What happens when the pressure is extreme and the level of competition is heightened by the fact that you have to outrun your opponent no matter what? You start making mistakes, which is exactly what Microsoft did, embarassing itself.
Not long ago, video footage taken from the PlayStation 4 version of Watch Dogs ended up being posted on the official Xbox YouTube channel. All this began when it was confirmed late last month that launch games on PS4 will run at a higher resolution compared to the titles on Xbox One.
As an example of the regular resolutions of the titles involved, Infinity Ward executive producer Mark Rubin wrote on Twitlonger: “Hey, been on the road last couple weeks so haven’t had a chance to update, but wanted to confirm that for Xbox One we’re 1080p upscaled from 720p. And, we’re native 1080p on PS4.”
“We optimized each console to hit 60 FPS and the game looks great on both. Still on the road, but glad to see the great reception to Extinction.”
This led to most developing companies producing multiplatform titles to shift from showing off their titles on the Xbox One to the PS4. And nobody is to blame here since everybody wants to show off their projects in the best resolution possible.
The goof up was first noticed and revealed via Reddit where an image of the video (present for months) was posted with representations of the PS4 DualShock 4 buttons on the screen over the game. Despite being a mistake of such a massive proportion, it was a while before Microsoft came to know about it and tried to edit the buttons in the video out before eventually deciding to remove the video altogether from its YouTube channel.
However, later Major Nelson took note of the situation with discontent brewing in the corner from fans were thinking that the company was trying to fool them into buying the Xbox One.
Piling the whole fault on Ubisoft, Major Nelson wrote: “Hey – just seeing this now. Good catch! Looks like there was a mix up at Ubisoft when they provided this video. I am told that they are on the case will provide more news on Watch_Dogs at a later date.”
While we would still like a glimpse of that video although it’s already out of reach, it should be noted that it never occurred to Microsoft that the video might need to be re-checked, since Watch Dogs is a multiplatform title.
But when the fault was revealed, Microsoft just passed on the torch toward Ubisoft for allegedly committing “a mix up” when the video was provided.
Although we are not in position to point fingers at anyone since we don’t have that kind of evidence, if taken into consideration with an open mind, it can be actually viewed as an instance where Ubisoft supplied the copy and Microsoft, not once, felt like re-checking the video that was posted on the company’s “official” YouTube channel. For the sake of justification, we are still awaiting any response to this situation from Ubisoft.
Then again, there’s no point at playing the blame game now.
