Speaking specifically to the part of the video where someone asks if positive reviews of games with questionable performance sends the wrong message; I think its always amazing that DF, and their audience, never consider the fact that maybe, just maybe, normal people dont care (they dont, at all) and that people like them are such a small part of the overall gaming landscape.
6 Likes
summary from a dude on gaf who always does proper TLDWs
-
Series X Performance Mode:
-
Black Myth is a âstunning exceptionâ on SX in Performance mode
-
SX Disables Lumen lighting entirely in Performance mode where PS5 retains it
-
Thereâs no fallback GI system so it looks very flat
-
On the flip side, it runs at higher resolution (1296 vs 1080p) providing an advantage in clarity and edge detail
-
Performance âradicallyâ favors the SX
-
Both target 60fps in Performance mode, albeit SX can have drops with tearing
-
PS5 uses FSR frame-gen in performance mode while SX uses native frames
-
Frame gen technique is âimmediately obviousâ with more artifacts and worse input response on PS5.
-
DF think itâs a compromise between a console which runs proper 60fps vs a console with better lighting, neither are good trade-offs.
-
Series X Quality Mode
-
Here, both look about the same with Lumen
-
Diffuse shading difference between the two which can look correct or incorrect based on different locations
-
SX has lower grade shadows compared to the PS5
-
IQ can look softer on SX because of the diffuse shading method used here, which doesnât match any of the PC pre-set options either.
-
PS5 runs Quality mode at 1296p where SX runs 1728p on Series X
-
Even though SX runs at a much higher internal resolution, the diffuse shading difference makes difference hard to spot.
-
Frame rates are generally similar with both holding 30fps, SX seems to use V-Sync here with no tearing
-
Series X: Balanced Mode
-
Same settings delta as Quality mode
-
SX runs a higher resolution (1440p vs 1080p on PS5)
-
Performance is rocky, PS5 locks it at 45fps and Xbox runs unlocked in the 50âs with tearing
-
Both versions lock to 40fps when system is set to 120hz
-
Both hit a generally locked 40fps without any tearing when running this way
-
DF tested PS5 version vs launch code and noted that it runs at 1296p now vs 1080p at launch in Quality mode.
Series S:
- Retains all 3 modes on paper
- Performance reduces settings on top of the performance mode concessions
- The fogging in some fights is removed in all modes on Series S
- Performance: 792p with lower IQ but runs at a decent 60fps without any frame-gen
- Quality mode: Dialed back over SXâs quality and removes Lumen lighting, running at 1080p
- Balanced mode: No lumen, very similar to Quality mode at 864p
- Same as SX, runs unlocked without 120hz and locks to 40fps in 120hz with a pretty decent lock
Verdict:
- SX has a very odd set of compromises
- PS5 has a different but its own set of compromises
- Neither produces results DF likes with the 120hz / 40fps mode being the recommended way to play
- Series S occupies a lower level than the others
- Black Myth Wukong is âbefuddlingâ on Series S|X and overall it doesnât maximize any of the consoles properly
3 Likes
Not sure if it is just inexperience with working with a fixed platform, but the sure do make odd choices as DF have highlighted.
I am due to buy a new TV next year, so I think I will wait on the game as balanced mode will probably be the mode I will play.
1 Like
I wish for the days where certain âtechiesâ are forced to only cover Roblox and the games inside of them.
Iâm in no rush to get the game because I really donât feel like punishing myself and this game will beat my ass. Hopefully around the time i buy it , it has been patched. Balance mode seems the way to go.
1 Like
That can probably be said of all of us tbh. Those that actually talk about games and are on console forums are such a vocal minority. The vast majority just play Fortnite and donât know what a frame rate even is. But I donât think itâs a bad sentiment. Especially, if we go with that most people donât care. It kinda feels exploitative. Games cost more and hardware costs more, but weâre seeing so little care for optimization and stable performance. Itâd be nice if we could at least achieve the promises these consoles were sold on.
Iâll buy it on a deep sale five years down the line like every other soulslike in my library. And then Iâll lever play it like all of those too.
I just love how Tim Sweeney is blaming all the UE5 issues on the devs âpoorly optimizingâ⌠as if Epic doesnât have three generations of massively overpromising entire feature sets that never make it to an actual product, but UE5 has notoriously terrible documentation and is arguably a lot more effort to even manage performance on modest specs (The PC I built in March has a 9070XT and 7800X3D, and UE5 is always a stuttery mess at the very least, compared to literally any other game on my rig, including HD2 - which is pretty poorly optimized on PC). I would love to see Epicâs stranglehold on middleware destroyed, at this point personally.
6 Likes
Epic is probably going to adopt the hell out of Microsofts shader delivery system. Because at this point they need something to help them mitigate some of the issues.
5 Likes
That PS5 unreal 5 demo really sold dreams for this gen. We havenât come close to the density or fidelity shown in that trailer. But hey at least the PS5 and the magic SSD benefited from the marketing.
UE5 still hasnât consistently produced the best-looking games this gen, Iâd say Indiana Jones has beat out any UE5 game so far this gen on performance vs graphics.
Infact the last the winners of Digital foundry graphics of the year are all non-UE games -
- 2021- ratchet and clank
- 2022 - Horizon FW
- 2023 - Avatar
- 2024 - Indiana Jones.
That says a lot considering the number of AAA games running on UE5.
Epic and Tim Sweeney fail to take their own advice when developing UE, they pack features then optimise later (optimise part is still work in progress, years onâŚ). Relying on feature set hype to get enthusiasts to choose UE over alternatives.
3 Likes
Oh, I had forgotten about that UE5 demo. Now itâs clear we donât have even 1/3 of what was shown in games. It was pure bullshit. I guess thatâs why some people are undewhelmed by this gen with this level of expectation, thinking it still hasnât started properly yet.
3 Likes
Just remember who specifically told you all this would be the case, literally the day the demo came out (all while simultaneously providing examples of UE4 features that never made it to prime time from its PS4 demo)âŚ
3 Likes
Isnât that the case with all tech demoâs theyâre all make believe. Unreal never been a great multi-platform engine in my view. Capcomâs Framework and RE engines are more impressive for my money
2 Likes
We have some good looking UE5 games. Like Avowed and Hellblade 2 are gorgeous games. Stallkers 2 is also imo quite impressive, and while I havenât played Black Myth Wukong, from what Iâve seen itâs quite the graphical showcase. And then thereâs stuff like the Matrix demo that was released a while back. I play a lot of Fortnite, and while it isnât made to push boundaries since itâs a competitive battle royale, it is still impressive what they do in game and at such a smooth framerate at 4K with lumen or 1440p 120fps without.
Even those Coalition tech demos weâve seen are some of the most impressive ones weâve had this gen imo. I donât think MS went all in on UE5 for no reason. When you know what youâre doing with it I think it can produce some of the best graphical showcases out there.
3 Likes
Canât watch yet but the title makes it look like X has an edge
2 Likes
A small edge because of the power gap between the two consoles so framerate on Series X dips not as low as PS5 pltaform, most of the time.
Resolution is also a bit higher on Series X in Quality Mode.
5 Likes
But I assume framerate is 30 in quality?
1 Like
But Mark Cerny said a rising tide lifts all boats, so obviously PS5 performance should be better!
Gaming Is Going To Change Forever, screamed a certain section of the Gamer Fanbase (absolutely no coincidence that it was a PS5-led demo/branding exerciseâŚ).
Here I am playing the same shit, but shinier.
4 Likes