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[DF] Halo Infinite on Consoles: Xbox Series X/S vs Xbox One S/X - Can Xbox One Run It?

Lunatic_Gamer

Gold Member



From Digital Foundry:

Every Xbox console tested with 343 Industries' long-awaited Halo sequel. Open world gameplay defines Infinite, on an engine that scales impressively to all consoles old and new. Xbox One gets the first billing in this analysis as we test original 2013 hardware - where a dynamic 1080p and 30fps cap are respectably held, if let down by uneven frame-pacing. How does Xbox One X, Series S and X augment this experience? Are frame-rates successfully locked at 60fps on more powerful consoles? And what of loading times? Tom runs through every version, every mode, to get you the answers in this breakdown.

All four machines - Xbox One, One X, Series S and X - use a dynamic resolution, plus a temporal reconstruction method to boost image clarity within a frame. The vintage 2013 Xbox One and the 2016 Xbox One S refresh target 1080p at 30fps, with dynamic resolution scaling used to ensure the 30fps performance level, ranging from 720p to the target full HD. In fairness, 1080p is the norm roaming around the open world, but pitched battles will see noticeable drops to image quality. It's as good as we could realistically hope for, but the 720p lower bounds gives a limited pixel count for Xbox One to resolve fine detail on trees, or even enemies at range. In common with prior multiplayer tests, the 30fps readout is fine overall but marred by inconsistent frame-pacing giving a level of stutter and judder that makes the game look as though it's running at a lower performance level than it actually is. Performance is further blemished by hitches in fast traversal. Overall, Halo Infinite can be played on Xbox One. The graphics are fine and performance is OK on paper, but it feels rough in motion.

Xbox One X is an entirely different ball game. It has its issues but it's a dramatic improvement over the base machine and even trades punches against Xbox Series S. Just like the more advanced consoles, there's the choice of quality and performance modes. The former targets 4K at 30fps, but with DRS, resolution shifts between a range that drops to 2400x1440 at the lowest, depending on GPU load. Expect circa 1800p in open-world traversal. Similar to the base machine, its 30fps cap isn't quite as good as it should be with frame-time stutter causing problems. Still, the increase in resolution pays off, while One X's 9GB of useable memory is put to work: texture quality is boosted on Master Chief's helmet during his initial jump while skin shaders and texturing on other characters all look much improved, while shadow quality gets a bump too. Geometry LODs for terrain also use higher-grade meshes nearer to the player, reducing pop-in. We also see details, like rocks, render at range. Tree draw in the far distance is also enhanced, though it's worth stressing foliage to the near-to-mid range is identical between One and One X.

Moving on Xbox Series S, there's a twist: looking at the quality mode, Series S image quality is markedly inferior to Xbox One X. The dynamic 4K of One X drops down a locked 1080p instead, with the same 30fps target. In truth, this looks like a heavy cut-back and we'd hope to see an upgrade to 1440p at some point for Series S. Settings-wise, near-to-far foliage draw is identical between One X and Series S, as is the quality of texture filtering, depth of field, and even shadows are comparable. There are differences however, if minor: trees render slightly further towards the distance on Xbox One X, but it's a subtle change. Texture quality is very similar too, albeit a touch more blurry on Series S owing to the lower resolution. However, there are some scenarios where Series S appears to have the better of the old machine in assets but even so, Xbox One X is the sharper and cleaner of the two by running at a dynamic 4K. There are examples of actual texture quality - floor mapping at select spawn points - differing between the generations - one that may well favour Series S overall.

Series S' performance mode? Again, generally speaking, it's operating at a lower resolution than Xbox One X, even if its dynamic resolution lower bounds is higher and overall performance is more solid. The resolution window here varies from 1706x960 to the full 1920x1080. Variable rate shading is also used here - adjusting the resolution of points of the image, in theory helping to bolster performance. The pay-off is a mostly perfect 60fps. Across all of our capture, there's barely a lurch into the 50fps region to report on. Sacrificing a more dynamic 1080p to hit and crucially to sustain 60fps seems to work out just fine.

All of which brings us to Xbox Series X: Microsoft's 12TF flagship is where we'd expect to see Halo Infinite at its very best on console and that is indeed the case, with the quality mode delivering a 60fps experience with a 2240x1440 to 3840x2160 dynamic resolution range in our tests. Everything in between is possible - though typically Series X renders at the higher end of the 4K scale. In many respects, this is basically the same as One X's quality mode in terms LOD settings, except it runs at double the frame-rate. And impressively, it's a near locked 60fps too - with only the briefest of single dropped frames during open world traversal. All this is achieved with DRS - plus variable rate shading on select elements of the screen, much like Series S.

In practise, comparing One X, Series S and Series X all together, it truly gets the best of both worlds in quality mode. Series X renders a 4K image that's less reliant on DRS than One X. You also get 60fps as standard. Not only that, Series X also uses the occasionally higher-grade textures seen on Series S. Most other settings are hard to pick apart: ambient occlusion, foliage draw and effects all fix at similar presets between the three. Even zooming up close, shadow cascades seem to trigges at the same range, while plants up ahead also draw in at the same point. Mostly, the Series X advantage is in having a dynamic 4K at 60fps - which is impressive enough.

Last for Xbox Series X is a unique 120Hz performance mode, not available to any other console at present (and sadly omitted from the Series S campaign after featuring in earlier preview builds). Rendering Halo Infinite at 120fps inevitably comes at a cost for Series X. Resolution drops heavily, residing within a 1564x960 to 2460x1440 resolution window in our samples. Still, the net result is worth taking a look at: a majority of traversal and indoor missions run at 120fps with no problem, bar minor dips beneath. That said, performance fluctuates more wildly in battle, or when the scene is generally busier in general, pushing as to a low of 80fps. Arguably the range of performance here is too jarring - especially given Xbox's VRR support at present does not seem to work in smoothing out Halo Infinite's judder.

 
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Riky

$MSFT
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Series S looks better, has a higher resolution floor in performance mode, loads a lot quicker and hold 60fps better.
One X version is good but well behind.
 

Riky

$MSFT
You're really twisting the truth here

One X looks MUCH better than Series S in both modes.



timestamped for you

I've posted the screens, your desperation is showing.

It looks better as shown.
It loads faster.
It maintains a higher minimum resolution in performance mode.
It most importantly holds 60fps better.

All the X1X version has is a higher resolution target and it can't hold the framerate.
 
I've posted the screens, your desperation is showing.

It looks better as shown.
It loads faster.
It maintains a higher minimum resolution in performance mode.
It most importantly holds 60fps better.

All the X1X version has is a higher resolution target and it can't hold the framerate.
XSS resolution is locked at 1080p in 60fps mode while X1X has dynamic 1440p resolution while in 60fps with the lowest bound always being higher than 1080p. The only reason the ground looks better in those screenshots is because for some reason, 343 decided not to use the enhanced texture models for the X1X version which is disappointing but they had their reasons.
 
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ethomaz

Banned
Series S looks better, has a higher resolution floor in performance mode, loads a lot quicker and hold 60fps better.
One X version is good but well behind.
The opposite of DF stated lol

"Series S image quality is markedly inferior to Xbox One X"

You pic example is one of the very few examples they give where Series S had better texture.

"However, there are some scenarios where Series S appears to have the better of the old machine in assets but even so, Xbox One X is the sharper and cleaner of the two by running at a dynamic 4K. There are examples of actual texture quality - floor mapping at select spawn points - differing between the generations - one that may well favour Series S overall."
 
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Riky

$MSFT
XSS resolution is locked at 1080p in 60fps mode while X1X has dynamic 1440p resolution while in 60fps with the lowest bound always being higher than 1080p. The only reason the ground looks better in those screenshots is because for some reason, 343 decided not to use the enhanced texture models for the X1X version which is disappointing but they had their reasons.
X1X goes down to 720p
 
XSS resolution is locked at 1080p in 60fps mode while X1X has dynamic 1440p resolution while in 60fps with the lowest bound always being higher than 1080p. The only reason the ground looks better in those screenshots is because for some reason, 343 decided not to use the enhanced texture models for the X1X version which is disappointing but they had their reasons.

Frame rate on One X is buckling, I suppose after it hits lower DRS bound.

Maybe that's why higher quality texture cannot be used.
 

HeisenbergFX4

Gold Member
Not getting drawn into the debate above but that Xbox One X putting in some work, nicely done.

Again they stated VRR not working at launch really sucks, hope this gets patch quickly
 

ethomaz

Banned
At higher settings with a more solid framerate.
Again... well wrong with the settings claim.

- near-to-far foliage draw is identical
- quality of texture filtering is identical
- depth of field is identical
- shadows are comparable
- trees render slightly further towards the distance on Xbox One X
- Texture quality is very similar but blurry on Series S
- IQ sharper and cleaner on Xbox One X
 
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dcmk7

Banned
Moving on Xbox Series S, there's a twist: looking at the quality mode, Series S image quality is markedly inferior to Xbox One X. The dynamic 4K of One X drops down a locked 1080p instead, with the same 30fps target. In truth, this looks like a heavy cut-back and we'd hope to see an upgrade to 1440p at some point for Series S. Settings-wise, near-to-far foliage draw is identical between One X and Series S, as is the quality of texture filtering, depth of field, and even shadows are comparable. There are differences however, if minor: trees render slightly further towards the distance on Xbox One X, but it's a subtle change. Texture quality is very similar too, albeit a touch more blurry on Series S owing to the lower resolution. However, there are some scenarios where Series S appears to have the better of the old machine in assets but even so, Xbox One X is the sharper and cleaner of the two by running at a dynamic 4K. There are examples of actual texture quality - floor mapping at select spawn points - differing between the generations - one that may well favour Series S overall.
I thought Series S had a bump in settings?

That's what some users here were saying in any case.

Weird to see that X1X still has better visuals and much less distracting pop-in.
 
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Nikana

Go Go Neo Rangers!
Have to say I am liking the presentation more than I thought. Its not mind blowing by any means but it looks very clean and crisp to my eyes. Seems like this is one where any type of compression from video really hurts it. Seeing it natively rendered is a nice step up.
 
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dcmk7

Banned
You pic example is one of the very few examples they give where Series S had better texture
Cherry picked image? Hardly surprising.

Still, the net result is worth taking a look at: a majority of traversal and indoor missions run at 120fps with no problem, bar minor dips beneath. That said, performance fluctuates more wildly in battle, or when the scene is generally busier in general, pushing as to a low of 80fps. Arguably the range of performance here is too jarring - especially given Xbox's VRR support at present does not seem to work in smoothing out Halo Infinite's judder.
Hope they fix this soon.
 
Wow Riky consolewarring even against machines in the same ecosystem lol
First off I think it's wonderful so many Sony fans expressing interest and excitement in MS' last generation console. Secondly is anyone surprised the last generation console focused on higher resolutions has higher resolutions than the current generation console focusing on 1080p? Third I keep getting confused but is it resolution or performance that matters most? Seems like the metrics change every day. Fourth I thought the XSS was the upgrade over the X1. How does performance between those two devices stack up? Fifth if we are comparing the X1X and XSS it appears that the XSS wins out in every metric but resolution. Loading, Frame rate, features like VRS, X1X loses every other metric. Doesn't seem like much of a 'war' to me.
 

Zathalus

Member
Again... well wrong with the settings claim.

- near-to-far foliage draw is identical
- quality of texture filtering is identical
- depth of field is identical
- shadows are comparable
- trees render slightly further towards the distance on Xbox One X
- Texture quality is very similar but blurry on Series S
- IQ sharper and cleaner on Xbox One X
Why do you even care? It's pretty obvious that you don't even own a Xbox.
 

kingpotato

Ask me about my Stream Deck
My monitor doesn't support vrr, but the first couple of minutes are a little jittery for me on XSS.




Just for sanity sake, are other people on XSS seeing this? The other games I've played so far were much smoother.

It might just be the opening videos and sequence.
 
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ethomaz

Banned
What fact? That the 60fps mode is better on the Series S then the One X? I thought that should be obvious as the Series S holds 60fps far better and the resolution does not drop as much in intense scenes.

Sure the One X is better at 30fps, but no one is going to choose that over the 60fps mode.
Read again the thread quotes you replied to.
 
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