Battlefield 3 clip and Fable versus Ryse comparison spark debate on gaming graphics stagnation

Streamer Rock Solid shared footage from Battlefield 3 showing an F/A-18 Super Hornet taking off from an aircraft carrier and flying through a storm over the ocean. The post quoted another claiming graphics plateaued during the PS3 era, with many users agreeing that major studios chase microscopic improvements while neglecting gameplay.

Obviously this isn't true – graphics 20 years ago were significantly worse – but certain scenes from older games can still make a strong impression.

Part of the audience supported the stagnation thesis. One commenter stated that calling the PS3 era "retro" is absurd since aesthetic progress has been minimal over the past 20 years.

The original comment referenced a post by another user comparing screenshots of Fable from 2026 and Ryse from 2013, implying no substantial difference. Sarcastic remarks emerged like "we spent 20 years making puddles more realistic and forgot to make games fun." Other users cynically noted that Ryse barely worked at launch and was a corridor shooter, not an open-world game.

Opponents of this viewpoint highlighted the significant leap between PS3 and PS5. Users recalled problems from the previous generation – low-resolution textures, unstable 30 frames per second, 720p or lower, inadequate RAM. Some emphasized progress in ray tracing and the scale of open worlds in projects like Alan Wake 2 and Cyberpunk 2077.

The discussion revealed disagreements over development priorities. Some players would settle for PS4-level graphics with improved resolution and frame rates, considering ray tracing a negligible upgrade with serious performance impact. Others noted that major changes occurred in physics simulation and animation – shaders and textures achieved photorealism about 10 years ago, with focus now shifting to details like water behavior on sand.

Individual commenters linked the problem to engine uniformity – using identical presets for lighting and shaders strips modern games of the uniqueness that projects built from scratch possessed. One opinion stated that graphics have improved, but graphics card affordability for enjoying them hasn't kept pace with technological progress.