The Division PC gameplay kept 'in check' with console versions to keep it fair [Update]

All platforms were not created equal, we guess.

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Update: An official statement from Ubisoft was submitted to PCGamesN clarifying what the unnamed developer said below:

"It has come to our attention that a comment from one of our team members has been perceived by some members of the community to imply the PC version of The Division was 'held back' and this is simply not true. From the beginning, the PC version of The Division was developed from the ground up and we're confident players will enjoy the game and the features this version has to offer. And the feedback from PC players who participated in the recent closed beta supports this."

Original Story:

Tom Clancy’s The Division just wrapped up its closed beta, with an open beta expected to take place. But before we get more time with The Division, an interview has spread across the Internet like an unknown plague across Manhattan.

Team Ephiphany conducted an interview with some Ubisoft developers during an event held in New York City after its closed beta had completed. During their time, they spoke to an unnamed developer who admitted cross-platform development had some influence on the PC version of The Division.

When asked if the dev team had been restricted in any way with how far they can push The Division due to the differences between platforms, he responds by saying “It is definitely a [factor], but one good thing about The Division is that we've always considered PC as a separate platform.” He continues by saying he’s “worked on projects before where the PC version's a port from a console, so it carries those limitations over, but we've always been in the mind that we'll have a dedicated PC build, so it hasn't really held it back too much.”

His follow-up statement is what a lot of players are clamoring over as the unnamed developer admits “We do have to kind of keep it in check with consoles because it would kind of be unfair just to push it so far away from them.”

This isn’t the first time a developer has admitted cross-platform development has essentially crippled how well the game, especially the PC version, performs. We’re still somewhat surprised to hear both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are still limiting how games are developed, even though they’re far superior to their previous generation counterparts.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    February 8, 2016 6:48 AM

    Daniel Perez posted a new article, The Division PC gameplay kept 'in check' with console versions to keep it fair

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      February 8, 2016 7:01 AM

      This is Ubisoft we're talking about. I assumed they would force parity from the beginning, same as all their other games.

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      February 8, 2016 7:34 AM

      [deleted]

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      February 8, 2016 8:06 AM

      It's refreshing to hear a dev be more candid about these restrictions in development.

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      February 8, 2016 10:00 AM

      People think that maybe it wasn't graphics, but gameplay and environment related--things like accessible indoor areas and what not.

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      February 8, 2016 10:28 AM

      Reminds me of that Shadowrun cross platform game where they made the mouse turn real slow if you move the mouse fast enough so it'd mimick a gamepad's movement.

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      February 8, 2016 10:31 AM

      Even with downgraded visuals, it still runs like shit. I can't think of an ubisoft game with decent engine.

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        February 8, 2016 11:17 AM

        The fuck you talking about?

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          February 8, 2016 11:19 AM

          Running on 970 and I can't get steady 60fps on all settings maximized in 1080p, sometimes it gets as low as 45 fps

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            February 8, 2016 1:23 PM

            I don't even...

            "I have this 1.5 year old mid range graphics card and I can't run this unreleased game with every setting on max! The engine is shit!"

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              February 8, 2016 1:28 PM

              970 is not really mid range, maybe you should take a look at what most people hardware on steam hardware survey.
              Plus the game's graphics are not that advanced or spectacular to make it run not smoothly unlike many other games that deliver better graphics and performance.

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              February 8, 2016 3:10 PM

              According to the Steam Hardware Survey, a 970 would put someone in the top 5 to 10 percent of PC gamers.

              A $350 card isn't really midrange.

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              February 8, 2016 4:19 PM

              [deleted]

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              February 8, 2016 7:27 PM

              I can't think of an optimized game that a 970 can't run on ultra

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              February 8, 2016 11:30 PM

              [deleted]

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              February 9, 2016 12:13 AM

              i too am an autist

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            February 8, 2016 11:41 PM

            The division is probably optimized for 30 fps on the ps4.... your card is about 1.8x times faster than a ps4 gpu, so at higher quality settings than the console you cannot really expect better than you are getting.

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        February 8, 2016 11:19 AM

        Game ran perfectly on my PC that I built in 2012 but put a gtx 970 into last May

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        February 8, 2016 4:19 PM

        [deleted]

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      February 8, 2016 10:57 AM

      [deleted]

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      February 8, 2016 11:20 AM

      Shit like this is the exact reason I don't get excited any time ubisoft announces a new game. Between Uplay, shit ports, unstable online features.. and so on. I view them as worse than EA but only by a little bit.

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      February 8, 2016 5:43 PM

      In other news Humans kept in check temporarily by limits of current understanding of universal healthcare, religion, plumbing, good sci-fi movies and sugar drinks.

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      February 8, 2016 11:28 PM

      So this will be cross platform? PC can play with xbox?

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      February 9, 2016 12:07 AM

      lol wow that update statement.

      "From the beginning, the PC version of The Division was developed from the ground up and we're confident players will enjoy the game and the features this version has to offer. And the feedback from PC players who participated in the recent closed beta supports this."

      The first part means literally nothing in a hilarious way. And the last sentence reads soooo whiny. "People said nice things about us! Believe us!!"

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