While PS1, PS2 and even PS3 games could do with a fresh lick of paint if released today, it's not exactly uncontroversial to say that PS4 games don't need it. PS4 games don't even have the argument of simply making it available to modern consoles because PS5s can play PS4 games directly.

The law of diminishing returns has hit this generation pretty damn hard, to the point where most people are hard pressed to tell a PS4 game from a PS5 game. So when the differences are that miniscule, you aren't really meeting the objectives of a remaster. Just do a straight port with better FPS and/or resolution support.

[–] echo64 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Like, sure, if the game isn’t otherwise playable on the platform then by all means, but otherwise why waste all that time?

If developers want to re-release their games on new platforms, I say sure? No skin off my back, helps them work on engine and tooling for the new platforms, gives games another wind. Literally does not matter to me.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I mean of course they're free to, and I don't take any any sort of umbrage against those who do but... How does it make more sense than something like a paid compatibility patch? (Tbf that's what TLoU2 is doing with its 'remaster')

[–] echo64 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

you can't do a 'patch' for a new platform, you have to release a new SKU. that's just the mechanics of it. that's what 99% of these things that people are mad about are. it also gives people an excuse to print mode physical medias which makes people who like physical media happy.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

you can’t do a ‘patch’ for a new platform, you have to release a new SKU.

Tell that to Microsoft and Sony. Xbox Series X and PS5 have been enabling exactly this for X1 and PS4 games respectively.

The consoles not only have native backward compatibility, but they allow developers to make patches for 8th gen games to specifically target 9th gen hardware.

[–] echo64 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

No, they have unlocked profiles. This is absolutely not the same thing as releasing a game made for previous gen for current gen it does not give you access to most of the graphical and audio capabilities of the modern platform, nor does it give you access to features like duelsense triggers and rumble.

It mearly takes the speed limit off the ps4 abstractation layer.

I want to be super clear about how these are very very different things. And also about how it's petty to go and press the downvote button on someone's posts when you're having a conversation with them. Numbers don't mean anything here, it's just petty and makes conversation weird.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

They aren't limited to unlocked framerates and higher resolutions though. Some games also add additional graphics effects.

it does not give you access to most of the graphical and audio capabilities of the modern platform

Except where it clearly can. For example, Witcher 3's next gen update adds features like ray tracing.

And also about how it’s petty to go and press the downvote button on someone’s posts when you’re having a conversation with them.

Im not the one pressing the downvote button, heck my client doesn't even register you as having downvotes (I'm on Kbin) but I presume someone else is doing it because you are demonstrably incorrect. Go look at Witcher 3. Go look at Cyberpunk 2077. These developers are doing what you deem to be impossible.

[–] echo64 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Except where it clearly can. For example, Witcher 3’s next gen update adds features like ray tracing.

this is a new SKU release for next gen systems, it's not a patch. it's a new version of the game.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

No, it is a patch:

https://www.theverge.com/2022/12/12/23505545/the-witcher-3-next-gen-update-ps5-xbox-pc-hands-on

A free next-gen patch for The Witcher 3 launches on December 14th, giving the aging open-world a boost if you’re playing on a PS5, Xbox Series X/S, or high-end PC.

[–] echo64 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/product/EP9000-CUSA10249_00-THELASTOFUSPART2 this game has a next-gen patch for ps5 to get higher framerates: ref https://blog.playstation.com/2021/05/19/the-last-of-us-part-ii-performance-patch-for-ps5/

note how it says [ps4]

https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/product/EP4497-PPSA10408_00-00000000000000N1 this game has a next-gen SKU for ps5, to access ps5 feature sets, that they misnamed as a "patch". note how it says [ps4] [ps5]

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

You're the one mixing your terminology, bud.

SKU is a shipping and retail thing. It's a unique identifier for products shipped. It has nothing to do with software versions and so forth.

Witcher 3 has a seperate entry for PS5 because they also ship a separate PS5 version.

Thing is, if I put the PS4 version of the game into the drive, and download the updates, the game I have is exactly the same as the PS5 physical. And no, it's not downloading the entire game again.

It is a patch. Not a completely different version of the game.