #47 2 years ago

    For those upset on this sad news. Time to beg a dev again (happening a lot these days I'm finding)

    http://fo rum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/0...

  • ZuluHero #48 2 years ago

    I really loathe knee-jerk-throw-toys-from-the-pram ultimatum’s like, "If you don't do this for me then I’m boycotting all future releases from you!"

    It’s so derivative...

  • StooMonster #49 2 years ago

    Zedfragg: How can you say the graphics were superior on PC over the 360?

    2560x1600 pixels at constant 60fps with maxed out AA?

  • bad09 #50 2 years ago

    Apparently "not part of the plan" doesn't mean it's set in stone.....yet \o/

    http://ww w.vg247.com/2010/02/10/ea-dead-...

  • FooAtari #51 2 years ago

    One thing people don'e seem to consider with PC gaming is that while piracy is a huge issue at the moment, does that mean games like Dead Space still don't return a healthy profit?

    Sure the game may get pirated to hell, but if it still makes some money wouldn't you still release it anyway. I'd rather make some money knowing my game was being pirated than make no money at all.

  • Tangled #52 2 years ago

    @Faldrath
    "Second, the fact that a lot of the keys weren't remappable without a 3rd-party hack (I am a lefty, and thus do not play with WASD - but you couldn't remap that in Dead Space)."

    Eh? I played the whole game using ESDF, my standard setup. I even logged in to check. Maybe you meant the keys aren't remappable to arrows or numpad, which seems to be true. And about the difficulty level changing, I didn't notice. How does it manifest?

    I have the same version as you, bought on Steam for a fiver.
    ... come to think of it, maybe their dropping of PC version has more to do with us stingy bastards than piracy? ;)