If a company intentionally scales back the visuals of one version of a game, that shows to me that they’re not handing their best product over the counter. If one console can manage a resolution that another has trouble with, so be it. I feel the same way if a PC version gets held back because of console. (Fortunately for the Master Race, their versions of games can quite often take advantage of the hardware they play on. Want to enjoy games in resolutions even higher than 1080p? A good computer can be a graphic enthusiast’s dream come true.) Just this summer, we also heard about Watch_Dogs — another Ubsisoft game — having its PC version downgraded to keep the playing field the same.
Essential Reading:
- Remastered Video Games: Must-Haves or Cash-Grabs?
- PS3 Exclusives That Demand a PS4 HD Remaster
- PSOne Classics That Still Hold Up Today
True, some users of the mods that exposed the higher quality graphics said that it affected performance, but part of the appeal of PC games is that you can customize those settings based on your own priorities. Leave the option in, perhaps with a warning to the players so they know what they’re getting into. Another downgrade doesn’t sit well with me. A game should work as well as it can on the given hardware.
So here I am, as a guy who prioritizes graphics below most other things, alienated by a resolution decrease. It’s not about the graphics themselves, but about the motivation behind it. The disservice to customers looks worse than any visual downgrade.
