While they are faster than the previous generation, they are not an order of magnitude faster, which means that we might have to make compromises again in the game design to maintain frame-rate.”īattlefield 4 was the most technologically advanced multi-platform launch title – and it came up short on Xbox One, with 720p resolution vs 900p on PS4, and a lower performance level with the engine under stress in like-for-like scenarios. Doubtless there’s a combination of factors at work, but in terms of overall trends, virtually everything has played out almost exactly as one of the Secret Developers foretold last year: “ have improved significantly in the last seven years, while the target HD resolution has shifted upwards from 720p and 1080p – a far smaller increase, but in this console generation it appears that the CPUs haven’t kept pace. Unfamiliarity with the hardware may explain this of course, but when you look at the degrees of technological accomplishment achieved in the visuals, even in the launch titles, lack of gameplay innovation is disappointing. Innovative, next-gen gameplay held back by the economic need to support older hardware is one potential explanation, but it doesn’t quite explain what’s going on with the platform exclusives on both of the new consoles – virtually all of which follow the same pattern of radically enhanced graphics coupled with familiar gameplay concepts and mechanics. Strip back the visual enhancements and in some cases, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 still manage to keep pace. It’s no mistake that virtually every major multi-platform title still has legacy last-gen support, and what surprised me is that while graphics routinely fall way short of the new standard, in many cases, gameplay holds up better than expected. There are technological arguments that may explain why gameplay hasn’t evolved in step with graphics, but we can’t avoid the compelling financial reasons either: games take at least two years to make, and when today’s triple-A multi-platform hits began development, publishers had no idea how successful – or not – the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One would be. Smoother, shinier, and in some cases more immersive, enhanced visuals are obviously important – but so far both consoles have failed to deliver a defining next-gen moment, something like the original Assassin’s Creed reveal way back in 2006. It’s a phenomenal achievement, yet we’re struggling to think of any title that has seen gameplay enhancements that mirror the kind of time and effort put into the graphics, whether we’re talking about PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. We’ve also seen a range of remasters, some of which are truly transformative experiences compared to the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions.īut take a few moments to revisit our deep dive on the visually stunning Killzone Shadow Fall and the amazing new technologies deployed in the game. Games like Shadow of Mordor – clearly designed with the new consoles in mind – fail badly downsized onto last-gen hardware. BF4 and Far Cry 4 also showcases how the extra GPU power on offer overcomes the frame-rate issues that plagued advanced engines on last-gen systems, improving not just the look, but the feel of key titles. Netcode issues aside, Battlefield 4’s 64-player online battles demonstrates a radically improved gameplay experience a world apart from the last-gen equivalents. The fact is that I’ve seen some beautiful examples of how improved visuals – not to mention the 10x improvement in available RAM – can supercharge existing gameplay concepts and reinvigorate franchises. One year on, what have the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 delivered in real terms? Graphical complexity, image definition and fidelity are a night and day difference compared to their last-gen counterparts, with Sony commanding the technological high ground, but across the current library of titles, there’s a very strong argument that we haven’t seen anything like the same level of improvement in terms of the actual gameplay experience.īefore I go on, it is worth stressing that this doesn’t mean that I haven’t enjoyed some superb games in the last year.
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