Patching a game on PCs is, according to nearly every developer that’s gone on the record, much easier than patching a game on consoles. There’s no arduous certification process—you just push the patch live to your game and let players handle the rest. It’s easy and fast. So why, exactly, is the PC version of today’s huge Battlefield 3 patch being delayed?

According to DICE, the delay is the direct result of developing the patch for consoles. Because it is so difficult to push a patch live on the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, developers have to create much bigger, more expansive patches to limit the number of times they need to update the game. Unlike the PC, where small, frequent patches are the norm, console patching is best served in huge chunks.

Thanks to this design model, the PC version of Battlefield 3’s most recent patch, which brings big balance changes and tons of other tweaks, will have to wait. The patch is live for PS3 owners, with Xbox 360 following close behind, but PC gamers are sort of blowing in the wind right now.

Executive producer Patrick Bach confirmed that the delay was due to console certifications when posed that exact question by PC Gamer. His response? “Yes.”

He also noted:

“It’s very frustrating when it comes to… you have the fix, it’s done but you can’t roll it out. But again, it’s not unique to us – everyone lives in this reality.”

So, sorry PC gamers. Your Battlefield 3 patch will be available soon enough, but don’t be surprised if this becomes a trend. Oh, and if you play on PS3, check this out for a full list of changes.

[PC Gamer]

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