Report – Microsoft & Sony Pressuring Ubisoft For 30FPS On PC

[futurefields]

http://www.dsogaming.com/news/report-microsoft-sony-pressuring-ubisoft-for-30fps-on-pc/

“30fps vs 60fps” ? everyone

The Game Architect said that they aim for 60 fps but due to “limitations”, they have to settle for 30 fps in recent games. He then implied that console makers are pressuring them into doing the same thing on PC.

“Ask how bad the upper/middle management is.” u/Ed130_The_Vanguard

The HR rep said that managers are former programmers and can sometimes be interns. But people are always managed by someone who could do their job.

Not asked, but worth mentionning :

The Game Architect said that they try to re-use code as much as possible. So that’s maybe what happened with the AI in Watch Dogs which was taken from AC.

“Are you aware of the negative response to the recent decision to lock your games (like AC:Unity) into 30 frames per second? If so, what do you think about that?” u/TwinDragonsOfChaos

I asked this question at the end of the presentation, everyone laughed. The Game Architect said that on consoles, and for this type of game, they have to chose between graphical fidelity and smoothness. He implied that MS is making them lock the framerate on PC too. Then, he smiled, said “But our eyes can’t see past 24 fps anyway” and winked at me.

 

[TheSlamma]

Why are companies so bound and determined to destroy their customer base these days.

MS just doesn't seem to get it, they can hire some random gamer off the street now and they would do 10 times better than the failed management has done with XBox One and now they want to have game companies cripple the PC so people convert to a 900P/30fps console? good luck with that.. just means Ubisoft will sell less of their games is all and people will have more money left over for Indy titles.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Most people don't care...at all. Just look at the sales numbers. If people stopped buying games at $49-59 a pop, then maybe they'd start catering to the higher end, but until that happens, they are going to continue to do what they want.

 

[Topweasel]

Why are companies so bound and determined to destroy their customer base these days.

MS just doesn't seem to get it, they can hire some random gamer off the street now and they would do 10 times better than the failed management has done with XBox One and now they want to have game companies cripple the PC so people convert to a 900P/30fps console? good luck with that.. just means Ubisoft will sell less of their games is all and people will have more money left over for Indy titles.

Yeah because Sony isn't doing the same?

Also they (both of them) want parity. Not exactly different, although we will never see it that way. They will see it as people avoiding the console version because the PC is better. But Ubi has been pro graphics parity for a long time so this might not even be pressure from the console guys.

 

[BrightCandle]

I am very interested in hearing what form the pressure takes. Because there is every chance that its illegal. Its clearing trying to manipulate the free market and I suspect the EU would take great exceptions to Microsoft yet again using its position to try and dominate the market by using unfair business practices on its platforms.

 

[TheSlamma]

Yeah because Sony isn't doing the same?

Did I say they weren't? man people need to turn down the ASSumption volume

 

[ThinClient]

The "pressure" is heresay.

A lot of games today that are locked at 30fps are the ones that are ports from consoles which inherit the 30fps rate lock.

 

[sweenish]

Is this even a reliable site? I've not heard of it before.

 

[BrightCandle]

This originally comes from reddit PC master race a few days ago. One of the individuals there had a Ubisoft developer come to school to talk about their jobs. A lot questions were asked about 30v60 and other things and most responses were interesting, but what the reddit user said was said about 30 fps locks on PC was that ms/Sony was pressuring was implied by the dev in response. Obviously as a corrupt media picks it up it becomes definitive truth but this is the source.

 

[Topweasel]

Did I say they weren't? man people need to turn down the ASSumption volume

Its not about assuming anything. Its about the need to go on a rant about only one of the parties and ignoring the other. Now there is a second post again only attacking MS.

The fact is Ubi hasn't wanted to be part of a platform war at all and just wants to make sure all people who buy their games get the same experience. They don't need pressure from the other parties. That dev probably just doesn't like the practice and blames it on the consoles.

 

[futurefields]

Is this even a reliable site? I've not heard of it before.

you've never heard of dsogaming?

you're a PC gamer yes?

 

[Eric1987]

you've never heard of dsogaming?

you're a PC gamer yes?

I am a huge PC gamer and I've never heard of that site.

 

[ThinClient]

I am a huge PC gamer and I've never heard of that site.

Same here.

 

[futurefields]

Do you want a cookie?

 

[TheSlamma]

Its not about assuming anything. Its about the need to go on a rant about only one of the parties and ignoring the other.

Sony you suck too!! (holds fist to sky and blows blood vessel in eye just thinking about them)

Okay now they're evenly attacked. Take that Sony and MS! You are BOTH in my doghouse!

 

[Bateluer]

Yeah because Sony isn't doing the same?

Also they (both of them) want parity. Not exactly different, although we will never see it that way. They will see it as people avoiding the console version because the PC is better. But Ubi has been pro graphics parity for a long time so this might not even be pressure from the console guys.

Since Sony has the definitive more powerful console for the 8th generation, I'm pretty sure they do not want any PS4 game being stripped down to match the Xbox One's capabilities. PC gamers never want their games being stripped to fit onto the consoles.

Ubi has always been stupid.

 

[BrightCandle]

You do all realise this is basically just game journalists slandering Microsoft and Sony at this point, their proof is pretty tenuous. Before people get the pitchforks out a journalist actually needs to approach the accusation properly and talk to Ubisoft, Microsoft and Sony and see if there is any truth in it BEFORE reporting this. This is just another example of ethical issues in game journalism, its not yet a real story.

 

[ImpulsE69]

You do all realise this is basically just game journalists slandering Microsoft and Sony at this point, their proof is pretty tenuous. Before people get the pitchforks out a journalist actually needs to approach the accusation properly and talk to Ubisoft, Microsoft and Sony and see if there is any truth in it BEFORE reporting this. This is just another example of ethical issues in game journalism, its not yet a real story.

You have a point, but keep in mind that these companies regularly do things like this. It has already been stated by multiple devs that MS/Sony want the games to be the same across all platforms. I have no problem believing they pressure devs at all. It's in their best interest...at least until the cat is out of the bag. As much lying and misdirection as these companies do, I can pretty much believe they sacrifice babies to satan for an exclusive if necessary.

 

[sweenish]

you've never heard of dsogaming?

you're a PC gamer yes?

I am, and what does one have to do with the other?

From what I'm seeing, they're not a reliable site if this is a report passed off as an actual interview that's really just a third-hand account of a high schooler's interpretation of a Q&A.

I mean, at this point, I'm glad I haven't heard of them.

That's a nice try on the shaming, but it doesn't appear to have taken.

You have a point, but keep in mind that these companies regularly do things like this. It has already been stated by multiple devs that MS/Sony want the games to be the same across all platforms. I have no problem believing they pressure devs at all. It's in their best interest...at least until the cat is out of the bag. As much lying and misdirection as these companies do, I can pretty much believe they sacrifice babies to satan for an exclusive if necessary.

Ethical violations are not okay because you're "pretty sure it's true anyway." The lack of any kind of common sense is astonishing. Stop blaming the media, everyone. We did this to ourselves.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Really have no clue what point you were trying to make, but you failed miserably.

 

[sweenish]

That's just a lack of comprehension on your part, then.

But go ahead and throw an ad hominem in there for good measure. As if your logic wasn't broken enough as it is.

 

[BrightCandle]

I really ought to stop calling them journalists, after gamergate only one site (Kotaku) actually considers it hires journalists, all the rest of them consider themselves bloggers and hence don't feel bound by any ethical standard to report the truth or do what is right or anything like that, they just write their opinions down and you can read it or not. Its important for all of us to understand that when we start to rely on them for gamer related news, because its not news its what they made up on that day.

About the only thing that can be trusted at face value on the game media sites is when they qoute the marketing text they just got emailed. Once they start writing their own words then its often just garbage. DSOGaming has so much rubbish and totally untrue articles on its site that its not worth reading. While they aren't directly calling all their readership rapists they also aren't exactly a beacon of ethical standards either. We should be demanding more integrity and we shouldn't be following those sites that show they have none.

 

[ImpulsE69]

That's just a lack of comprehension on your part, then.

But go ahead and throw an ad hominem in there for good measure. As if your logic wasn't broken enough as it is.

You're lack of being able to string a sentence that makes sense isn't much better. Let's break down what you quoted of mine.

Ethical violations are not okay

Who's ethical violations are you referring to? MS/Sony? The Dev's? Media? Only one I was referring to was MS/Sonyand where did I say any of it was 'ok'?

because you're "pretty sure it's true anyway."

Again, what are you referring to? Closest thing I can think is you are referring to us believing what an article says, however I have NO clue how that relates to the beginning of your sentence....and then there is this follow up, which completely makes no sense:

The lack of any kind of common sense is astonishing. Stop blaming the media, everyone. We did this to ourselves.

OK, so, maybe you're referring to media? I can't tell because you say "stop blaming media". This sentence completely makes no sense in the context of your previous sentence.

I would say lay off the booze.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I really ought to stop calling them journalists, after gamergate only one site (Kotaku) actually considers it hires journalists, all the rest of them consider themselves bloggers and hence don't feel bound by any ethical standard to report the truth or do what is right or anything like that, they just write their opinions down and you can read it or not. Its important for all of us to understand that when we start to rely on them for gamer related news, because its not news its what they made up on that day.

About the only thing that can be trusted at face value on the game media sites is when they qoute the marketing text they just got emailed. Once they start writing their own words then its often just garbage. DSOGaming has so much rubbish and totally untrue articles on its site that its not worth reading. While they aren't directly calling all their readership rapists they also aren't exactly a beacon of ethical standards either. We should be demanding more integrity and we shouldn't be following those sites that show they have none.

If you read the 'update' on that report, it gets even more wishy/washy. My point was simply that in the past multiple sources have stated that MS/Sony push for parity. Either the reporters are lying, the devs are lying, or MS/Sony (who remain quiet) are really doing it. Of course MS/Sony aren't going to come out and say "yea we don't want PC to be better because that might pull away potential suckers".

 

[mmntech]

Ubisoft locks frame rates because they like to do direct ports with minimal optimization. I guess it just costs them too much time and money to make the game work properly on Windows. I also think Ubisoft Montreal just doesn't know how to properly code for x86. So they can't be bothered, and just release sloppy ports. Ubisoft is next in line to the throne after EA, for the crown of worst big game publisher. At least EA is trying to fix their image, somewhat.

Sony seems to have less to gain from this situation. Though I can see the CPU being an issue in the PS4 with AC Unity. The Xbox One, however, has been struggling to gain momentum. The company has, for a very long time, put the Xbox brand ahead of Windows gaming.

I think the truth is buried in here somewhere. Probably a combination of the two, but I put more of the blame on Ubisoft themselves, given their past history.