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The Division PC Not "Held Back," Ubisoft Says

"This is simply not true."

By Eddie Makuch on February 9, 2016 at 9:11AM PST

Ubisoft has spoken up to stress that the PC edition of The Division is not being "held back" after a developer said it was important the computer version remain "in check" with the console editions.

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"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," an Ubisoft representative said in a statement to GameSpot today.

"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," the rep added. "And the feedback from PC players who participated in the recent closed beta supports this."

The unnamed developer who originally made the "in check" comment also said "it would be kind of unfair to push [the PC version] so far away from [the console versions]." He added that he was happy that Ubisoft committed to making a dedicated PC version of the game from the start. The end result is that PC players will get a solid experience, complete with more graphics customization options than console.

"I'm really happy that we're pushing the PC build as much as we are; there's a lot more customized options than the console," he added.

The console versions of The Division will offer some PC-like graphical settings. Xbox One and PS4 players can even make use of these settings to improve the frame rate if they want.

After multiple delays, The Division's full release is now scheduled for March 8.

For more on The Division, check out some stories below.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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evilace_stealth

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evilace_stealth

I think it's quite simple. The PC version is a better version than the console versions. But ofcourse they might have been able to focus on solutions that are ONLY possible on PC if this was a PC exclusive game. They might have been able to tweak their game engine to accomplish more advanced lightning/reflections and all that nice stuff we saw in the first E3 demo.

But they won't build two different engines or use different animations (just an example of non graphical features that might require more processing/memory) for the different versions. So PC will have a sharper, smoother game but that's about it.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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Uh, Ubisoft? If the PC version is "in check" with the console version, then it's being held back. The PC version should be better, if the hardware it's running on is better than the consoles.

Thanks for confirming you're crippling the PC version. Again.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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Do people honestly think they held anything back? With all the delays and difficulty shipping on time, they probably barely got it done in time. I don't know how people can believe that developers got more work done that would make their game sell better, then throw it in the trash instead of releasing it.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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Honestly i dont give a..... as long as pc version is cheaper then console one as it is in my country i will be getting it on pc no matter if graphics are hold back or not. If i want better looking graphics i can always rely on modders as they did with watch dogs.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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any news about DX12 ?

Upvote • 9 years ago

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pc fatties should have the best graphics like some of the exclusives they already have, Dota, WoW, ummm??? ahhh?? you know, ground breaking pc exclusives like, guild wars and minecraft.... oops! that graphically challenging game is now a multiplat.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@sampson3121: Grow up. Smh.

2 • 9 years ago

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@blackbetty1974: sure thing sir.

Upvote • 9 years ago

deactivated-642321fb121ca

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deactivated-642321fb121ca

Why should PC be held back? Would all the console gamers get upset about the graphics difference? If console gamers were all graphic whores to begin with, perhaps they shouldn't be on consoles.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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Didn't an UBISOFT rep state that version graphical parity was a goal as it would be unfair on console gamers... so many contradictions, I don't really give a shit, it only runs at an acceptable framerate on max settings at 1440p with a Titan X anyway so anymore options and it would have run like crap.

3 • 9 years ago

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Edited By Metallinatus

"We are even removing the E3 textures folder this time!"

4 • 9 years ago

peterhorner1867

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peterhorner1867

I'd really like to see exactly what percentage of people have a pc capable of playing these games beyond what the consoles can do.

That percentage would answer any of the questions around this topic. I'd don't know alot about pcs but if that percentage is low it would hardly be worth spending the time and money optimising for those people where the financial reward for the Dev isn't worth it.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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Edited By BeantownSean

@peterhorner1867:

Well, that is the nature of the PC...it isn't static. What someone doesn't have today, they might have tomorrow.

Crysis was a PC game that damn near no one could run at launch. However, over time the cards improved to the point where anyone could max it out.

All it would it take is a $200 GTX 960 to convincingly surpass consoles. From what I can tell, the $300 GTX 970 is the most popular card according to Steam Hardware Survey.

There was also a report that roughly 23% of Ubisofts profit in 2015 was from the PC market. Slightly less than the PS4, double the XBO.

Upvote • 9 years ago

peterhorner1867

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peterhorner1867

@beantownsean: so u honestly think it's worth a Devs time, money and resource to develop a game that a small percentage of people could play today but most could only play 2 years down the line when they've probably forgotten about it and moved on anyway? That really isn't going to satisfy investors is it.

I also think they would look at pc games sales vs console sales combined. It's irrelevant whether pc sold more than xb1.

My main point is that I guess they don't plow tons more time and effort into a 'suped up' pc version cos it's not financially beneficial to them

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@peterhorner1867: Yes, because of Steam. Unlike consoles where games must sell in their first week or fail, PC games can sell over years since they're always backwards compatible.

Upvote • 9 years ago

peterhorner1867

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peterhorner1867

@Thanatos2k: so if a game is released on pc that nobody has enough power to play, pc gamers happily wait a couple of years and then flock to buy it cos now they finally have a pc capable? Really? I'd love to see the evidence of that.

My point still stands. What gaming company is going to say to investors "were making this new game which is totally awesome. Problem is we won't sell many copies cos not many people have a pc capable of handling it BUT in 2 years alot more people will so there's a chance they might remember the game amd come back and buy it."

Very doubtful anyone is going to jump aboad that train.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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Edited By Thanatos2k

@peterhorner1867: No game has ever been released on the PC that nobody has enough power to play. You really have no idea what you're talking about.

Upvote • 9 years ago

peterhorner1867

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peterhorner1867

@Thanatos2k: I think you're taking my comment of 'nobody' a little too literally. Il rephrase that to 'a minority' or 'very few'

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Edited By Thanatos2k

@peterhorner1867: I think you're taking my comment of "nobody" a little too literally. No game has ever been released on the PC that only very few people could play. Lower settings are always included.

Upvote • 9 years ago

peterhorner1867

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peterhorner1867

@Thanatos2k: my apologies, I was referring to the comment that beantownsean made where he said "when crysis 3 was released damn near nobody could run at launch"

Just doesn't make any logical business sense to create a game so advanced that damn near nobody can run.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@peterhorner1867: He meant at max settings. Not "at all." You'd know that if you knew anything about Crysis.

Upvote • 9 years ago

peterhorner1867

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peterhorner1867

@Thanatos2k: so we agree with my point then, good. There was not much point in optimising the game to that level as damn near nobody could play it on those settings.

Pleased we agree

Upvote • 9 years ago

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Edited By Thanatos2k

@peterhorner1867: If you think I agree with you, you lack reading comprehension. No one "optimizes the game to that level."

You really don't know how PC games work, do you?

Upvote • 9 years ago

peterhorner1867

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peterhorner1867

@Thanatos2k: it's really simple. The guy said damn near no-one could run crysis and u said he was referring to the game at max settings. My point is, if damn near noone can run a particular game at max settings, what is the point in creating the settings that high? Surely it takes more time, money and resource to have people make it run to that level. How is it worth it financially?

Upvote • 9 years ago

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Edited By Thanatos2k

@peterhorner1867: "My point is, if damn near noone can run a particular game at max settings, what is the point in creating the settings that high?"

Because PC developers aren't stupid, and know that PCs only get better. Obviously computers will be made that can run the game at those settings in the future, so being forward looking is only a good thing.

"Surely it takes more time, money and resource to have people make it run to that level."

As I said, you don't know much about PC games. It's often free to make these options available. When you see "2x 4x 8x 16x 32x" antialiasing options in a menu, it didn't take some guy 2 months to make the "16x and 32x" options available.

Upvote • 9 years ago

peterhorner1867

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@Thanatos2k: but this is my point. When a company releases a new game they want immediate sales. They aren't going to release something that maybe people can take advantage of in the future cos u run the risk that by the time people have a pc capable of playing the game to that level, they will already be playing a more recent game. And this is the point I originally made about this article. I wonder how many people have actually got a pc capable of playing a game like this above the xb1/ps4 standard? Because if this is a low number u can understand why they simply release a game that matches the console version. My comment was more a question than a statement. I'm not saying nobody has the ability to run it at higher settings, I'm simply asking the question which I believe could lead to the answer. My theory would simply be that not many pc gamers have a pc that would run this game at the higher settings so ubisoft don't see the point in doing it. Yes, pcs are upgradable, but ubisoft want to sell the game to as many people straightway, not in a couple of years

Upvote • 9 years ago

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Edited By Thanatos2k

@peterhorner1867: Is there something wrong with you? When the game is released, people can play it on non-max settings on an average cost machine. OR they can play it on max settings if they have cutting edge extremely expensive rigs. Or maybe max settings don't produce good performance even on the most expensive machines (yet).

Several years later, they can play it on max settings with an average cost machine, or play it on low settings on crappy computers.

There are no lost sales. Do you get it yet? Are you reading the words?

By the way, the non-max settings the average cost machine use make the game look and run better than any console version. (Unless the devs are incompetent, like, say, Warner Brothers)

Upvote • 9 years ago

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Edited By BeantownSean

@peterhorner1867:

I don't proclaim to know exactly how many PC gamers who can or can not run this above console levels.

You sound like you do though, since its a "small percentage".

By your thinking, nothing exotic should ever be designed or developed since the general public is unlikely to afford or purchase such things.

2 • 9 years ago

peterhorner1867

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peterhorner1867

@beantownsean: well my guess is that it's a small percentage cos if it was a high percentage it would be worth doing financially.

There's nothing wrong with making exotic things but games companies aren't going to bust a gut to make something more expensive for only a few to enjoy. If they did they would have to sell the optimised pc version at a much higher cost to make a profit. It's like Aston Martin making a new car. They plow the quality into it knowing that only a small percentage of car buyers could afford it. The result of this is a really expensive car.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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People would have so much more respect for publishers if they would simply be upfront with their developing strategy. There is nothing wrong with saying, "hey, we want everyone to enjoy the game at the same graphics setting". No problem, 98% of PC owners would be fine with that....but to say you never held the game back on PC is just a joke. Especially when you stack up the graphics of a small studio game like The Witcher 3 with the "unchecked" PC graphics in the Division.

2 • 9 years ago

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@ssjdra: Just wanted to point out the witcher 3 developers are not a small studio. They had over 200 people that worked on the witcher 3. According to the wiki page of the divisions developer, Ubisoft Massive, they have 300 so both developers are similar in size. The division overall is a much more complex game to develop too. Sure the witcher 3 was an amazing and huge game, but a lot of that had to do with the story. If the witcher 3 had multiplayer a lot of what made the game amazing would of been cut out so they could of reached their deadline.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@ssjdra: Frankly speaking, you don't want to know how the sausage is really made. The publisher is not going to tell you how they ran all aspects of their business. Budgets, timelines, meetings, internal delays, etc are bits of information you are entitled to.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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Edited By ssjdra

We know Ubisoft is lying because the Witcher 3 taught us what an open world PC game should look like...with last years technology.

4 • 9 years ago

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@ssjdra: The irony of this is off the charts, considering The Witcher 3 was considerably downgraded and "held back" to run on consoles...

3 • 9 years ago

deactivated-642321fb121ca

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deactivated-642321fb121ca

@nyadc: Exactly, the visual differences are hardly night and day.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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@Random_Matt: If you think that visuals are hardly night and day between the pc and console versions of the Witcher 3, then you must be going by YouTube videos. If you are playing on a decent pc, the visual quality and performance difference is huge in that game.

Upvote • 9 years ago

deactivated-642321fb121ca

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deactivated-642321fb121ca

@noforceken: I'll get around to it eventually, but i won't know what consoles will look like. Getting back to PC gaming next month or so and i'll start with the original and work my way up.

Upvote • 9 years ago

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It has come to our attention that one of our employees has been caught telling the truth about our product, disciplinary action has been taken. This won't happen again...

10 • 9 years ago

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Edited By sepsis216

I for one believe them. UBI has never lied to their consumers.

...oh snap, sorry I had my finger on the bull-shi(f)t key. They're totally lying.

Upvote • 9 years ago

deactivated-5a803cda1fb41

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deactivated-5a803cda1fb41

Ubisoft please, you've been doing this to the PC for years.

2 • 9 years ago

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& the damage control begins...next time just show what you can actually deliver Ubi with parity & all. :P

3 • 9 years ago

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To add insult to injury they're trying to lie to us now, straight up lying about something we can blatantly see is untrue like we're idiots or something...

Their damage control is only causing more of it...

2 • 9 years ago

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Here comes the damage control from their own shit ROFL LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

#LOLUbi

Upvote • 9 years ago

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What a surprise. Consoles holding back gaming due to obsolete hardware. That's old news, consoles are a cancer.

3 • 9 years ago

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Use your keyboard!

ESC

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