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This New PlayStation Trend is Too Dumb for Words

This New PlayStation Trend is Too Dumb for Words

Of all the extra features being added to PS4 games, you won’t find a more unconventional one that the Photo Mode. It’s slowly becoming a system staple, working its way into a number of games. The thing is, it’s a feature that almost feels a little redundant in this generation of games. It’s a nonessential nicety.

First, an explanation of what Photo Mode is, in case you’re unaware. Games like inFamous Second Son , The Last of Us Remastered , Middle Earth: Shadows of Mordor , Driveclub , and most recently Batman: Arkham Knight allow people to stop and take photos in-game. These pictures can be edited, saved, and shared. Basically, it’s a glorified screenshot feature.

Here’s the thing, though. It’s already incredibly easy to take and share pictures with PS4 games. All someone has to do is press the Share button on the DualShock 4. While there are some rare instances where this isn’t allowed, most of the time a press of a button is all it takes to get a screenshot you can save or share via social media.

It makes you wonder if a Photo Mode within a game is worth it, when regular sharing is that easy. After all, adding the Photo Mode feature to a title isn’t a small flipping of a switch. The PS4 Batman: Arkham Knight patch that brought it into the game was 4.3GB. That’s quite a substantial, additional investment on your hard drive.

This New PlayStation Trend is Too Dumb for Words

They are a pleasant enough bonus. You can catch a character at a specific point of action. Maybe you’ll even see the game in a new way because of a shot you took. It’s a fun diversion, but how often is it actually used? And are there really enough instances where a shot you took in Photo Mode on your PS4 couldn’t have been grabbed with a quick Share?

Photo Mode is fun. But it really feels unnecessary. It’s an interesting hallmark for some PS4 games, but it isn’t something most people will probably use in the game. Perhaps time would be better spent in development on other elements or gameplay properties than on a more elaborate means of taking screens.

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