MS parity clause says that a game has to:

- If launching at the same time than other consoles, it has to have the same content (not applied to exclusive DLC).

- If launching later on XB consoles, it has to include some new aditional content.

The clause demands that the content in the game is the same, but it isn't about visuals. Destiny couldn't be launched with an exclusive mode on PS4, as an example. Graphics aren't covered by it, if it was the case CoD Ghosts, BF4, AC4 and other games couldn't be launched like they were.

Examples of the parity clause on use is The Witcher 2. To launch on 360 they did the Enhanced Edition with extra content. This clause actually doesn't damages Sony or Nintendo, but only MS. The avalanche of indies on PS4 isn't just because of Sony's efforts, but because most indies launch on PC first and smaller devs fears that they could overlook any funcionality (or simply break it), launch the game and get in trouble with MS.

"We’re cross-platform, so we had to be very delicate with all four consoles, making sure they have the same experience, that it looks as good as it possibly can on all these consoles. A lot goes into that, from geometry to textures to post effects to particles to how many players you get on the screen. We’re always balancing that out to make sure everyone gets the same experience,”

Parity clause or not, this is pretty bs. There were devs last gen that had no problem to do a quick port to the PS3 while taking advantage of the 360, while there are devs that are actively holding back instead of taking advantage of the more powerful console.

It's only a matter of time before this becomes more and more frequent.

What do they mean by cross-platform? Do they mean that XBO and PS4 and PS3 and X360 players can all be playing with each other?

So basically they are lowering the graphics on the ps4 to ensure they are on par with the xbox.

Thank god the gulf between the two isn't that great.....

I figured GribbleGrunger was referring to a clause that stated visuals/graphics had to be equal. As you stated, there isn't one.

Yes, their parity clause is content oriented. And even the way it is, it doesn't helps much. You can't launch AC on both with extra levels on PS4, but you can launch it on both with the same game content and launch the extra levels at day one on PS4 as free DLC... It just screws indies and I wouldn't be surprised if they ditched it soon.

You could be right actually:

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2011-09-05-sony-microsoft-taking-pound-of-flesh-from-publishers

The obvious truth is Bungie chose graphics over 60 fps.

I'd prefer 720p/60 fps but 1080p is becoming the standard even if it impacts frame rate.

Well atleast we'll have Halo games running at 60 fps in November.

It's only important from a developer/publisher to manufacturer relationship.  Parity and such nonsense.  Can't be see as giving too much favor.  And I don't necessarily mean the parity clause for MS, I mean having to constantly answer to one or the other why they aren't getting it done etc..

It doesn't matter if their is a parity clause or not.

The PS4 and XB1 are not and never will be at parity, the descrepancy is in hardware.

Thus any parity between the versions is false, XB1 should always have the worst version of the two. Else they are not working equally on both versions. If they have both versions at 1080p 30 fps and they want to keep both versions at the same framerate, PS4 should be locked.