Unsung Story: Tale of the Guardians cross-play makes console release chances iffy

Unsung Story: Tale of the Guardians is a new tactics game from Vagrant Story designer Yasumi Matsuno, which may not escape from the grip of mobile due to its cross-play requirements.

Speaking with Joystiq, developer Playdek said console releases for the Android and iOS title are possible but chancy, because cross-play is part of the game's DNA, and not every platform holder embraces the idea.

"It potentially could and it potentially couldn't. We're not speaking any secrets here, we know for some platforms that will be more feasible to do than on others," CEO Joel Goodman said.

"At that point, then, we'll have to look at it and say, well, what's the more important part here? Is it that we end up with a platform that has a pragmatic community, and we don't want to do that, or that it's well worth it because it's still a gaming community that we want to address and make sure that they get this product as well."

Unsung Story: Tale of the Guardians was announced at Tokyo Game Show 2013. It features a "completely envisioned Matsuno world", Rasfalia, and tells the story of the 77 Years War between two kingdoms - although as many as 15 factions are involved during the course of the war.

Episodes across the timeline last between one year and a decade, and focus on ordinary people, although there are important recurring characters.

It sounds like it's still a fair way out yet, although the card game based on Matsuno's IP will launch this year.