Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies digital release due to convenience and to reduce localization delay, boxed version possible, no console plans
Eshiro said the digital-only release was due largely in part to the game’s development schedule.
Much has been made about Capcom’s decision to release Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destines as a digital download. This is the first time that a core entry in the series will not be available at retail.
Speaking about the move, producer Motehide Eshiro said:
“The reason we are releasing the game as digital only is not primarily due to a lack of retail support. One of the main reasons we went for a digital version is it will be more convenient for the users. We felt that if someone will be interested in Dual Destinies they will want to get it right away, and if we offer a digital version, instead of going to a store however many miles away, they can just download it directly to their 3DS.”
Eshiro additionally noted how Capcom was looking to reduce the time it would take to release Dual Destinies overseas. Because of the game’s tight development schedule, dropping the retail version was necessary. Eshiro said that he wanted to avoid having fans wait a long time for Dual Destinies’ arrival, unlike past entries.
“We didn’t want to have too much lag time between the Japanese and American versions. Offering a downable version was one of the ways to cut down that lag time.”
The hope for a retail version of Dual Destinies isn’t completely dead. According to Eshiro, Capcom will consider a physical release if there’s enough of a push from fans.
Eshiro lastly commented on the possibility of bringing past or future Ace Attorney games for consoles. This isn’t in the cards currently, Eshiro says:
“The series is popular as handheld games. In Japan, everyone takes the train to work so it’s easy for someone to start up the game and play for a little bit while they’re on the train. In North America it’s a bit harder because everyone drives to work. That’s something we would have to think about at [Capcom] and see if it’s a viable solution for the series.”
