Ever since the launch of the Sony Playstation 4 and the Xbox One, fans of both consoles have been battling it out through various arguments in an attempt to decide a clear victor. Of course, there are also those that have a more objective perspective on things, arguing that both consoles have their pros and cons, which is obviously true. It’s also worth considering that the two consoles bring exclusives titles too, which again are a matter of taste, with some catering to certain gamers, while others catering to different groups. However, one thing that is worrying and cannot be contested is the tendency of PS4 to handle games at higher resolutions than the Xbox One, with the Xbox One lagging behind considerably.
How this affects your gameplay experience may vary. Some fans of the Xbox One often argue that the difference between 720p and 1080p is hard to notice unless you have a large TV screen or are sitting close enough to the TV. This however doesn’t excuse Microsoft, as the current-gen console has just been released, and we’re already seeing its hardware being limited. At first, this was the case with only a few games, but as time went by, the increasing number of games to be scaled down on the Xbox One (at least when compared to the PS4) has increased and has been forming a pattern of sorts.
The first title to display significant differences and to gain considerable attention because of them was Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. The game runs at 1080p and 60 FPS on the PS4 (well, at least close to 60 FPS, to be fair), but the Xbox One only handles the 1080p resultion at 30 FPS, with cut-scenes being rendered at 900p and 30 FPS. But the list doesn’t stop here, not by a long-shot.
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag? 1080p and 30 FPS on the PS4, same FPS but 900p on the Xbox One. Battlefield 4? 900p and 60 FPS on the PS4, but only 720p and 60 FPS on the Xbox One. The same for Call of Duty: Ghosts, with the difference that the PS4 actually runs it at 1080p and 60 FPS, and given how out-dated Ghosts actually looks, it’s one of the most frustrating examples of low-resolution rendering on the Xbox One.
We know that the Xbox One still has some power within, it’s not terrible hardware in an appealing box. Forza Motorsport proved that Xbox One games can and SHOULD look great even at high performances and resolutions, running at 1080p and 60 FPS. So yes, the Microsoft console can manage Full HD, but it’s exceedingly rare. Many developers have complained that programming for the Xbox One is more difficult than for the PS4 for instance, explaining that the difference in visual quality and performance are often a result of this aspect. Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes is a good example, running at 720p and 60 FPS on the Xbox One, while the PS4 variant easily handles the same frame-rate at 1080p.
Signs of significant visual quality differences between the Xbox One and PS4 versions are already rumored for Watch Dogs.
The latest game to adhere to this trend and cause quite a stir of disappointment from Xbox One fans is the upcoming Watch Dogs. Signs already hint that Ubisoft’s action-adventure will most likely not be running in 1080p and 60 FPS on the Xbox One, and the lack of concrete numbers confirms this belief.
However, there’s one more aspect we need to consider. Both the Sony and Microsoft consoles are spanking new, right? The previous models, mainly the Xbox 360 and PS3 had a life-time that surpassed most expectations, still providing quality entertainment today, despite being released many, many years ago. So the same should be expected from the Xbone and PS4. In truth, we’re already seeing game developers struggle with what the two consoles are offering. Let’s be fair, the feeling of limitation has been felt already on both, although it is more evident on the Xbox One. In this light, how can we expect the new consoles to keep up the pace for many years to come?
CD Projekt Red is already squeezing whatever resources the two consoles have with The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. Recent reports suggest that even the most powerful PC GPU’s (such as the GTX 780) are currently struggling with the game’s impressive engine. So if PC’s can’t keep up, how can consoles? Granted, The Witcher 3 still needs better optimization, that’s not even up for questioning. But at the rate graphical fidelity is evolving, how long before the new Sony and Microsoft consoles become obsolete?
The Xbox One is said to receive DX12 support next year, and multiple software updates that should increase its performance considerably. That also means that a lot of issues such as over-heating have to be considered and rectified. It’s also true that the Xbox One is more media-center oriented, so to speak, and this costs the console some performance when compared to the PS4. However, at its core, the console is still a gaming device first and foremost, so is this a viable excuse for the weaker performances? Compromising gaming quality for a better interface and possibly better media-viewing support might not be the best approach from Microsoft.
How do you feel about the differences between visual quality and performance among the two leading consoles? Is Microsoft losing the Xbox One vs PS4 war? Sales suggest so, game performances suggest so, but how are you, the gamers and users feeling about it? Does it even matter to you if you’re playing at 720p or 1080p, or if the game runs at 30 or 60 FPS? Share your thoughts through the comment section below!