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shikamaru317 on 28 January 2023
| WoodenPints said: What do they mean by Quality and playability parity, Does it mean they will have to lower the graphics on the Series X version to be on par with weaker hardware? |
That is exactly what it means. Sony wants and Frank Shaw is saying that Xbox has agreed to:
- Timing parity- No early release on Xbox (even though Sony currently pays for timed exclusive CoD beta tests)
- Content parity- No exclusive modes or DLC on Xbox (even though Sony currently pays for exclusive CoD modes)
- Features parity- No exclusive features on Xbox, for instance if Xbox was to make some new peripheral that Sony doesn't have, CoD wouldn't be able to make use of that peripheral on Xbox. Meanwhile the opposite isn't true, CoD on PS5 has exclusive PS5 controller features with the adaptive triggers.
- Quality parity- Series X version can't have a higher resolution or higher graphics settings pulled from the PC version compared to PS5, even though Series X is the more powerful console, capable of playing CoD with higher resolution or graphics settings
- Playability parity- No framerate advantage on Series X, meaning that if Series X is playing CoD at a higher framerate at the same resolution or graphics settings as PS5, Activision will be forced to lower the resolution or graphics settings on both consoles until PS5 can hit a locked 60 fps.
Additionally Sony seems to want Service parity, which seems to be the sticking point between them right now:
- Service parity- CoD either can't be day one Gamepass, or if it is day one Gamepass, Xbox also has to release it day one on PS Plus mid tier, but apparently without Sony paying Xbox for the $100m+ lost PS5 CoD sales as a result of being on PS Plus mid tier day one. Regardless of rather it is day one Gamepass or months after launch or a year after launch, whenever it does come to Gamepass, it also has to hit PS+ mid tier at the same time, but apparently without Sony paying for a CoD PS+ deal like they normally would have to do to get any 3rd party onto PS+ mid tier.
Sony may also want marketing parity, we're not sure about that one yet:
- Marketing parity- No marketing trailers or tv spots that start or end with the Xbox logo sting, no trailers or tv spots that only show the game as releasing on Xbox at the end of the trailer, and when a line-up of game boxarts/cases are shown in a trailer or tv spot, the Series version can't be in front of the PS5 version (even though Sony pays for marketing like this currently on CoD)
