With next gen consoles Xbox One and PS4 now becoming current gen, and our favourite Xbox 360 and PS3 being herded into last gen, there are some questionable practices going on which are leaving us a bit miffed. We’re not talking about increasing amounts of DLC being available for games, or the number of games which are using micro-transactions. No, we’re talking about the cost of multi-platform games which have been released on next gen and last gen consoles. We’ve already done several reviews which look at the differences between last and next gen games and it’s clear that in many cases the games are, simply put, better looking on the PS4 and Xbox One in direct comparison. We’ve even looked at next gen effects in games, highlighting subtle, but noticeable differences – see our Assassin’s Creed 4 foliage comparison video as just one prime example.
However, an expected graphical upgrade from machines that cost quite a bit isn’t always being offered which is all fine and dandy, but what really irks us is the fact that publishers are expecting gamers who have just forked out vast sums of money for a new console, to pay a premium for games which offer no or little differences between next and last gen versions.
Take Warner Bros. LEGO Marvel Superheroes as the leading example. The game looks great on Xbox 360/PS3 and was released back in late October, approximately one month before the Xbox One release. You can now pick up the game for as little as £30 from some retailers on Xbox 360/PS3 which is understandable considering its age. This is a natural process for video games, where their value depreciates quite quickly after the first month of going on sale. However, rather than release the Xbox One version of LEGO Marvel Superheroes at a more realistic figure in tune with the last gen version, the game is on offer at full price. This would be understandable if there was some exclusive content or a graphical upgrade, but unfortunately this is not the case. It reeks of pure greed and sets a bad precedent for gamers who have just purchased a new Xbox One or PS4. What also rubs salt into the wound is the pricing of the PC version which can be had at present for under £13.
Take a look at the video above or the two hi-res images from LEGO Marvel Superheroes. One is from the Xbox 360, and the second Xbox One. Aside from anti-aliasing in the Xbox One version, there is no discernible difference at all – although TT Games has said, the next gen version runs at 1080p and features more LEGO!
