Mark Rubin: COD looks so much better on PS4 than on Xbone

GameCentral asking Mark Rubin tough questions

http://metro.co.uk/2013/11/05/call-of-duty-ghosts-mark-rubin-interview-there-are-things-that-were-not-allowed-to-talk-about-4173810/

GC: So, just finally, I have to ask: why does the PlayStation 4 version look so much better than the Xbox One? Is the resolution really the only difference?

MR: [laughs] Yep, it’s the only difference. The TVs are different on some of them, but… they both have their different rendering engines but they’re as close as possible. It really comes down to resolution. Xbox is upscaled 720, it’s outputting at 1080p but it’s upscaled from 720. Whereas PlayStation 4 is native 1080p. So that’s really the only graphical difference. But it is enough. Some people here are saying they don’t really notice a difference…

GC: Was that the guy with the white stick?

MR: [laugh] But yeah, the PS4 looks really good.

GC: Is the PC version still better?

MR: There’s actually some features that we’ve added to the PC that are definitively not on any other generation. We worked with Nvidia a lot with this, but we have a different form of anti-aliasing that’s really new and advanced – that isn’t on current or next gen. We have a fur shader on the dog and on the wolves, they actually have a moving fur shader that works really well, for PC. And the third one, which I think is one of the coolest ones, is we’re using Nvidia’s APEX Turbulence tech to have smoke that actually wisps and waves and moves out of the way of objects.

GC: So is that something the new consoles can’t do or you just didn’t have time to implement it?

MR: No, it’s… well, you can do almost anything, almost. Tessellation can’t be done on current gen for the most part, because it’s a DirectX 11 feature, but we could still do it but you’d get a frame rate of 2. So that really becomes the reason we do everything: the reason the Xbox One is 720, the reason the PlayStation 4 is 1080 is we’re trying to make the game look as good as it possible can and making sure we maintain our 60 frames per second.

We maintain the latency and the speed and the things that people actually care about. Even if they won’t admit it, the thing that makes Call Of Duty popular is how it feels, because of those priorities.

GC: So the obvious assumption from all this is that the PlayStation 4 is definitely more powerful than the Xbox One, is that true?

MR: [acting very embarrassed] I can’t answer that.

GC: You can’t answer it on a technical level or because you’re being diplomatic?

MR: Can’t answer that.

GC: You can’t say whether you’re avoiding the question for diplomatic reasons?

MR: [embarrassed] I just can’t say anything…

[Even the attending PR guy is looking embarrassed by this point]

PR guy: It’s very hard for us to be…

GC: Are the console manufacturers leaning on you to avoid these sort of questions?

MR: [unsure - speaking to PR guy] I don’t know if that…

MR: [even more embarrassed to us] Yeah, there’s things that we… We sign NDAs with the first parties [i.e. Microsoft and Sony - GC] and there are things that we’re not allowed to talk about.

GC: So when John Carmack and Shinji Mikami say the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are almost identical, is that something you could agree with?

MR: Hmm… I would say that’s a bit inaccurate but I wouldn’t be able to tell you any detail of why that’s inaccurate.

GC: For diplomatic reasons?

MR: Yes.

GC: Okay, that’s fine. I think we can all read between those lines. But that’s absurd, how can they not except any journalist, any reasonable journalist, not to ask that question? It’s what everyone wants to know.

MR: [still feeling very awkward] The key thing is we try to focus people away from that sort of thing and try to focus them on the fact that the game is fun no matter what platform it’s on.

GC: Do you think with the next game you make there will there be such an obvious disparity between the two formats?

MR: Unknown… But over time… If you look at Call Of Duty 2 compared to COD 4 there’s a massive graphic difference, they look very different. So I think we’ll get better, yes.

GC: But will that same proportional gap always be there?

MR: Don’t know. Until we get there I honestly don’t know. To be not diplomatic or anything [laughs] we really don’t know. We’ve done as much as we can in the time we have to get where we’re at. Will they close the gap? Will they go off in the opposite direction? Who knows? But for this game it is what it is.

GC: Do you think everyone else will have these same problems? All these other cross-generational games that are out at launch?

MR: Well, I think they’ve already said they are haven’t they? Battlefield 4 is 720 on Xbox One and I think 900 on PS4? Titanfall has said they’re 720… So we’re not the first to say we’re 720 on the Xbox One.

Xbone preorder cancelled

Sure... till someone throws a smoke nade. And the fps drop to 10fps

That sounds awkward. Pre-order re-uncancelled.

Pc's doing that as well. lol.

PS4...........better and cheaper.Can't wait for PS4.

XBone 720........lol

Can't wait to play the definitive version. Pointer controls, aw yeah.

@k2theswiss: can't wait till comparisons so you can pretend like framerate wasn't such a big deal

Ouch. TLHBO. MS is sending in support team to crack esram and cloud and 1080p patch is confirm. Lemming tell me this.

Just goes to show that COD devs can't into game development.

"the reason the Xbox One is 720, the reason the PlayStation 4 is 1080 is we’re trying to make the game look as good as it possible can and making sure we maintain our 60 frames per second" What a fucking achievement, these dudes are pathetic. and wtf happened? was this " tech to have smoke that actually wisps and waves and moves out of the way of objects" supposed to be on next gen system as it was said during E3 with fish AI bs? These turds are the worst in the industry.

@silversix_ said:

"the reason the Xbox One is 720, the reason the PlayStation 4 is 1080 is we’re trying to make the game look as good as it possible can and making sure we maintain our 60 frames per second" What a fucking achievement, these dudes are pathetic. and wtf happened? was this " tech to have smoke that actually wisps and waves and moves out of the way of objects" supposed to be on next gen system as it was said during E3 with fish AI bs? These turds are the worst in the industry.

Zing!

LOL, what he said is you'll hardly notice the difference, by the way the PS4 version is sucking in frame rates. Even the Xbox 360 is pawning it, have fun cows. I think I'll rather have 720p with steady 60FPS than the mess that is the PS4 version.

Lol, your title isn't even a quote he made. Man, you are one sad Cow and you do this every single day :) Resolution is the one and only difference in this game. Outside of that, he has NDA's from both companies as to what he can and can't say publicly. We already know the PS4 is more powerful than the Xbox One. Its like Cows want to hear that every single day until everyone wants a PS4. Both systems will improve, the game is the same except for screen resolution, no idea what the future holds cause things are always changing. Its a good interview and I feel for him and any dev cause there isn't a company out there today in any industry that doesn't use NDA for people who work with/on/supports their products.

All in all thanks for the link. I like this guy. Good stuff.

Interesting read but he doesn't say it actually looks better on the PS4, just it looks really good and some people can't tell the difference. I like how they can't answer most of the questions and his last comment about not being the only game at 720P on the One. Journalism is comical sometimes with the way they pry into things they can't answer. There is no way MS would ever let the developers of its flagship title say the opponents console is more powerful and the game could be better on it. Never happening.

Xbox One isn't even true 720p probably.

Funny how PS4 is 2 to 3x stronger than the One.

This has to be embarrassing for Microsoft. He basically laughing at the Xbox One. Also every knew that Carmack and Mikami were full of crap.

So what I got from this is: what we have known for a while PS4 is more powerful. But they're still gonna share most of the same library, so not a huge deal. Unless you have to have one or the other. I always own both so, big deal. And also sounds like the PC version is the definitive, powerful version. So if power were most important to me, again, I wouldn't be gaming on a console, be it PS4 or X1. The PC is still master, I want to play with the peasants.

True, true.

They're just so fvcking lazy. Ps3 version is testament to that.

Also, can you highlight where Mark Rubin says what your thread title leads us to believe he said, TC? You cant? Because he didn't? Oh so your a liar. Got it.

Give it up lemms, those are the words from the creator himself

Great at twisting words, should become a politician

I wish the devs had the freedom to speak their exact thoughts instead of holding back. Its annoying.

Nah I will go with PS4 and ignore hermits and lemmings.

"Some people here are saying they don’t really notice a difference…"

Add to that the constant frame drops on PS4, compared to what will be rock solid Xbone FPS

TCHBO

Will you please take a vacation and buy hooked on phonics?

Much agreed. I don't get the craving for what everyone hear knows, the PS4 is more powerful. Nobody is arguing. I will own a PS4. And an Xbox one. Deal with it cows some people like games that the PS brand wont get, like Halo, so we buy the console we can play it on. Same with God of War, to lems. I love these titles and will buy the consoles they're on. But TC, why are you a liar? Why post a lie?

I heard that if you sit two foot further from your HDTV while playing the 360 version, there's zero differences between X1 and 360 version so why spend $500? Put that $500 in your pocket and keep playing your 8y system. We all laughed at how GUN looked compared to other launch titles on 360 but the best part is, all X1 titles (excluding maybe Ryse) look like GUN compared to its perspective time... Last gen you've spent $400 on a system and instantly see a difference in graphics. This gen (on MS's front of course) you spend $500 and play the same ugly shit you've been playing for 8years in the same blurry ass outdated resolution. I kinda feel sorry for those getting only the X1 for the next 10 years, really sorry.

Yep. I can picture him struggling to hold back laughter when saying Carmack and that other guy's comments were inaccurate. He is getting paid regardless so nice to see not totally kiss Microsoft's butt.

Looks like Carmack and Mikami were full of shit then. The consoles are not the same thing and I think it is obvious to anyone that the PS4 has a lead in performance. This has to be pretty embarrassing for Microsoft.

@APiranhaAteMyVa:

Lemmings have been owned since late February and it will only intensify.

I will trust the people said review and played the games. The PS4 cant hit 30 FPS lol.

I wont even buy COD so have fun. I'll own both PS and Xbox as I have the past two gens, and have all the gaming enjoyment I can handle.

Good interview. IGN , gamespot and the rest should feel embarrassed by their coverage after reading that.

We the site users are not getting the right questions asked and it's us that will be spending $400-$500.

One of the reasons I don't like game journalism is when you get interviews like this. The guy already said he can't answer it and the interviewer keeps pressing him for the sake of pleasing the fanboys, what the hell is wrong with him.

Cows have been getting owned since 2005, I think a few months of ownage before a console even comes out isn't bad. When the next 7+ years will be nothing but greatness. Cows was doing the same before the 360 launched and a year after too, trying to say the 360 was inferior, but the tables turned. Expect once again, those tables are beginning to turn.

It called journalism. If you get fobbed off with PR bullshit you should push for the truth.

Alright dude I get it, you hate MS, love Sony. But are you really going to sit here and say 720p is blurry? How did you game last gen? How old are you did you ever game on a tube set with an 8 bit system? You haven't the slightest clue what blurry gaming is, son. My god you kids are spoiled.

Don't take a crap on them yet; they released it for so many platforms at the same time. They'll probably patch that ish out.

EDIT: but they seriously should have maybe split the release into two segments... I understand rushing for the console launches, but don't release an unrefined product.

Lol, again worried that every journalist who doesn't hold your views is biased, moneyhatted, or just afraid to speak the truth? BS. Total BS. Not everyone sees things the same way. If a site like Edge thinks the PS4 is the better system, its no big deal to me. I won't go screaming they are being bribed or just don't like MS or anything insulting their integrity just cause they don't hold my views. For the personb.persons who wrote that article based on their criteria, I respect that. Its just that individuals opinion. I know everything I need to know about the purchase I am going to make on November 22. Cows act as if the world just doesn't know crap about specs or anything else. But when you drop 400/500 on something, you know what you need to know. People aren't stupid as Cows think they are.

LOL I have never bought COD before and won't this year. Just engaging in SW.

Sort of like PS2 owned the early 2000s? Face it this is Sony generation. Microsoft screwed up so lemmings with have to deal with the inferior versions of all the popular games.

It still looks like a current-gen game, no matter the platform.

Thankfully the revolutionary fish AI certifies Ghosts is a next-gen experience.

who is Mark Rubin?

So PS4 version looks better confirmed

Xbox One version plays better confirmed

Why make a good system when you can just NDA the industry into a cold war? Way to go MS!

One of the top guys behind this years COD....

They play the same.. with the same stupid frame rate issues.

Hopefully they won't have stupid frame rate issues; if that shit doesn't get patched then the game doesn't deserve the 8 it got here. **** that shit.

How can anything about Xbone version be confirmed when Microsoft is holding it hostage for another week. The truth will come out about all these muliplats soon.

Hint...it won't be in Xlfop's favor.