We already knew that Battlefield 3 would be getting an optional, graphics-boosting install on the Xbox 360, but we weren't entirely sure how much an impact that upgrade would have on the game's visuals. Now that a select few retail copies are out in the wild, we can now say that the difference is huge.
As you can see from the above video, textures on smaller objects and some parts of the environment are quite muddy when you run the game without the pack, but become incredibly crisp once it's been installed. Textures on characters and weapons take a less noticeable hit, but there's certainly going to be a huge visual advantage for those willing to give up the 1.5GB of hard drive space required for the install.
With the game already split across two discs on the 360, DICE has obviously crammed an amazing amount of technology into this game. While it's unfortunate that you'll need to sacrifice some hard drive space to experience the game's graphics in all their glory, it's certainly nice to know that the option is out there.
Battlefield 3 launches in North America tomorrow, October 25, for the PS3, PC, and 360, with European and Australian releases following later in the week.
