Bummer: Crytek Denies Crysis 2 DirectX 11 Patch
Talk of a DirectX 11 patch for Crysis 2 were false.
The highly-anticipated FPS game Crysis 2 from EA and Crytek finally launched last Tuesday on March 22, 2011, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC. Surprisingly, the PC version didn't ship with DirectX 11 support, instead requiring DirectX 9.0c at the very least to be installed on gaming systems.
Naturally fans were elated when news of a DirectX 11 patch arrived over the weekend, an update which would (obviously) beef up the graphics for supporting high-end systems. But on Monday party balloons quickly deflated and eager fans were left empty handed when the supposed release date came and went without the arrival of the coveted DirectX 11 patch.
But as seen on this post in the MyCrysis forums, no patch was ever confirmed by the developer in the first place. "I have no idea why this website even posted such information," said Crytek community manager Cry-Tom. "This thread is locked just the same as the others for trying to spread inaccurate information. When there are any big announcements regarding Crysis 2 they will be posted on MyCrysis, if you read something about a patch for example, but don't see it on MyCrysis.com, then it isn't genuine."
Although the game currently doesn't support DirectX 11 (which means it's still possible in the near future), the PC version of Crysis 2 has received an overall 88.47-percent review ranking over on GameRankings and 86-percent on Metacritic. Still, if Crysis 2 supported DirectX 11 out-of-the-box, would it have scored better with the critics?
Nevertheless, stay tuned, as we're certain more will arrive concerning Crytek's new shooter and DirectX 11 options at a later date.
Look at the end of the day, the game looked nice and was/is fun to play but wasn't exactly the best visual experience out there.
Then again, the news that DX11 would be patched in later was a bit surprising, considering Crytech doesn't have the best track record for supporting their products post-release, from Far Cry to Crysis Warhead.
DIRECTX 9.0c at the very least NOT DIRECTX 9 only.
The game supports DX9 and DX10 but NOT DX11
I would bet good money that even among a knowledgeable set of testers (say, GDC attendees or something like that), that the rate of correct identification will not be much more than a "random" 33%.
Crytek "owes" nobody DX11. Of COURSE they choose profit. They have to, if they want to stay in business, write paychecks that don't bounce, and pay rent and taxes. Any company that doesn't do that isn't a company for long (a fact utterly lost on the "I'm entitled to everything for free" generation, and on people who are utterly without clue on what it actually costs to run a AAA game company in the real world).
Some games though aren't a whole lot different with the new API. I haven't played much of it, but Stalker Call of Pripyat doesn't look super different to me using DX9 vs. DX11. The only thing that changes drastically is there is dynamic weather (lightning, etc.)
You are right though, Crytek doesn't owe anybody anything and they have an obligation to make money. However, what they have done is they have lied to their original fanbase about the graphics, etc. and a result they will very likely lose their support.
bv90andy: yes I remember some nonsense talk about how "the consoles pushed Crysis 2 to be better because console players 'were more critical' ". Crysis 1 was and still is a spectacle. It is remarkable for its graphics and physics. I still have seen few games that match it in those aspects.
However, having a game that lacks DX11 or DX10 doesn't necessarily make it bad. The gameplay can be great and all the graphics need to do is to be decent. With Crysis 2 however it seems as if some of the gameplay and gameplay mechanics have been changed for the worst.
I'm glad they officially said this so now I don't have to get it for the PC at all. If they can't make the PC version with PC specific features (there isn't even a proper way to adjust graphics settings) then I'll just rent it for $10 and beat it in a few days on the xbox. Too bad for them though because I'm fairly certain they don't get any revenue from rentals.
Tired, boring argument that's basically the same as defending bands that sell out. There is no realistic defense. You're not allowed to say "Crysis 2 will not abandon PC gamers and will be built for PC gamers and we love you guys and would never abandon you" and then have textures and features that pale in comparison to your effort three years ago. Game companies get away with this all the time, remember Modern Warfare 2?
If a car manufacturer started making compact cars, but promised not compromise on the next model of their full-size sedan, and people bought one believing the company, and found out their fears were justified, there would be a successful lawsuit within the year. For some reason game companies are allowed to make bullshit promises that never make it into the finished product, and profit off of people that believed the bullshit promises. That would not fly in ANY other market except entertainment.
And Crytek does not NEED to choose money. The golden ferrari's they could have bought with the profits from Crysis 1 could have easy been repeated, but instead they got greedy.
The great justice to all of this is that the console release was pirated first. They won't learn that lesson, though.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108709-Crysis-2-Is-a-PC-Game-First-Console-Game-Second-Claims-Crytek
http://www.destructoid.com/crytek-crysis-2-is-developed-for-pc-first-not-consoles-197050.phtml
..but of course we all know what happened at launch (default aim assist, "Press Start" on the title screen, DX9 only, etc.
It's like Crytek is saying, "Now that we're on consoles, you PC users can piss off and suffer for a while because you pirated our first three games"
What they don't seem to care about is how many more people actually bought those first three games, laying the groundwork and then some to allow them to make a game as ambitious as Crysis 2 in the first place.
They really need to take a look and companies like Valve, Dice, CD Project Red, etc. Crysis 2 is pretty damn fun but considering it was designed and optimized to run on consoles, I was actually expecting much better performance, especially for DX9. Hell I get a higher average framerate in the original Crysis in DX10 on Very High. The only time the frames drop lower than Crysis 2 is around heavy HDR/vegetation, which is also constantly a lot more processor/memory intensive than any environment in Crysis 2.
The best way to deal with this is how you deal with any other non-monopolistic company: don't give them your money and maybe send an email complaining or something. If you just HAVE to play it then wait to get a used or rent it and play it on a console.
Moving on: The industry is all about consoles people. Unless PCs are more profitable you won't see a lot of change. The biggest thing that bothers me in general is not graphics (although important), but gameplay. It seems like a well made PC game has its own feel to it. Most console ports just have a "console experience". If the only PC games we see from now on are straight console ports then I won't find many games all that interesting.
As a general rule, I feel good PC games are more complex, challenging and entertaining; however there are some console games/ports that are exceptions and are really fun. Even then though, I would prefer to play a game on the PC because I prefer using a mouse and keyboard and you can customize most PC games at least a little bit (save editors, etc.).
Gaming in general only has a handful of chances left this year. If Deus Ex Human Revolution (I hear Deus Ex 2 got "simplified"...), Mass Effect 3, Battlefield 3 and/or Batman: Arkham City aren't good then gaming is pretty much dead to me.
im too dissapointed with the graphics.. as im playing crysis , for the graphics.
The fact is, Crysis 1 wasn't anywhere near as profitable as most people seem to think, due to being on pc and having such steep hardware requirements. By making Crysis 2 multiplatform Crytek can hopefully bring in some serious cash so they can then afford to spend the time to do all the DX11 goodness right, rather than just throwing some cheap DX11 effects in there so they can tick off some checkboxes for the fanboys.
And in the end, don't forget, you should be buying hardware so that you can play good games, not buying games so that you can justify your hardware! A computer is just a tool, use it to do things, don't worship it.
Yeah, but you're assuming too much. Do you really think they are just going to add in a DX11 patch out of the goodness of their hearts? I'm not sure that they will.
...havent bought any other dx11 games cuz the lack dx11 h/w
nice to see someone releasing a game that everyone could play, the way its ment to be played ;-) and surprising really that that someone is none other than crytek