E3: UT3 exclusive to PS3

By Robert Purchese Published 11 July, 2007

Until the end of the year.

Sony announced a unique partnership with Epic Games at its E3 conference earlier today, no doubt in an effort to sully the tabloid grabbing relationship Microsoft has enjoyed with the Gears of War developer in the past.

It means Unreal Tournament 3 will be exclusive to PS3 this autumn, following on Xbox 360 and Windows at a later date. Plus you'll also be able to bring popular PC mods to Sony's version over the PlayStation Network.

Sony America boss Jack Tretton went on to announced that Unreal Engine 3 was being fully optimised for use with PS3, as another part of the "multi-stage" deal with Epic.

"The raw power of PS3 and Unreal Engine 3 allows us to provide gamers with the full Unreal Tournament 3 first-person shooter experience normally found only on a PC," said Mark Rein, vice president of Epic Games in complementary press release.

"The PS3 is the ideal platform for us to deliver stunning visuals and awesome gameplay. But now, with the PlayStation Network, we're also delivering a great community experience and robust user-created content - everything that gamers have come to expect from the Unreal Tournament franchise - for the first time on a home entertainment system."

It follows news from the Microsoft conference that Gears of War is finally confirmed for PC, and that the publisher had signed an exclusive deal with Epic to include Games for Windows support as an integral part of Unreal Engine 3. We can't work out who Epic's best friend really is.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (46) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • urban #1 5 years ago

    DUN DUN DUNNNNNN

    YEEEEEHAWWW

  • Restart #2 5 years ago

    PS3 BEFORE PC?? That's just wrong :(

  • TakeTheVeil #3 5 years ago

    ghey... ya can't enjoy FPS with the PS3 gammy pad.. the analogs are in the wrong places and theyre convex rather than concave..ie. not grippage

  • aldo_14 #4 5 years ago

    Mod support is a nice touch; hopefully in all 3 versions because, errr, well why not?

  • The-Bodybuilder #5 5 years ago

    Until year ends?
    Isn't UT3 out in november?

  • the_dudefather #6 5 years ago

    it would be funny if it was exclusive for about 2 weeks :p

    and you can use a keyboard/mouse with the ps3 for games supposibly

  • Kill_Crazy #7 5 years ago

    the_dudefather said "and you can use a keyboard/mouse with the ps3 for games supposibly"

    About time. Should of been there for resistance and r6 imo

  • matrim83 #8 5 years ago

    Jeez PS3 before PC. As Restart says thats just wrong. Fact thats practically an insult.

    Huge for PS3 but I cant believe Epic let their PC faithfuls down like that.

  • goodshape #9 5 years ago

    but I wouldn't like to be stuck with a joypad playing online against a keyboard and mouse.

  • Hunam #10 5 years ago

    :) EG i shoddy reporting shock!

    Thanks person below who quelled my anger!
    Edited by 2 at 12/07/07 @ 00:50

  • Monkey-Wizard-Ken #11 5 years ago

    Odd move by epic

  • L0cky #12 5 years ago

    Makes sense during R&D that they'd have one team optimising one game for each platform rather than duplicating their workload, and GoW was an MS exclusive so UT3 will have had a head start on PS3.

    But hey, if Epic can get free money for it working out that way...

    OMG six week exclusive!! oO

  • scaramanga10 #13 5 years ago

    >>Until year ends?
    >>Isn't UT3 out in november?

    Most exclusives are timed for several months. Obviously, Sony won't pay an exclusive deal that only last the matter weeks. So probably won't see it until Spring-Summer 08' for the 360. Money-hats at work.

    >>but I wouldn't like to be stuck with a joypad playing online against a keyboard and mouse.

    Its been confirmed that you can use a USB mouse/keyboard for the PS3 as well. Standard USB slots FTW.

  • penhalion #14 5 years ago

    So a whole month as an exclusive. Did anyone tell sony that no-one actually wants this game. Don't get me wrong it looks great. The problem is that people hae moved on a long way from the jumping like idiots gameplay of the old quake and doom games.

    That's why battlefield, rainbow 6 and gears are all so popular. Only Halo really get's away with this lame playing style now adays.

  • Toby #15 5 years ago

    Completely shocked if the month exclusive is true - I've been waiting for this for years.

    Up yer arse, Epic, ye cnts!

  • Vandrius #16 5 years ago

    Hahaha.

    Oh gods, poor 360 boys will be swallowing this after all their "PS3 gets no exclusives" rants.

    Not only that - Sony stole UT3... not some medium-profile game, this is one of the top releases of the year.

    Wonder how MS let THAT happen.

  • Ryltar #17 5 years ago

    @ penhalion

    That is very unfair. Theres a hell of a lot of people who enjoy UT and will continue to do so, I wouldn't call the gameplay mechanic idiotic either, it takes a lot of skill to be good at UT/Quake.
    Besides, GoW/Rainbow Six aren't the traditional kinds of FPS anyway.

    Iv been looking forward to this since UT2004, cant wait!

  • sharpfish #18 5 years ago

    @PS3 BEFORE PC?? That's just wrong :(

    Agreed. It's not as if console players actually want the game that much, it's just another scoring point in the battle between fanboys.

    As an Xbox 360 owner I don't care if it even comes to the system.

    As a PC owner and a fan/addict of the unreal series since the FIRST ONE in 1998 this is a MAJOR kick in the teeth. Who is going to make all the custom content that has kept Epic floating between releases when on the PS3? The PC owners that's who so suffice to say the PC version had BETTER NOT be far behind or there will be a horde of unreal-fanatics baying for their blood ;)

  • Steroyd #19 5 years ago

    @ Vandrius

    There's been rumours floating about that Epic were frustrated that MS wouldn't allow mods in UT3 or something on the lines of that which lead to this.

    I guess Sony did a double deal considering that they're sick of the shoddy UE3 games thus far Ubisoft being the worse offender?

  • smoothn00dle #20 5 years ago

    This is bad for M$, in particular how much they depend on the Unreal engine. I think they consider killing Halo series in exchange for Epic exclusive, just like they did with EA sport. Now this won't happen.

    Third party developers can't be trusted. The irony is Sony's Killzone2 engine and PS3 hardware is Epic's biggest competitor. *v*

  • DB2k #21 5 years ago

    didnt sony pipe up the other day hat they didnt want or need exclusives or some guff?

  • bioreit #22 5 years ago

    But it doesn't tell me what I want to know:

    Did Sony pay for this, or did Epic just do it from a design/development point of view?

    I'd imagine the latter option, but if they paid (or 'contributed to development / marketing costs'), Tretton will have hell to pay!

    /shakes fist angrily

  • captainrentboy #23 5 years ago

    Vandrius, what in the blue fuck are you blabbing on about? The way you're speaking anyone would think that the 360 isn't getting UT3 at all, rather than it coming out just a mere couple of months after the PS3 version :/
    And did Sony actually pay for any of this? Or is just various publishers doing what's best for them due to Halo 3 no doubt being the biggest FPS this year.
    Epic releasing this on the 360 around Jan-Feb would probably lead to quicker sales than it would releasing it anywhere near Sept 26th.

  • menage #24 5 years ago

    At least it makes it a little more easy to not buy everything this year:p.

    But seriously, MS did flunk on this one. They should be more liberal with they're policys. The Sony way does offer more design freedom.

    At least it's a timed exclusive.

  • SeesThroughAll #25 5 years ago

    Wonder how MS let THAT happen.

    Going around on Epic's back and stamping a price tag on content that Epic had promised to be free...

  • Jas315 #26 5 years ago

    Interesting.

    I'm sorta insightful about the mod-option. Nice addition. I'm also glad the PS3 is capable of the whole Keyboard & mouse malarky... good job Sony.

    I wonder how a PORT from the PS3 to the 360 would work...?

  • Caimbeul #27 5 years ago

    @ Vandruis - Like it has already been said, it will only be a matter of weeks or a couple of months. PC versions code wont be far of that of the 360. I wouldnt be surprised if the 360 was ready at the same time but being held back, optimised etc.

    The vast mjority of games are available for both formats anyway. 360 had lenty of games before PS3 also. Its no biggy, I'l be getting it on PC anyway!

  • Caimbeul #28 5 years ago

    roll on 28/09/07

  • jimbob101 #29 5 years ago

    >>but I wouldn't like to be stuck with a joypad playing online against a keyboard and mouse.

    >>Its been confirmed that you can use a USB mouse/keyboard for the PS3 as well. Standard USB slots FTW.

    Terrible idea, if you want to use a K&M buy the PC version. If it is a feature they need to have seperate rooms for K&M and pad players.

    Pad player wins - K&M player says "you just won because of the auto aim!"
    K&M player wins - Pad player says "you just won because of the quicker turning!"

  • Steroyd #30 5 years ago

    didnt sony pipe up the other day hat they didnt want or need exclusives or some guff?

    No something about bribing third party for exclusives.

    The Haze one is a bit odd, it might be something Free Radical wanted to do after all Timesplitters started on the PS2, or Ubisoft wanted to... I got nothin'

    UT3 i can imagine without the money hats kinda, Sony probably paid Epic to optimise UE3 more so the games don't get delayed by a week anymore, which in turn to optimise the UE3 engine they decided to optimise UT3 game for PS3 in the process.

    Or Epic's pissed at MS for the mods thing.

    Although it'll be interesting if Sony markets UT3 with "from the makers of Gears of War" this Christmas.

  • Iora #31 5 years ago

    We can't work out who Epic's best friend really is.....

    Epic -are- Epic's best friend! They can hear the $$$ kaching kaching $$$
    Like an arms dealer feeding both sides of a conflict with weapons, there the only winner :)

  • Kryon #32 5 years ago

    "exclusive to PS3"

    LOL, yeah Ok mate, heard that old cookie before....

    /Slaps thigh

  • Eraysor #33 5 years ago

    What the fuck.

    EDIT: Fuck's sake Eurogamer, you almost gave me a heart attack.
    Edited by 1 at 12/07/07 @ 11:16

  • izerman76 #34 5 years ago

    [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=78883 ]http://ww w.eurogamer.net/article.php?art...[/link]

    Article title:
    Sony: "We don't buy exclusivity"
    I rest my case.

  • Arwin #35 5 years ago

    Hope someone finally gets to test the reported sixaxis mode where you can use tilt to look around/aim, apparently. Would love to know how that works out.

    And it's end of the fiscal year apparently? So that's at least April 2008
    Edited by 1 at 12/07/07 @ 11:42

  • nickthegun #36 5 years ago

    I know its a different system, but the Unreal games have, traditionally, sold like crap on consoles, so MS may well have been pretty shrewd by passing on this one.

    PLus they will have, inevitably the fucking Games for Windows Live thing when it is eventually realeased, so i would say its, potentially, honours even.

    Still, if there is some way to upload mods quite freely on the PSN, rather than fannying around on live, the PS3 could be the one to go for out the two (obviously PC FTW).

  • Katsumoto #37 5 years ago

    Damn where's that guy who said "LOL @ PS3 it didn't get Call of Duty BETA exclusive rofl".

  • SBfistfun #38 5 years ago

    The PS3 is the ideal platform for us to deliver stunning visuals and awesome gameplay

    Is there a mouse and keyboard option?

    Cause if there ain't this claim is false!

    FALSE I TELLS YA!

    Well it appears there is so I will shut up.
    Edited by 1 at 12/07/07 @ 12:27

  • Vin #39 5 years ago

    Who gives a shit?

    Using the Sixaxshite for an FPS like this, is GASH.

  • buggrit #40 5 years ago

    FFS :(
    Ah well, another reason for buying a PS3 sooner rather than later.
    /gives 360 a hard "stop letting me down" stare

  • solidred #41 5 years ago

    I think you guys have missed the point.
    If UT3 comes out for xbox360 this year then it will have a hard time capitalising on sales because it doesn't really have a chance against some of the microsoft exclusives which will be out around the same time which are similar. Halo3, Bioshock and Mass Effect. This is a good decision from Epic, also that rubbbish about the relationship between MS and Epic. This is completely untrue, Epic have already publicly admitted one of the reason Gears sold so much was because MS got fully behind.

  • ChromeMud #42 5 years ago

    Splinter Cell was poor on the PS3 compared to the equivalent 360 version so who wants to repeat such a mess.
    If they released the game on both platforms,it would be technicaly compared so to avoid the scrutiny they release it at different times to reduce sales damage.
    Don't want the Sony system to lose sales now do we.

  • dsmx #43 5 years ago

    Mod support on the ps3 that is sweet, something that at present can't be replicated on xbox live.

  • dave06 #44 5 years ago

    at least the 360 doesn't rape your asshole while you sleep, it just goes off and fucks your mum

  • ronuds #45 5 years ago

    Sony and MS seem to have been taking turns bending Cliffy B over his computer desk and having at it.

  • tobberh #46 5 years ago

    According to an interview with a guy from Epic on Gamespot E3 coverage, it's coming to PS3 and PC this november 2007, and then sometime in 2008 on 360...