When Ubisoft revealed the release date and story trailer for Watch Dogs, thus finally confirming its launch date for this year, it was inundated in controversy. This was because many players felt the visuals had been downgraded following the demo at last year’s E3.
Despite some comparisons showing no downgrade in the PS4 version since then, former Epic Games designer and Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski tweeted that the visuals have suffered. And that development on the previous generation of consoles may be the culprit.
“I’d wager that the reason Watch Dogs’ graphics have been downgraded on the high end is due to the fact that it’s shipping on last gen also. Biggest enemy to next gen consoles is publishers hanging onto the last gen. I’ve said it before, it’s limiting the capabilities of next gen.”
Bleszinski also believes this is due to a half hearted approach by publishers, who approach next gen development as, “Wait we want to be next gen…kinda…not really…maybe…oh and on the Wii U for some reason too”.
The foliage has been one of the factors of Watch Dogs which apparently suffered as a result. “Foliage, for example. Instead of some really detailed next gen stuff you still get ‘sheets’ and the resolution is the only thing to change.”