ambient occlusion is hardly a big budget option though. It has been around for a long time.
We should be able to force it with enb or sweetfx, I just don't understand why they didn't add it. It definitely isn't a console feature, that much I can verify.
If don´t have AO, is not the end of the world. Some of the better game in history also dont have it, and that not a problem, because there are other thing that make them great. Don´t forget Gameplay >>>>>> Graphics.