Respawn: ‘We are treating Titanfall 2 like a new IP’

It may have the number ‘2′ after its name, but Respawn is treating its Titanfall sequel like a new IP.

Speaking to MCV @ Gamescom, the studio’s COO Dusty Welch and art director Joel Emslie said that, as a result of the original Titanfall not launching on PS4, the franchise’s latest entry is being treated as if it’s an entirely new concept.

The original Titanfall launched in 2014.

We’re really excited to welcome back that original Xbox One, 360 and PC audience,” Welch said.

But Titanfall 2 is really a new IP at launch if you think about it. The Xbox One install base is two or three times what it was when Titanfall launched, the PC audience continues to grow. Then there’s the PS4 install base, which is enormous. It has a ‘2′ next to its name, but that signifies the dual elements of Titan and Pilot, and the single player and multiplayer.”

Emslie added: We have to consider that there’s a whole community that haven’t played Titanfall before. That was a challenge for us – how do we make sure that Titanfall 2 is something that anyone could pick up and you don’t need to have a played the original? For fans of the first game, we’ve added a lot of story elements and secrets that they’ll appreciate. But it’s a game that stands alone. It can reach out to that new community and they can enjoy it for the first time.”