PlanetSide 2 PS4 Q&A With Sony Online Entertainment

Leading up to the PlanetSide 2 PS4 closed beta, PlayStation LifeStyle had the fortunate change to speak to Sony Online Entertainment’s Clint Worley — Executive Producer of PlanetSide 2 — to ask about the beta. Naturally, we grabbed the chance to try and get some important questions pertaining to the full game answered as well.

Below is our chat with Worley, where he discusses the game’s final target frame-rate, the download size of PlanetSide 2, why the game repeatedly got delayed and more.

PlayStation LifeStyle: When is the beta starting for EU?

Clint Worley: While we don’t have a date to share at this time, we are working to get it out as soon as possible.

PSLS: Will it be stable at 30fps? Some have expressed concern that it will dip once the more chaotic action happens.

CW: Our target is 30fps at 1080p. During internal team playtests we have had great battles with steady performance. Opening it up to the players during Closed Beta will add the population needed to further test the performance. PlanetSide 2 is a massive game and there are multiple situations that can tax the performance in ways we can’t anticipate, which is one of the reasons the Closed Beta is so important to us.

PSLS: When will the full version be available? Target date?

CW: We want the game to be available as soon as possible! That being said, the main focus of the Closed Beta is to get feedback from the players on the state of the game. Once we feel that the performance and the stability of the game is where we want it, we will move towards a final release. Making sure the gameplay is where it needs to be is our main focus.

PSLS: With the game reliant on an online connection, what are the studio’s plans if PSN goes down?

CW: We have notifications in the game if the network is down. The game requires an internet connection at all times since there isn’t an offline mode or a single player mode.

PSLS: What’s the actual size of the beta client? Size of the full game?

CW: The beta download is roughly 5GB, though the size may change in the future with additional content added in the Beta. The full game is around 13GB.

PSLS: Can the studio reveal why the game’s release repeatedly got delayed?

CW: We want to create a full console experience, so it has taken us a bit of time to get that right. We have been focused on two main areas of development, performance and user interface,
both of which take quite a bit of work. We’ve done a lot of iterations and we’re happy with where we are now entering the Closed Beta. We are looking forward to getting players into the game and hearing their feedback.

PSLS: What can fans expect in the beta in terms of content?

CW: Initially, players can expect two servers with one continent on each, which will allow us to test stability and performance. Players will have access to the majority of weapons, vehicles and upgrades. We will be adding content and doing bug fixes throughout the Closed Beta, and all the core gameplay mechanics that make PlanetSide 2 so epic will be there. Beta players will also have access to an exclusive forum on the official PlanetSide 2 website to post feedback and interact with the developers.

PSLS: Will data – or at least some of it – carry over to the full game?

CW: We plan to do a full wipe of all player data at the end of the Beta phase, which will allow everyone to start at a level playing field at launch. We really appreciate the feedback from those that participate in Beta and have discussed the possibility of rewarding beta players, but there aren’t any concrete plans at this time.

PSLS: Just to clarify it for fans, what resolution and frame rate will the final game be at?

CW: Our target is 30FPS at 1080p.

PSLS: Will there be any big differences between the PC and PS4 versions?

CW: The PS4 version of PlanetSide 2 will still retain all the features that make the game unique. The main difference between the two versions is the user interface and how the players interact with the game. For example, all of the screens are redesigned to take advantage of the PS4 DualShock controller.

PSLS: How will the control configuration work? (Maybe a diagram or something to know what button does which?) How much controller customization will players have?

CW: The players will be able to switch between preconfigured controller layouts. We have default mappings that are consistent with console FPS titles.

PSLS: Is there an option in the beta or the full game to be able to play PlanetSide 2 while it’s being downloaded?

CW: For launch, our plan is for new players to be able to download the tutorial map first and have full access to that content while the remainder of the game is downloading. By the time players complete the tutorial requirements, the full game will be downloaded and they can join the massive war that rages 24/7 in PlanetSide 2.

We’d like to thank Clint Worley and Sony Online Entertainment for taking the time out to chat with us. PlanetSide 2 is set to be released as a free-to-play title for the PS4 at some point this year.