The developer of Quantum Error has canceled the promised PlayStation 4 version of the game, saying it has found it impossible for it to live up to the PlayStation 5 version.
TeamKill Media, creator of 2019’s Kings of Lorn: The Fall of Ebris, tweeted to say the quality it has achieved with the PS5 version running at 60 frames per second means “there is no way” for it to create a version for PS4 that would come close to comparing well.
Quantum Error is a “cosmic horror” first-person shooter originally announced for PS5 and PS4 in early 2020, with an Xbox Series X and S version added to the slate. A PC version is also in the works, although TeamKill Media isn’t sure when it will be released.
“Unfortunately, we are going to have to cancel the PS4 version of QE,” TeamKill Media said in a tweet. “Even with the game being made from the beginning for the PS5, we still had hopes we could make a PS4 version happen, but with the level of quality we have achieved with QE with gameplay running at 60fps, we have reach[ed] the conclusion that there is no way for us to deliver a version on PS4 that would live up to what the PS5 is going to deliver.
“A PS4 version would require too much downgrading and changing of assets, lighting and much more to function, and with the difference in memory and the slower HDD speed, it would be a very different experience that will not compare to the PS5 version and would not be fair to PS4 players.”
Unfortunately, we are going to have to cancel the PS4 version of QE. Even with the game being made from the beginning for the PS5, we still had hopes we could make a PS4 version happen, but with the level of quality we have achieved with QE with gameplay running at 60fps, we have…
— QUANTUM ERROR (@Quantum_Error) July 25, 2023
TeamKill Media had previously discussed how Quantum Error makes use of the PS5’s SSD in comparison to the Xbox Series consoles: “the SSD on the Xbox is slower and that we have to find a way to figure that out. We have a boss fight in QE that swaps levels instantaneously 4-5 times like the Ratchet and Clank game, without the extra speed of the SSD in the PS5 this boss fight could stall or hitch while transitioning, which will hamper the experience.”
We did not say the game does not run or work on the Xbox, the game runs at 60fps at the same graphic quality on the Xbox as the PS5.
— QUANTUM ERROR (@Quantum_Error) July 23, 2023
We only pointed out that the SSD on the Xbox is slower and that we have to find a way to figure that out.
We have a boss fight in QE that swaps…
Quantum Error currently runs at 2K 60FPS across PS5, Xbox Series X, and S, TeamKill Media said.
TeamKill Media is the latest in a growing list of developers who have finally left last-gen behind. In May last year, Warner Bros. Interactive announced the cancellation of the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Gotham Knights. In the same month, publisher Nacon announced the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown were cancelled.
In June this year, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty said Microsoft had "moved on to Gen 9", noting none of Xbox's 23 game studios, including Turn 10 Studios or Double Fine Productions, were working on games that are compatible with the Xbox One.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
