Darksiders 360 tearing patch "really soon"

By Tom Bramwell Published 8 January, 2010

Problem doesn't impact PS3 version.

Vigil plans to patch the Xbox 360 version of Darksiders as soon as possible to reduce the amount of screen tearing.

"It's something that's really not a difficult fix for us and so we're going to implement a patch to resolve the problem," Madureira told IGN.

"We're fairly certain it'll happen really soon so look out for it."

Eurogamer understands that the screen-tear, which is reportedly much less frequent in the PS3 version, is a specific issue that only popped up late in the development process and didn't actually affect earlier Xbox 360 builds.

Darksiders is due out for PS3 and Xbox 360 in Europe today, assuming you can actually get out of your house to go and buy it. Check out our Darksiders review for more on the game.

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About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (46) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Darren #1 2 years ago

    I was interested in this game but put off by the excessive amount of tearing I'd seen in the numerous gameplay videos. It's good that they plan to fix it, I may even consider buying it at some point, but what ever happened to quality control? The game, IMO, should not have even been released on the Xbox 360 in this state as it was clearly unfinished (the developers even boast about how the issue is not hard to fix!). Don't these people bother to check these things before they ship them out? :?

  • Old_Books #2 2 years ago

    Good to hear. Got this yesterday (thanks Game!) and it's proving to be ace after a slow start. Got to say, though, that the tearing is not really that bad IMO. It's there but it's not a game breaker as is being reported on some sites; Mass Effect, for one, had worse as far as i'm concerned and that was still brilliant.

  • KujiGhost #3 2 years ago

    If the problem is easy to fix, why wasn't this sorted out before general release?

    Damn this culture of 'rush-to-release'...

  • muscleblade #4 2 years ago

    YES!

    Good thing i started with Bayonetta. I cant stop playing that so Darksiders hasnt been opened yet.

  • Beano #5 2 years ago

    "If the problem is easy to fix, why wasn't this sorted out before general release? "

    My first thought exactly - seems very sloppy!

    If I had known that a fix for the 360 version was underway, I would have waited a week or so, instead of buying the PS3 version :(

  • bad09 #6 2 years ago

    It's getting to a point in the industry where you should really consider whether buying a game at launch is worth it. Should not be that way on a console, test your games properly please and do any "easy fixes" BEFORE you ask for money.
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/10 @ 08:59

  • Quint2020 #7 2 years ago

    If it's so easy why wasn't it fixed before release..?

  • menage #8 2 years ago

    Damn this culture of internet whining and bitching about every little thing

    I hope everyone finds a job which doesn't deal with deadlines.
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/10 @ 09:02

  • Beige_Alert #9 2 years ago

    While the Xbox usually has a bit of an edge for graphics with most multiplatform titles, I think that Microsofts Quality Assurance has shown itself to be unreliable on several occasions. The Xbox experience seems to be more reliant on the developer's care for quality than Microsofts.

  • Edwin #10 2 years ago

    great, so I have to put Hammerhead666 aka donie the cock on ignore do I..

  • Doctor_What #11 2 years ago

    Why didn't they do it before release? Maybe they thought that they should fix serious issues instead, and only then would they spend their time patching minor graphical issues. Do you really think that the industry works any other way?

  • Beano #12 2 years ago

    @Edwin : hammerhead666=donnie?
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/10 @ 09:11

  • Vanmunt #13 2 years ago

    @old-books

    slow start, upto what point does it get better? Im at the end of the first dungeon and to be honest the controls are doing my head in.. I need to grow another finger!

  • Edwin #14 2 years ago

    @beano

    Nobody else could write such crap.

  • jidnffc #15 2 years ago

    Anyone else's copy on 360 have a graphical fault where the right side of the screen is all blue and the image is squashed into the remaining 2/3 of the screen
    I'm guessing it's a technical fault, which is easily replaceable (provided shopto email me back soon!) but dammit I want to play it now!

  • menage #16 2 years ago

    Damn, I already blocked the dude but now I'm wondering what he's saying:D

  • miiiguel #17 2 years ago

    Beige_Alert : of course, go play Bayoneta on the PS3, and then think again.

  • Old_Books #18 2 years ago

    @Vanmunt

    It was round about the first dungeon for me mate when it began to get better! Agree with you about the controls, though, the use of the right and left bumpers is a bit annoying.

  • Beano #19 2 years ago

    @miiiguel : What does that have to do with MS QA ???
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/10 @ 09:43

  • ignatiusjreilly #20 2 years ago

    @jidnffc

    Sounds more like a TV or Xbox problem to me unfortunately.

  • MiY4MOTO #21 2 years ago

    The tearing is annoying, but nowhere near as bad as Resident Evil 5 (in 1080p). Glad a fix is on the way tho.

    I very nearly gave up on this game in after the terrible first 10 mins or so, but soon as you get past the scene setting first level, the game starts properly it changes from a lacklustre scrolling beat-em-up into something rather different.

    How come no review I've read has likened the game to Soul Reaver? I've been patiently waiting for Crystal Dynamics to give us the next part in the Raziel / Kane saga, then these guy come from nowhere and give us the next best thing. A spiritual successor to the Soul Reaver series.

    If you remotely enjoyed Crystal Dynamics' Soul Reaver games then this is well worth a look!

  • menage #22 2 years ago

    Don't think tearing has anything to do with tv's

  • charliemouse #23 2 years ago

    I was gonna get this today but loathed Soul Reaver with a passion. Guess it's Bayonetta instead.

  • Old_Books #24 2 years ago

    @MiY4MOTO

    Soul Reaver is what came to mind for me aswell, crossed with Zelda. I enjoyed that series too but it doesn't look like a new installment will be coming. :-(

  • kinky_mong #25 2 years ago

    @MiY4MOTO: Gamesradar's review mentioned the Soul Reaver comparisons, and I've heard others mention it to.

    As much as I really want this game I'm wondering if it's worth just buying Bayonetta today and holding off on Darksiders for a few weeks. Tearing is one of those weird things where I won't notice it until someone mentions it and then I can't help but notice it from then on and it bugs me.

  • MiY4MOTO #26 2 years ago

    @Old_Books

    If memory serves I believe the writer behind the Soul Reaver series left Crystal Dynamics and went to Naughty Dog where she went on to write Uncharted 1 & 2. So I doubt we'll see a conclusion to the tale.

    The last one ended on such a cliffhanger too!

  • uzivatel #27 2 years ago

    @Beano: nothing? the same way Darksiders tearing has nothing to do with Microsoft QA? they dont really check stuff like framerate or tearing
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/10 @ 09:57

  • jidnffc #28 2 years ago

    @ ignatiusjreilly

    I suppose it could be but I'm not having trouble with any other game, plus it has a couple of those little green and pink squares that you sometimes get on visual distortion.

  • muscleblade #29 2 years ago

    "What does that have to do with MS QA ??? "

    It has to do with Sonys QA being no better than MS QA!!!!! Quite the opposite really.

  • Beige_Alert #30 2 years ago

    Well I'll admit that my opinion of MS QA performance is probably mostly based on a couple of DLC that went badly. Personally I rarely note tearing, but for a developer to go out on the day of the games release and promise a patch one has to wonder how bad it is and why noone pulled the brake.

  • jimboton #31 2 years ago

    I must be the only one not too bothered by Darksiders tearing.

    Also activating v-sync, and even more so if it's done through the use of double or triple buffering is a trade-off, you do away with tearing but you get slightly worse input lag and sometimes framerate.

    That's why you find tearing more often in fighting games I think, particularly in those that dont quite reach 60 fps.

  • dudefella #32 2 years ago

    That's fantastic news, because the game tears like a MOTHER effer. Seriously. It's the only major complaint (that and those challenge rooms) I have against the game.

  • crazyhorse174 #33 2 years ago

    The tearings not that bad. Its noticeable, but it doesnt detract from the game.

    All the people shouting 'Lordy! Lordy!' and flailing their hands in the air and complaining about it, are people who havent actually played it - they've only seen videos.

    they've acknowledged the problem and are fixing it - so whats the big deal? Better than burying their heads in the sand and ignoring that the issue exists.

    And as for "why didnt they fix it before release?" - maybe they didnt know what was actually causing it? Maybe MS were on their backs to get it released in time? Theres a hundred different reasons why - again, at least it is getting sorted.

  • penfold_007 #34 2 years ago

    "If memory serves I believe the writer behind the Soul Reaver series left Crystal Dynamics and went to Naughty Dog where she went on to write Uncharted 1 & 2."

    She also wrote Jak 3. That story had 3 of the best revels in gaming history! Rose-tinted glasses may be glued to my face but what the hell.... The precursors are ottsels, Jak is Mar and also Damas's son. Ah simpler times.

  • Tallon4 #35 2 years ago

    When the tearing is fixed, I guess the framerate will suffer. Don't think that Vigil didn't notice the tearing themselves. Believe...there has to be a reason why Vigil didn't fix it earlier.

  • AC!D #36 2 years ago

    Funny! Wheres the Richard Ledbetter 4 page Digital Foundry PS3 VS 360 comparison? He usually has them out right on the day of release when the PS3 version sucks like Bayonetta. Anyways good news on the Patch. Now we can all enjoy it. QA does suck this gen though and i hope consoles arent going the way of the PC.

  • GreyBeard #37 2 years ago

    Just to explain how stuff like the tearing can creep in addressed at the end of development:

    Most third-party developers rely on their publisher to provide QA services, meaning that a build is sent out of the studio with feedback returned via a database.

    On the database bugs (as they are discovered) are categorized by severity, and are addressed triage style. i.e. in order of severity. This is because there's usually a hard-and-fast deadline that must be met in order for the game to reach its release date, and missing that date can sour relations badly between developer and publisher because the publishers in their turn have made a deal with wholesale and retail to deliver a product at an agreed date and don't want to appear unreliable or unprofessional.

    The result is that game stoppers and serious functionality issues get weeded out first, but depending on time taken to do the fixes other bugs can get downgraded to a state known as KS. KS stands for Known Shipped btw.

    In some instances publishers will actively request that C grade (low impact) and KS bugs are ignored by the developer even when time remains. This is beacuse attempting a fix for those carries the risk of creating knock-on effects -more unforseen bugs of greater severity- that can push the delivery date back.

    The nice thing about being able to deliver patches post release is that they belong to a separate release schedule not mired in the neccessity to fit with a publishing/retail chain, allowing time to make good on these KS'd bugs.

    Its not ideal, but this is the business rationale behind it.

  • TRUTH #38 2 years ago

    Bayonetta is pure kick ass action of the finest (been playing it today)...Bought Darksiders too, it reminds me of Castlevania, Soul Reaver and Zelda (though only 2hrs inn) and I am enjoying it because it reminds of those explore/action/adventure titles! It. I highly recommended putting ths Default level to a higher level for a more deeper fighting/skill and harder game (skill will need to be more focused).

    Glad to hear about the patch...Haven't notice any tearing at moment, but glad that if it was there it's now cleared up and I won't notice it when I reach those areas in game.
    Edited by 1 at 08/01/10 @ 17:20

  • penhalion #39 2 years ago

    Got this and Bayonetta so I guess I'll start with Bayo first.

  • Tallon4 #40 2 years ago

    The tearing is apparently different on each tv. SD seems unaffected. The tearing on my kdl40w4000 is bearable but on my brother's Tosh is gruesome. Let's hope the patch will fix this...although I wonder how Vigil is gonna do this when other devs said it couldn't be done properly. Fingers crossed...

  • TRUTH #41 2 years ago

    Now 6hrs in and still haven't noticed any tearing - not one bit!

  • hiscore #42 2 years ago

    The ONLY reason why this problem is easy to fix is that the developer preferred consistent controls above image quality. In plain english: they de-activated the vsync so players would have a more fluid control of the main character, but by doing so they invoked screen tearing. The solution is as simple as activating/enabling vsync to avoid screen tearing, probably resulting in a few (more) frame drops here and there and at those moments a small loss of control fluidity.

    These frame drops are a small price to pay to avoid one of the most annoying visual flaws next gen games apparentely are victim to. For a rational and oldskool gamer as myself it is totally UNACCEPTABLE that so few websites/reviewers mention it. More and more customers are put off with this screen tearing as a result of rushed production cycles and lack of polish.

    I think it would only be fair to the customer to include a vsync on/off option in EVERY console game which is prone to screen tearing. A simple quality check by Sony or Microsoft could show the percentage of torn frames and if that percentage is > 0%, than the option should be included (whether the developer wants it or not).

    It has been done by some developers already, so it's not something new.

    If they want us to pay our hard earned cash, than they should listen to what customers have to say. We no longer accept screen tearing. Vsync enabled and a solid 30 or 60 fps should be a STANDARD.

  • Seabeast #43 2 years ago

    Good to see this being fixed so early on, well done Vigil.

    This game is fantastic, im about 7 hours in now and I love everything about the game.

    As for the trolls moaning about the screen tearing, well it happens, and Vigil has said its going to get fixed soon, whats the problem? Look at Uncharted, its 10x worse in that game and was never fixed.

  • Murton #44 2 years ago

    HiScore, we agree on quite a few points. I'm an old school gamer myself and I'd definitely like to see reviewers mention the negative points of good games. Seems today that there are only two kinds of reviews, glowing and scathing, this is especially true of Eurogamer who neglect to mention commonly reproducable bugs or other issues that effect quality of experience. I get that they leave things like frame rate and tearing to Digital Foundry but they use a computer to measure that, that's no good to me as a gamer, I want to know if I can see it with my own eyes.

    Example, I worked QA on a big budget game last year that was criticised for screen tearing on release, weird how in my 8 months of playing the game for 40+ hours a week I never saw it. Truth is, more tears occur around the edges of the screen and during scenes with a lot of movement, the human eye tends to be drawn towards points of importance, which in gaming is usually at the center of the screen. I guess what I'm trying to say is that screen tearing isn't as bad as a lot of people make it out to be, things like a steady framerate and solid build quality are much more important than V-sync in my opinion.

    Also, Sony and MS do check a game for visual quality but unless they feel it is actually unplayable they won't say anything about it. As long as frame rates don't dip below 15fps it's fine, though in my experience the only console title that does this on a regular basis is Failout 3 on PS3, but the frame rate is nothing compared to the rate at which that game hangs and deadstates on the Sony platform, a perfect example of rushed and shoddy development if you need one for this gen.

  • Marshall2008 #45 2 years ago

    I fixed the blue crashing on the right side of the screen by sticking the xbox into 1080i mode.

  • ghostgate2001 #46 2 years ago

    So ... where's this "real soon" patch, then? I temporarily shelved Darksiders to wait for the patch (cos screen-tearing really grinds my gears) but there was no patch when I popped the disc in last night. C'mon Vigil, I don't want to lose momentum on this game - apart from screen-tearing marring the visuals, Darksiders is the most fun this jaded old gamer has had with a game in a very long time.

    And yes, I was strangely reminded of Soul Reaver when I started playing it :-) IMHO "Darksiders" has that "Metroidvania" explorability that I utterly love in a game, but which you don't see so much this gen. Konami ought to take a very good look at "Darksiders" and learn a thing or two about how their 3D Castlevania games should have turned out...