Is The Witcher 3’s Graphical Downgrade Something Media Should Be Discussing?

When Watch_Dogs released, media and fans were disappointed with the visuals of the final product as compared to what was initially revealed. Now The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt releases and it doesn't look like its reveal trailers, but the media isn't nearly as upset about it. The team at EGMR wonders why.

[Irishguy95]

Looking at it the difference is massive. Guess I just don't care anymore. Oh well. The game is amazing at least

[venom06]

Of course they're not going to discuss it and bash it down to the ground like they're supposed to.. It doesn't have EA in the title.. That's usually the only time they bitch and complain about something..

[Army_of_Darkness]

I don't see that massive downgrade your talking about? Only a little.... Now ubisoft and watch dogs I consider a massive downgrade..
But the witcher 3 still looks great at least.

[Genuine-User]

I'll be honest, I find the whole downgrade talk to be a bit pathetic. Comparing the final product on 3 different platforms to a 'target render' reveal trailer is disingenuous and utterly stupid.

And no, the media and gamers alike should not cry downgrade. We should congratulate CDPR for creating what I believe to be the most ambitious open world RPG in recent times, and comparably with only half the budget of Skyrim.

[Aloren]

@Army_of_Darkness are you seriously saying Watch_dogs didn't look great ? It was flawed... but the downgrade was not any more "massive" than TW3.

[Palitera]

1. Is doesn't have Ubisoft or Microsoft on title as well, so it is all fine.
2. Watch Dogs looked AND RAN a trillion times better than this technical mess.

[WonderboyIII]

Game is amazing and that's a fact. Downgrade and false advertising is also a fact:

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[NuggetsOfGod]

Only pc gamers are complaining.

Console gamers call it optimization lol

Downgrade so ps4 can get a steady 28fps lol

That digital foundry video is funny.

Both console could barely handle 1080p 30fps

Xbox benefits from dynamic resolution fps wise.

Why do people think apus are good for long term gaming?

I hope this gen lasts awhile. It will be sad & funny to see the performance. Open worlds with great graphics will be killing consoles.

[WonderboyIII]

Check minute 5:45 for a different pause menu and loading screen. This seems like the real PC version. No the PS4 version on a PC.

[Dfooster]

downgraded if you fuss and obsess over everything, or one of the best looking open world games ever created if you don't

[Kal-V3]

I couldn't agree with this comment fast enough, Sir. Good work.

[Dabigsiebowski]

Wow...This game looks amazing regardless of the platform of choice. Really getting sick of the articles screaming downgrade when clearly it's a damn good game regardless and looks better than 90% of the games out already. The game may have (IMO) minor issues here and there but those issues really don't detract from the fact it's a beautiful game with an amazing world and mechanics and on top of that those issues will be addressed in future patches.

Good Job CD Project and keep up the good work. Don't let idiots bring you guys down. It's the best game you guys have ever made and I and many others are truly thankful that you gave us a damn good game easily worthy of 60 dollars.

[wheresmymonkey]

They're not angry about it because a) the game is brilliant. B) they never sold it on its visuals, and c) CD Projeckt haven't lied about it at all and are in the process of releasing a patch for the PC version that lets you tweak the graphics settings to whatever you want them to be. Theoretically speaking making it look better than the VGX demo.

THat is why its not being discussed there's no controversy here. Just a team hat made a target ender and then changed something later on to make the game run a bit smoother.

I honestly think it's a lack of knowledge on the part of most people (sadly this includes a lot of journos) on how games are made. Ever heard of a vertical slice or arget renders. A game shown two years before its launch will never look the same. No one was being mislead here, they just wanted the game to look like this and they had to tone down a couple things. Its not a big deal.

[DARK WITNESS]

That's no problem... they should just have the balls to actually say, yes! there is a visual downgrade from the target render we had in order to optimize other areas of the game.

that's all they needed to say, sure we don't all understand how games are made. We didn't all study game design at uni, but we are the guys that play the end result. If they know the end result is not going to match up to a target render (most of us have been playing games long enough to know this is always the case anyway) then why the need to lie and say it will.

There is no controversy, there was just no need for them to try and blag it...

no matter what they say, the day comes when the game gets released and the consumer will have their say. The more upfront they are with us I think the easier and more supportive they would find their fans.

[wheresmymonkey]

They have.

http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

[DARK WITNESS]

Well yes, they have now..

and they even mention they have been following the issue from the beginning but didn't feel it was an issue at the time.

sure they didn't mean it with bad intentions or anything but whatever the reason for holding out, they could have saved themselves the grief before hand had they said so sooner.

[ironfist92]

No, because its only cool when you do it to Ubisoft apparently. Every other developer/publishers gets a free pass.

[Baszs]

It still has the same vision! So No!
And it still looks really great!

[Bolts]

100% of the promo vids were done on a PC running 1080p with 980 GTX SLI. And even then it doesn't look silky smooth. That should tell you everything you need to know.

In the end this isn't a big deal. The Witcher series are know for being demanding and to push your hardware. Just like the Witcher 2 this a game you build your current PC and the next one around.

[Hard8times]

Looking at this Trailer Witcher 3 is probably the biggest downgrade ever even worst then Watchdogs https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[Perjoss]

Regardless of downgrades or buggy games, the media should use their 'power' to promote and help companies that have video gamings best interests at heart.

[g-nome]

8 gigs of ram and we still have texture pop in , did not expect that.

[mogwaii]

Yea the media should, give these companies a kick in the arse! Even after watch dogs and unity they STILL do it, just start getting REAL with us.

[dreamed]

All i'm gonna say is all devs are lying a holes and its their fault for showing/using tech demos or target renders as someone called them....stop with the bullshots and ppl wont go mad....its so simple.

but this is the games industry i suppose,an industry that makes the american mob look honest...lol

[Dynasty2021]

Of course it should.

Every downgrade is showing the lack of console power.

CDPR have flat out said now that the consoles are the reason for the downgrade, plain and simple.

[Roccetarius]

Yes, and companies need to be kicked in the arse for using unrealisitc tech demo showings if they can't accomplish that for the final product (talking about multi-platform here, not PC only games).

CDPR should not be getting a free pass, certainly not when you see how much of the landscape changed to something atmosphere killing. I would say this is actually worse than Watch Dogs.

[Cernunnos]

There is a huge difference between this and Watch Dogs. This game had to be downgraded because they couldn't actually pull off what the target trailer showed.

Watch Dogs had those settings disabled, but they were actually in the game, could be enabled with mods, and actually improved performance.

[Cernunnos]

Check out the very first Metal Gear Solid 1 trailer from 1997, game ended up looking nothing like it. Who complained?

[Gwiz]

The downgrade?what about all the technical issues it has.
Worry about that first.