Nobody wants them. They ALWAYS look bad, they ALWAYS look like cartoon characters. They always break immersion when they are the only thing animated in the UI and end up making the rest of the game look dead and pulling you out of your fantasy. Just give people EU 4 with an optimized code. That's literally it. What's the singular complaint and excuse in EU4?
As someone who is rather dissatisfied and disappointed with both Vicky 3 and CK3, (though I love Imperator and CK3 is much better than Vicky 3), and also is usually against 3D portraits (mainly championing my modder friends), this thread is unhinged.
First, character models in CK3 are awesome and loved by almost everyone. I like designing characters, it fits the game, the DNA system is robust. I would like the game if they added strategy instead of Gacha-game looking trinkets, but despite the goofy poses CK3 is not bad due to 3D models.
Second, both Victoria 3 and Imperator had much bigger issues than that. Victoria 3 did a terrible job with 3D models, admittedly, but is also the oldest application of the system and not really relevant to the discussion anymore. Imperator doesn't even really have 3D models, it looks much closer to CK2 to be honest.
Third, the artists of Project Caesar definitely do not deserve such vitriol, because the character models look quite nice. I am still worried about clothing assets not being enough in number and modding, but even the European model is CK3 level good, and the African one is like legitimately good.
Also, no, as much as I love EU4, I do not want a remaster of it, and I doubt anyone does. Addition of new mechanics has been universally approved by the community, as well as the ditching of several EU4 concepts and mechanics. Barely anybody would agree with that last statement of yours.
I don't agree with these assessments (I haven't played Imperator so don't have an opinion).
I would also really hate "EU 4 with an optimized code".
However, I kinda agree with the stance on 3d portraits, they aren't a success and probably never will be in a GSG.
Victoria 3 is definitely kind of a failure, its reviews took a lot of time to heal and fanbase was outraged. I myself still haven't switched from Vicky 2. CK3, not at all a failure. But it kind of appealed to a larger audience, and lost
some of the core audience along the way.
They look like cartoons. I know that EU4 is rated as suitable for 12 yo. But come on, how many actual minors are playing it?
Many minors I assume, I started playing as a teenager and so did every other player I know. 15 year old boys are a core audience of these games.