Ubisoft is Making a Habit Out of Downgrading Their Games, It's Time They Owned Up To It

8CN: Another next-gen game may be taking a graphical nosedive, and Ubisoft is at the center of it... again. According to a company insider, the official trailer we saw at E3 for The Division is not true to the anticipated final product. In fact, if their information is true, we're looking at the exact same situation we ran into with Watch_Dogs. I'm here to say that enough is enough.

[XiYakushijuAkeginuXi]

It reminds me of a McDonald's ad. It looks so good on display and they when you have it in front of you, it looks like crap in comparison

[Kingthrash360]

Yeah I look at game reveals but I only take hands on demos and reviews seriously. Its a bad old trend of bait and switch...I choose to ignore it.

[crxss]

it's not the downgrading part that irks me, it's that they show a game that clearly has better visuals than their 3rd party games are capable of and are later forced to reveal what they actually look like. false advertising.

[badz149]

People need to learn. These so called downgrades are not downgrades to begin with. They are just like live action trailers to promote their game using mostly impossible to achieve render as far as current hardwares are concerened. At least, that's how I take it.

But seriously, who the hell honestly thought that "that's how it will look like" when they first saw Watch Dog and The division? I didn't and I don't think there were any "actual gameplay footage" stated in the trailers like how Infamous games always do, right? Or were they? I don't really remember but what I remember is myself thinking "there's no way the final game will look like THAT!"

[UltraNova]

Maybe if someone with a lot of money and patience sues then for they will eventually add the a disclaimer in their trailers saying 'this is not actual gameplay'...just saying...

[yess]

Yeah, but as long as the taste is good, i couldn't care less.

It's getting tiresome to listen to the winning of graphics downgrades when it's obvious no platform is capable of doing anything "out of the ordinary", and the games are adjusted to what is possible with current technology and software.

[averagejoe26]

It's getting tiresome to you that people are upset over being lied to?

[CHB_Aries83]

True, but show a real representation of what the final product will be. Nobody would ever complain if the graphics went from lower to higher, so in my opinion show what you have and that should be good enough. If you could make it even better than that's just great.

[wsoutlaw87]

i think its funny how this article calls it a habit with only one confirmed instance.

[Willio]

They actually have "burger designers" to place the ketchup, pickles, fake meat that people eat, and cheese in "perfect harmony" for the commercials. Notice how the people rarely take a bite.

[jivah]

Its not fake meat. Its real. Its just prepared differently so it looks perfect. I think its grilled 15 secs on. But thats commercials for you.

Ubisoft is simply following suit

[Half_Minute_Hero]

The problem is that they show you PC trailers and everyone goes nuts. PS4 fanboys believe that the game will look like that on their system and are then disappointed when it looks much worse, because they think their system is equivalent to a high end PC, and blame the publisher.

[Str8Chaos74]

Far Cry 3 was downgraded? That game looks amazing on PC. I agree with Watch Dogs however.

[Matt666]

I don't care as long as I enjoy the gameplay

[lnfiniteLoop]

I was gonna take the pee out of McDonalds with their selfie flurrie compo, and make sure people saw that in comparison to all the ads and pics... lol

[MuhammadJA]

It's all just marketing. They make high resolution trailers with awesome effects to build hype. And since consoles can't handle all that, they downgrade it and make their PC version the worst port.

They could make extra work by making the PC version the best, but they don't want to because the game will be cheaper on PC or gets pirated a lot thus not making enough profits.

[starchild]

Let's put this in proper perspective.

1. Only Far Cry 3 and Watch Dogs suffered downgrades. The Division being downgraded is only an unsubstantiated rumor.

2. Considering that Ubisoft have released many dozens of games, two games does not represent a trend or a norm. They are exceptions to the rule.

3. The vast majority of Ubisoft games have released looking essentially identical, if not a bit better, than their earlier demos.

4. Far Cry 3, despite the downgrade, was still in the top 5 best-looking games on the PC around the time of its release. Watch Dogs, while not as extreme of a case, is still a very good looking game.

5. We've know for a long time before these games came out that there were some changes or downgrades to the graphics. To claim that we were misled and didn't know what we were buying is absurdly disingenuous.

[mananimal]

@starchild #1.8

spoken like a true corporate apologist.

[N4GDgAPc]

People don't understand every game pretty much is downgraded. When games are shown early I garrented that 95% it will be downgraded. It's part of development.

[SSJBen]

1. AC3 was downgraded, the difference wasn't as apparent simply because it was a PS3/360 game.

2. 2 big-profile games that would lay the path for their financial earnings for their respective fiscal years? Lol.

3. Too bad majority of them are a bug fest, except 2D sidescrollers (Rayman).

4. Okay, fair point. But advertising and selling a product (pre-orders, remember?) based on an early, unfinished and a game that is not representative of its first unveiling is technically — cheating. Fortunately for Ubisoft, there are too many blind gamers that don't care.

5. We all know, yes. But why do the devs keep denying when asked about any potential downgrades? Sure, they need to protect the company's shares on the stock market, but that's still blatantly lying to the customers.

[Magicite]

I really hope Division will be a big thing, but just like a watch dogs, it has built tons of hype, looks visually amazing and with a innovative gameplay.
Ubisoft, please don't screw up on this one!

[BattleTorn]

It's funny that you make that comparison, cause there is a very alarming similarity.

I recently watched a YT video where this guy (the cell phone bomber guy) would go into fastfood joints and ask for their signature burger, then complain that it "doesn't look like the one on their website" -- and would have them remake it. Surprisingly most of the establishments accommodated the guy, and made a shockingly better looking burger (in *some* cases)!

This analogy of ours makes me wonder, should we - as gamers - be going back to the counter and asking [Ubisoft] to 're-make' our burgers!?

If we ask, they might surprise us... ?

[AgentSmithPS4]

The trouble would be getting human gamers to work together in large numbers, that can be like herding cats ;). While they're at it they can 're-make' some of the AI in WD.

[DAS692]

@yess
Load of bull. What about the modder that found all of the INTENTIONALLY DISABLED bloom effects and depth of field data in the WatchDogs dev files. Ubisoft disabled it on purpose. For "Parity" and that isn't fair to the people who pay more to USE those graphic capabilities. It shouldn't take a modder to do their job for them, and i'm almost CERTAIN that the PS4 and X1 can BOTH provide better visuals than that crap. Do I have to remind you of the GTAV Trailer? C'mon man. I wouldn't care so much if they didn't do it ALL THE TIME, but it's getting ridiculous now. Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Far Cry 3, Watch Dogs, Splinter Cell.

[liquidhalos]

As long as they don't downgrade the gameplay I'll still give them a chance for their more interesting ips, the division is a good example

[BitbyDeath]

I'd have to rewatch the trailer but i'm pretty sure they downgraded that too on Watchdogs.

[windblowsagain]

All companies do this.

I used to take the photo's of items to make them look awesome. Some food items were not even food,lol.

It's to make a product look it's best.

Abit like the Songs people do covers of. That's why they all use Condenser microphones. Make them sound better then use a normal recording device.

[Solitaryswordsman]

Just had a KFC. Just as bad

[AgentSmithPS4]

What goes Ub must come down.

[j0ncap125]

Funny thing about that... Recently a guy went from fast food joint to fast food joint calling them out on how the food looked in comparison to the commercials. The video went viral and hit the news, and then about two days ago I went to a Burgerking and all my food was absolutely perfect. My double cheeseburgers looked like the ones in the commercial, as did my chicken sandwich. What does this have to do with video games? I don't know, but damn did that burger and chicken sandwich taste so good...

[Joey_Leone]

If Ubisoft downgrades Rainbow6, I am officially done with them.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

"According to the source, there was, "a lot of push coming from publishers to not make the experience so different on consoles as to alienate people into thinking that next generation is not as powerful as PC."

Ok considering The Division was originally on console and ported to PC now.

So according to the rumors Ubisoft is intentionally downgrading consoles to make PC look great. Almost like "PC has no equal"

Wow we'll see when it releases. I dunno what to believe.

EDIT: There's more....

"While 'Yes'’ the lead platform is the PC," the Ubisoft insider added, "we simply cannot have such a big gap."

If true I'm true then I'm question myself if I wanna buy their games from now.

That's unacceptable.

[BattleAxe]

It's unacceptable only if you don't own a PC.

[MysticStrummer]

Most PCs won't run the game with the kind of detail shown at the reveal.

[AnEwGuY]

@ BattleAxe

No, you just don't understand. This means that hardcore PC gamers are getting screwed out of a game that could really push their rig, and allow them to see the fruits of their investment.
My current build has an i7 OC'd to 5GHz, 16GB of Corsair Vengeance 1866MHz RAM, and a Gigabyte GTX780ti...yet Skyrim with dozens of mods is still the only game I've played that makes my PC break a sweat. Watch_Dogs, Thief, AC4, BF5, Wolfenstein TNO, and anything else you could name from the past year all run maxed out, @ 1080p 60+fps, with no effort. I only own X1 and PS4 for the exclusives, because multiplats are always superior on my PC...but by as much as they COULD be.

[DAS692]

@MysticStrummer
That is exactly why their are GRAPHICS SETTINGS on PC. You may be right that SOME PC's can't run the game at that quality, but for those that can, give them the option. Don't compromise just because some entry-level PC gamer can't run it on "Ultra" People pay good money for these rigs. Give them what they want. The entry-level PC gamer can use the entry-level graphics.

[Cernunnos]

Yup, it is completely unacceptable. Watch Dogs is the last Ubi game that I will ever buy.

[bixxel]

U'll say that again next year after playing WD 2.

[Cernunnos]

I will probably play WD2 Bixxel, but I am not going to be paying for it ;)

Of course, that depends if it works. I still haven't gotten past the first 2 hours in Watch Dogs, due to its unplayable performance. The stuttering gives me headaches. I've requested a refund, but Ubisoft have not replied.

I've not pirated video games the last 6 years, I bet I buy more games than most people on this site, but I am making an exception with Ubisoft titles.

[spaceg0st]

seemed like he was stating that they were downgrading the PC version, in order to avoid making console owners jealous.

[OldDude]

That is exactly what he is saying.

[SaturdayNightBeaver]

No one should buy their games. But almost no one also cares about it, they just go and buy it on release day ,ignoring everything thats wrong. There is just too many people playing games today , majority don't even know whats going on.Now if everyone had same opinion as we do, well i don't think we'd had to deal with this bullshit , ubi would be long bankrupt..

[iamnsuperman]

Are people really surprised by this. It makes sense for Ubisoft to do this to their PC games. Most of their sales are going to come from consoles but Ubisoft needs people to upgrade quickly so they can drop support for the aging systems and make more money (last generation games are cheaper now). Have a wildly better PC version isn't going to speed up the upgrade process. It won't make people get a PC either (for other issues).

All in all does it matter that much? Downgrades happen at the start of all generations since companies have to guess what a system can do (it is bad when it comes from the platform maker). It isn't common practice except for year one or two (for obvious reasons). But these soon go (or might have already gone) because companies will be making games with these systems from day one. PC games have ways been modded to look better (look at skyrim and GTA). It isn't like ubisoft are releasing a game that looks like arse nor one that looks worse than the console versions

[TheGenkz]

I think the problem isn't so much with the downgrade itself, it's that Ubisoft is straight up lying to us about it.

With Watch_Dogs, the option to beef the game back up was still in there in the PC version and modders found it, yet Ubisoft continued to deny what they did. They're treating us like we're stupid, and it's frankly a little insulting.

[starchild]

You see, that's just complete bullshit. Everything they have shown since that E3 demo 2 years ago has looked pretty much identical to the game I am playing today. If you were misled it's only due to your own stupidity. That might sound harsh but it's the plain truth.

Anybody with eyes and half a brain has known what to expect from Watch Dogs for a LONG TIME. It's not like they showed something that looked like the E3 2012 demo right up to release and then we buy the game and are suddenly shocked to find it doesn't look as good. No, there have been many gameplay demos and trailers all along showing us what the actual game would look like.

As for the PC version, well, I knew that it would be similar to the PS4 version but with things like better textures, better shadow quality, better anti-aliasing, better screen space ambient occlusion and higher display resolutions. This is pretty typical of what we usually see in multiplats on the PC and it's all we can reasonably expect.

I mean, were people really expecting the PC version to be a whole different version with a radically overhauled graphics engine? If so, they are ignorant of the way this industry really works.

[SaturdayNightBeaver]

But why doesn't watch dogs perform properly even with the downgrade , it fails to run flawlessly on 6 core intel and 6gb gtx titan.. Thats just bullshit , someone just didn't care at all about PC version. And they go and blame piracy for their "low sales".

[user5669510]

its been know for the longest that companies make more profit on pc. do we need to post links every times someone post this dumb rant. its no reason to downgrade our version of the game. this is the main reason why people pirate and people also pirate on consoles.

and mod doesnt only fix gfx soon their will been mod that changes gameplay didnt people learn anything from skyrim and gtaiv

[TWB]

I dont get why people are now this upset even though it has already been revealed that they left all the E3 bells and whistles into the game files and they can even be turned on. In Far Cry 3s case the downgrade was about as bad as in WDs but it was impossible to turn any of that fancy vegetation on.

[MysticStrummer]

It doesn't upset me exactly, but it does dampen the excitement a little when a new game is revealed. Sure those files are available for WD, but most PCs won't be able to run the game well at that level of detail anyway.

[TWB]

I can get that and even understand downgrades which are done to bring the games max settings more playable for more mid-high end PCs but thats what pisses me off in Far Cry 3s case.

My PC which has a mid range GTX 560ti GPU could run FC3 on (mostly) ultra with very acceptable performance (for SP) but my GPU was already in the aging generation at that point. The downgrade wasnt even needed.

People should still be fairly happy that Ubisoft left WDs advanced graphics there "by accident" for people to find as they havent done so in the previous cases.

[Activemessiah]

How can they own up to it when people are still buying their games? once they have your money, your complaints fall on deaf ear.

Your complaint IS to not support it and say no to their practice.

[akraven]

E3 should make the rule that if you're showing a game off at their event it should be on the console that is showing off and announce the specs of the game then.

[JeffGUNZ]

This. Both Sony and MS have been guilty of this and it only bones us gamers. I don't want to see a game running on a high end gaming rig and believing that is what I'll get on my console of choice. The division looked like the first real graphical monster for this new gen and now it could be gimped. They would do better if they just showed what the game looks like on consoles so at least we will know what to expect. WD's was a complete screw up by Ubi and they better not allow something like that to happen again.

[mysteryraz11]

most ppl dont have those computers though, high end pcs arent common so why waste time on the pc ports when noone has this crap lol you pc fanboys

[Whitey2k]

The thing I hate about x1 ps4 and pc is everythink has to be about parity to all developer's yeah pc is stronger yeah ps4 is stronger then x1 there shouldnt be any parity they shouldnt hold back one for the sake of the other if one is stronger then the other then they shouldnt hold back.. its like downgrading a lambo to match a Ferrari or a slowest porche

[JeffGUNZ]

I agree. I am a console only gamer and I expect, like everyone else, for the PC version of a game to be the superior. To gimp one to match the other is a joke. PS4 and X1 are not that much of a leap from one another like the PC to console is, so I can see more parity desires there. Still, people pay money for a gaming PC, let them enjoy their investment.

[SkullBlade169]

I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft has been slipping money for "parity" between the console and the PC either.

Nobody will even care that the Xbox One is the weaker system compared to PS4 and PC if the games push none of them.

[kinisking]

Honestly in other cases I would agreee. But in watch dogs case it is mostly sokny who asked for a downgrade. I mean think about it. The code for the e3 2012 graphics were in the PC game. when people turned it on, it even RAN better. So who would want PCs to run worse and look worse. Who else but Sony? They're the ones who heavily marketed watch dogs. Had exclusive content. How embarrassing would it be if they had another version being the definitive edition and all this power talk and saying watch dogs would be best on ps4

[SkullBlade169]

True. Microsoft has been caught doing it before, I guess they aren't to blame every time lol.

It could be either of them really, they would both rather have gamers locked in to the Xbox / PlayStation brands rather than people gaming on PC where games are produced without a developer license fee.

[xboxftw]

This is yellow journalism show something and it's not actual. I remember back in late 90s the trailers for games were mostly CGI since the actual graphics were not so great. Games like C&C specially had FMV shown in trailers as well and we used to think one day games with at least cgi quality would be available. And even more than 10 years later we are still being fooled by companies showing games on unafforadable hardware while targeting consoles or average PCs.

I remember one law was being discussed which may or may not have been implemented was that to mention the footage source in the ads, whether it's actual ingame and from which platform.

UBI specially are showing video either on running on uber pcs or just post processed videos mimicking someone playing it.

HOpe people are not fooled again and speak with their wallets. I didn't buy WDs on xb1 or 360 and only once it hits bargain bin cuz or off some guy selling cheap.

[Dspdspes]

That's it. No more preorders till the reviews are available.

[JeffGUNZ]

That's the beauty of digital downloads. You no longer need to pre-order and can always get the game when you want it. I never pre-order now. It's not worth it since we can't believe what we actually will get.

[leogets]

Not buying a game until loads a people have played it and the hype is gone.. Just can't be arsed no more with lies upon lies.. Was really hyped over this game at e3 but I reakon it could be another title that will get boring fast. Ahem watchdogs "coff" come to think of it which UbiSoft game keeps people playing for years? There isn't any

[PCpower]

All I got to say to Ubisoft is a big F-YOU! There is a reason people buy Ferrari's just as there is a reason people like to build $2000 PC's. We WANT THE VERY BEST. At least Ferrari does not give a damn about people that drive Honda Fits, that go crying like little babies because their cars cannot match the performance of the Ferrari because they cater to the ENTHUSIASTS, that want the raw power.

I hate to break your bubble Ubisoft, but equality DOES NOT exist in this world. Okay? Everybody cannot have the very best and not everybody can go to the top colleges or be an Einstein. But what matters is that everyone is happy with what they are CAPABLE of or what they can afford is CAPABLE of. Don't try to shove a damn Honda 4-cylinder into our V12 engines. If we wanted to go cheap, then we would have bought a console!!

[Sy_Wolf]

I don't think they're making a habit of downgrading their games so much as making a habit of lying about the graphical fidelity of their games.

[Meltic]

thats why i dont support their games anymore. Now i understand why there are pirates out there... naughty dog is a Company too trust not ubisoft..

[2cents]

Quote from Ubi 'insider' Watchdogs "will never fully disclose what was removed from what build as no laws ask them to do so in terms of consumer rights," the insider concludes. "If we as developers published that information in very real terms for the consumer such as 'Replaced particle fog simulation with 2d layer simulation in 3d space, removed particles from all explosions, lowered explosion volume multiplier by 20x, removed X # of trees and civilians, etc.' we would be out of a lot of sales and probably it would actually require too much time to deliver on the current hype that a lot of downgraded games see which look incredible with a vertical slice."

Well then... don't show us what could have been, if you knew that you were shooting for the moon with a spud-gun(potato-gun) knowing fully well that you wouldn't even be able to reach the celling.

I have no sympathy for Ubisoft, they really got me good with that trailer, which inevitably made me buy the game, even with knowing that I wasn't getting what I originally thought I would, along with everyone else. Hopefully The first party devs will give the ps4 and x1 something to smile about AND we get some INSANE graphical goodness on the PC. Anyone remember when crysis was first revealed... the console games had heart failure and the pc gamers had an orgasm. There was none of this cr@p back then. So why should we stand for it now?

[quaneylfc]

Yeah i forgot that devs PURPOSELY want to downgrade the graphics of a game just to mess with us.

^ can no one see how stupid that sounds??

[ironfist92]

People cry from the hills when games are slightly downgraded to the point where you wouldnt remember the differences between the game you currently play and how it looked in the E3 demo from months before, yet are perfectly happy in buying slapped together McDonalds burgers when the advertising shows something different.

And yet people buy it. Why? For the taste, not the looks. Games should be the same, gameplay, not the graphics.

[mixolydian_id]

Contrary to popular belief... its because next-gen consoles aren't as powerful as the average consumer believes.

but also... graphics aren't the be all and end all either.

A forced downgrade is bad advertising.. especially because they were marketing for PS4 right from the start.

[mixolydian_id]

Also... it does make you question how truthful all other game reveals are.

a CG trailer is acceptable because no in-game footage is actually shown.

It reminds me of McDonalds adverts... my burger never looks a thing like the one in the picture!

[UnHoly_One]

I'm so sick of reading the words "downgrade" and "resolution".

Is this all we really have to talk about?

[Gamer666]

This has been common practice for years by many publishers.

I remember the first video Sony showed of Killzone 2... Everything was photo realistic, but the game never turned out to be that good. And Microsoft saw the same thing with Alan Wake...

This is a problem at the start of a console cycle like we are at. Developers target ambitiously (And I applaud them for doing so). Then, reality sets in once you add in the actual gaming engine with AI, characters, effects, sound, etc. And you have to "downgrade" a bit to get everything working the way you want.

The only thing that Ubisoft is guilty of is hyping their games way too early before the game model is set in stone. This is just one of the reasons why I always say that until the game has a firm ship date, it is vaporware.

[mrmack00]

I could care less if the PC version looks head and shoulders above the consoles. If PC players want to spend their money on a high-end rig, they deserve graphics to show for it..Doesn't take anything away from me playing on my PS4 or XB1..Just make it look as pretty as possible on the console.

If they show early builds of the game that look gorgeous, simply say it's a PC version of the game..wouldn't bother me in the slightest, and I truly can't see gamers saying "You know what? I'm not buying that game because the PC version looks better."

I don't even understand the thought process...

[PCpower]

Best comment, man, +1 to you.

[OldDude]

Agreed, bubbles.

[Tzuno]

in the end everybody plays their games, we speak just to make conversation not in a 1.000.000 years you will see people unite that can say ok that's it no more, so keep playing because you don't know how to make games and you are forced to take it as it is if you cannot hold on yourself. The truth is hard isn't it? so much paranoia... bla bla bla.

[Azzanation]

All games get downgraded. There designed on high end engines capable of alot more then what these systems are capable of. Gamers should stop buying into CGI trailers or Demos shown running on PCs. Developers will do there best to sell there products. Use your common sense.

[ThreshStar]

I love how the gaming community has been diluted into thinking that games being downgraded is an okay thing for the industry to do.

Please name me 1 OTHER ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY that this is okay to do.

For example, let's say The Avengers had an awe-inspiring trailer complete with amazing CGI effects. Then all of a sudden a 2nd trailer is released and the CGI isn't as good anymore, the actors' lines are a little less impressive. Heck, even in the released movie it's not as close as that trailer when it was first released.

Do you think the public would accept that for a second? How about an album? "I know you previewed this great song but the album version will be stripped down, not as high of quality and some of the backing vocals are missing." You'd be really annoyed and probably not buy that band/artist's album again.

Once again, the Gaming community just explains away why a multi-million dollar international corporation like UBIsoft can just advertise a bill of goods only to cheapen it later and THAT'S AN ACCEPTABLE PRACTICE.

We should be IRATE that a company charging $60 for a HOBBY is willing to do this as a practice in the first place. HOWEVER, if gamers are going to defend this practice then I guess we get what we deserve: Lies, downgrades, day 1 DLC and more nickel and diming at the expense of quality.

PC / Console comparisons are just a smoke screen. The real issue we should be debating is WHY IS THIS OKAY IN THE FIRST PLACE???

[OldDude]

Watch Dogs was hilarious, a day one mod that put the game back to pre-downgrade. The textures were much better, way more effects and the frame rate shot up... Stop gimping games so lame ass consoles can look relatively close.

[zerog]

I think the truth is(and the pc elitists can't stand it) is that the pc gaming market is small compared to consoles and that big publishers and dev teams focas more on consoles because thats where they expect to make 75% of their sales. Sure thre are hardcore gamers who don't mind spending hundreds and even thousands maintaining a high end gaming rig because they have an urge to have the best of the best but for the vast majority of gamers a cheaper console that only needs to be replaceced every 7-10 years with the simplicty of just plug it up and play is a much better option. As for down grades there is a simple reason its done and thats to improve the over all game experiance. Its all about trade offs. Sure watchdogs got downgraded so it would run better, forza did to hit 1080/60fps and there are numerous others. Would you rather have a slight downgrade or a broken game like battlefield 4 that took 6 months of patches just to make it playable? Any company when showing off something new are going to show the best they've got. They dont always hit that mark, sometimes they do and sometimes they improve. You people act so entitled acting like "if they want my money they need to do this". Thing is you only pay $60 to play it, they drop millions to make it and if these companies wasnt making games you'd have nothing to play. So if you want to complain go spend your own money making games and see if you do any better. If a game still looks hood and is fun to play i personally don't care.

[HumanatPlay]

Gamers today just love to get screwed. DLC was the downfall and all the gates where wide open for F2P and all that great stuff that used to be part of the full package. Fucking credit card babies

[urwifeminder]

It a shame I have to put up with gimped PC versions but hey been buying a lot of games I played on 360 cheap on PC and they look amazing , mod tools and tweaks will help glad I built a decent rig having a blast on just cause 2 multiplayer mod. Seems like the consoles may run last gen engines well at 1080p 60 fps just use them again ha.

[Solitaryswordsman]

This game is one that I really hope doesn't get too downgraded, there is an old skool vibe to it that has got me interested in a good way, 15 years ago it would have been an isometric game. Don't know why I think this.. Probably just been a long day.

[thricetold]

Maybe if you dipshyts stopped drooling over some damn pixels you wouldn't be disappointed! Gtfoh and go find a new hobby.

[uth11]

This whole argument is stupid.

To listen to the downgrade crowd, they'd have you believe that Ubisoft is taking a games that works perfectly with stunning graphics TWO YEARS prior to it's release- and then arbitrarily decides to downgrade all the graphics. To what end, I cannot fathom. Maybe they like bad press? Or want their competitors products to look better? Idk, it just makes no fucking sense.

You do realize that downgrading graphics takes more work, and work costs money- so where's the incentive here?

If graphics are being downgraded, then the logical reason is it's because it runs poorly at that fidelity, and they were forced. They couldn't make it look quite like their prototype (and face it, E3 2012 is a prototype).

The PC is a special case. There are so many configurations and it's impossible to test them all. Settings that work great on one system may work poorly on another. You have to find a common set of settings that work on the greatest number of systems. Obviously this is a difficult task for a developer because they keep launching to lots of PC problems. No developer WANTS to do this by choice, as it increases support costs.

In videogames, it's always been possible that the game will look different from what is shown on your system. Unless the trailer says that it's in-game footage captured from your system, then you shouldn't assume it's going to look exactly like that.

[GeraltofRivia]

With the new consoles struggling to run games maxed out at 1080p, a downgrade seems to be expected. If you don't want to worry about or bitch and complain about graphics than just play games on a decent gaming pc.

[Steelmanner]

Here is what most people are missing here. When Ubisoft makes an E3 gameplay video of a game in development, they are only showing off a small part of the world on a ridiculously good computer. This means amazing graphics with a great FPS. However, as the game expands into the full open world game, it becomes harder and harder for Ubisoft to keep the game at 60FPS with the extremely good graphics. As a result they must either sacrifice graphics or frame rate. More than not they will choose graphics so that the game will run smoothly.