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DF: Guardians of the Galaxy: PS5 vs Xbox Series X - Ray Tracing Upgrades Tested

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Arioco

Member



TL;DW

- Resolution in this new RT mode is dynamic, 1620p-2160p at 30 fps. Series S didn't get this new mode, and the patch doesn't fix the frame rate. On PS5 the frame rate is almost rock solid, the only flaw being when using the scan view. Series X has a similarly smooth 30 fps as que quality mode. In 60 fps mode PS5 still has some drops in the initial scene and intensive battles, so the patch doesn't fix that.
 
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Topher

Gold Member
Accompanying article:

Guardians of the Galaxy surprised many this year - myself included - for capturing the essence of its characters - for taking the humour, the eclectic worlds and creatures of the comics, the films, and projecting it back out in video game form. Just ahead of Christmas, I'm glad to say developer Eidos Montreal has fine-tuned its work. Patch 1.05 adds new features alongside bug fixes, with ray tracing as the principal enhancement, substantially improving reflections over the standard quality mode. But what do these RT reflections actually deliver and is there any knock-on impact to the rest of the game? After all, hardware accelerated ray tracing is still a computationally expensive effect. Does something else have to give?

The ray tracing option on PS5 and Series X joins the two existing modes in the graphics menu. There's still the 4K resolution quality mode for visual purists, running at 30 frames per second. There's also the 1080p60 performance mode, which still has some trouble locking to 60 frames per second, as bizarre as that sounds. The new RT mode is what could be described as a replacement for the quality option: it's still pegged at 30fps and it still tops out at full 2160p, but the inclusion of RT sees the dynamic resolution scaling window expand - so you can expect to see 1620p resolution, for example, in rich battle scenes.

RT reflections essentially replace the screen-space alternatives seen in quality mode, meaning that all relevant details are reflected, not just those within the confines of the screen itself. It also sees all appropriate materials affected with reflections to a certain degree. These surfaces reflect and even distort nearby surroundings in a materially correct way. In some cases, the reflections are clearer to see while in others, they're more diffuse, depending on the surfaca. In fairness, the SSR technique in quality mode still holds up reasonably well and it's always been a respectable workaround. However, there are scenes where the impact of RT is simply transformative. Yes, resolution may be a touch lower, but it's difficult to tell in practice owing to the accumulation of detail over time added by temporal super-sampling anti-aliasing.

The majority of other visual presets appear unchanged from quality mode. Foliage quality draws in near identically, while level of detail transitions look like a match too. That said, ambient occlusion quality does take a hit, matching the lower quality preset used in the performance mode. Still, this is really the worst of the trade-offs to get ray tracing enabled on console and by and large, you're still looking at 30fps locked with only outlier dips.

Of course, Guardians of the Galaxy shipped with ray tracing at launch on PC, in addition to an excellent implementation of DLSS AI upscaling - so how do the consoles compare? PC features high, very high and ultra settings for RT reflections but there's also a transparency reflection toggle in addition to that, which sees reflections cast onto materials like glass. This isn'timplemented on consoles, likely owing to performance implications. The standard RT settings see gradual improvements to ray tracing quality on other surfaces as you move up the presets. Consoles deliver the equivalent to PC's 'entry level' high setting, but the difference between the modes on offer is fairly limited, so that's absolutely fine.

Ray tracing, with all its benefits, is sadly missing on Series S. The new patch does add something in that you get the option for the unlocked frame-rate mode that we understand was actually in the gold master version of the game before being removed in the day one patch. To be clear, we had a 30fps cap before the this latest update with the game running at a native 1080p, but there was always the lingering sense that Series S could do more, especially in light of the Xbox One X's much higher pixel count. The new update simply offers the option to toggle between an unlocked frame-rate or the old 30fps cap.

The result in frame-rate testing is far from rock-solid but should be a good option for those with VRR-enabled displays. Series S uncapped does hit 60fps in less taxing scenes around the Milano and during interior missions, but in combat you're in a 40-60fps No Mans Land with occasional dips beneath that. On balance, it's a good option to have but I'm still left with the sense that Series S should be doing better. Ultimately though, the junior Xbox does offer a solid enough way to enjoy the game on consoles, but there's a wider than expected gulf between the S and X experience.

Looking at Guardians of the Galaxy as a patched package, the new ray tracing mode is a great extra. The only regret is that such a cool feature arrived after launch where early players - including our own John Linneman - had completed the game. The new mode is certainly worthwhile though and well optimised, but it's a shame that a locked 60fps mode remains elusive on any console. We hope to see Eidos Montreal return to the game one more time to deliver this crucial improvement to what is already a sensational game.

 

rofif

Can’t Git Gud
Series S was just supposed to have the exact same "graphics and performance" as series x... but in 1440p and not 4k. yep.
Anyway - I played this on pc and it's a great game.
100% would play it in dynamic 4k ith ray tracing mode on ps5 if I didn't had better pc. This game looks so good and ray tracing is everyhwere.

Imo, the 4k quality mode should just be transposed into ray tracing mode. if RT mode is also almost always 4k, then quality mode will just confuse people and some might miss on reflections
 
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adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
This is a rare case where I would ask console folks to ignore FPS and play in quality mode.

Perf mode just loses way too much in clarity for this beautiful game.
 
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Darius87

Member
what a terrible comparisson out of 15min he managed to show XSX version only 2 times while PS5 takes majority of time.
i don't know maybe it's me.. but it seems DF doesn't like to show or compare XSX for some reason while it's considered most powerful console it should be main reference point for comparissons such like these.
 
Series S didn't get this new mode, and the patch doesn't fix the frame rate.

Series S doing really well again I see. Fantastic little box, we shouldn't have doubted what they were saying about it when it was introduced.
The denial is strong here ….

Series S was suppose to have the exact features as Series X but with a 1080p cap. That’s not the case here and it’s the same story for some other games. I don’t really understand the blind defense of the Series S. So weird…
 
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DForce

NaughtyDog Defense Force
Series S was just supposed to have the exact same "graphics and performance" as series x... but in 1440p and not 4k. yep.

1dKq5MY.png
 

GHG

Gold Member
We shouldn't doubt companies that are trying to sell products now? Listen to what the fuck you are saying.

The denial is strong here ….

Series S was suppose to have the exact features as Series X but with a 1080p cap. That’s not the case here and it’s the same story for some other games. I don’t really understand the blind defense of the Series S. So weird…

Sorry guys. The script leaked and I felt compelled to read from it.
 

Darsxx82

Member
GOTG is a curious case when it comes to performance. I don't know if there is another game where there is such a difference between performance and quality modes. It is surprising that you can get native 4K and locked 30fps and even dynamic 4K with RT while keeping those 30fps stable. But to achieve a rate of 60fps they need to go down to 1080p and mayor cuts in graphic detail and even then you don't achieve a lock 60fps either .....

I think that XSS could have a higher resolution in the 30fps quality mode. Performance mode shows a wide margin to take advantage of in resolution or greater detail. I do not understand that they have opted for blocked 1080p instead of dynamic 1440p perhaps (~ 1220p average)
Looking at the performance on PS5 and XSX at 1080 / 60fps, it can be understood that XSS suffers more.
 

Shmunter

Member
I don’t understand why no drs on performance mode. A bit of extra res here and there while 60. In fact, why no reconstruction from 1080p for added clarity.

I understand nothing about the setup in this game. 2021 bro.
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
No thank you. 60 fps feels better than 30 fps looks. If this was a movie, I’d agree with you, but since it’s a game, fps matters way more.

Of course, I understand that it's a purely subjective thing.

I decided within the first 5 mins which mode I wanted to stick to after seeing the incredible degradation in IQ and how fuzzy Peter's moms hair are in the opening.
 

Topher

Gold Member
Of course, I understand that it's a purely subjective thing.

I decided within the first 5 mins which mode I wanted to stick to after seeing the incredible degradation in IQ and how fuzzy Peter's moms hair are in the opening.

For whatever reason, I struggled to see any significant difference in image quality between the two modes. Maybe it is just me.

Sport What GIF by Sacramento Kings
 

Lognor

Banned
Series S doing really well again I see. Fantastic little box, we shouldn't have doubted what they were saying about it when it was introduced.
And on top of that xsx has the best overall version. Microsoft with another win!

Glad series s is holding up though. With all the units they've been selling there will be a lot of happy new owners!
 

Black_Stride

do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
what a terrible comparisson out of 15min he managed to show XSX version only 2 times while PS5 takes majority of time.
i don't know maybe it's me.. but it seems DF doesn't like to show or compare XSX for some reason while it's considered most powerful console it should be main reference point for comparissons such like these.

You should read the articles before watching the video.

Why they pick one to show on screen over the other is usually when there is no real difference between the two, what the PS5 is showing is what the XSX would be showing.
Both consoles have a practically locked 30 in RT mode.
And the same drops from the first analysis are still intermittent in the 60fps mode.
Also the TFLOPs alone arent the best indicator of real world performance between these consoles.
If they mainly used XSX footage we would be saying they are hiding the PS5.....yet the article tells us the games are running the same.
The extra work to have the videos be side by side constantly isnt worth it when we should know the games are the same and we want to see the game at 4K so give me the full frame.

People read too much into what/how DF makes videos.
 

ReBurn

Gold Member
The denial is strong here ….

Series S was suppose to have the exact features as Series X but with a 1080p cap. That’s not the case here and it’s the same story for some other games. I don’t really understand the blind defense of the Series S. So weird…
Series S does have the ability to do ray tracing. It's been done on this system.

This is a game that has to run at 1080p on PS5 and XSX to hit 60 FPS. I don't know that I would be using it as the benchmark for what any current gen console is capable of.
 

Leyasu

Banned
You should read the articles before watching the video.

Why they pick one to show on screen over the other is usually when there is no real difference between the two, what the PS5 is showing is what the XSX would be showing.
Both consoles have a practically locked 30 in RT mode.
And the same drops from the first analysis are still intermittent in the 60fps mode.
Also the TFLOPs alone arent the best indicator of real world performance between these consoles.
If they mainly used XSX footage we would be saying they are hiding the PS5.....yet the article tells us the games are running the same.
The extra work to have the videos be side by side constantly isnt worth it when we should know the games are the same and we want to see the game at 4K so give me the full frame.

People read too much into what/how DF makes videos.

In 2013 DF were gods on here when the PS4 first launched. Now poor old DF are nothing more than shills and bullshit merchants according to the sony fanboys.
 
Such sarcasm. Are there levels missing that I'm unaware of?
Of course it's sarcasm. It's also mixed delusion thinking that 1) a third party cross gen title is a testament to what a platform can do and 2) MS in anyway promised that all developers would take full advantage of every feature the XSS has.

If a developer chooses not to use raytracing on the XSS it in no way means the system isn't capable of running the feature. This game for instance didn't launch with raytracing on the more powerful systems either.

It IS wonderful to see people so concerned with the budget platform as usual.
 

Fake

Member
I don’t understand why no drs on performance mode. A bit of extra res here and there while 60. In fact, why no reconstruction from 1080p for added clarity.

I understand nothing about the setup in this game. 2021 bro.

Poor optimization take a huge role here.
 

DaGwaphics

Member
So now it's simply enough that it just runs the same games?

It's gone from "the games will run the same, just lower resolution" to "at least the same game runs on the Series S". Interesting change of tone.

Hasn't that always been the case. That the box offered the same experiences at a lower price point. There were never any guarantees offered one way or the other. 1440p was no more guaranteed on XSS than 4K was on XSX, it is what it is. With that said, there absolutely are many games that are just resolution drops.
 

DenchDeckard

Moderated wildly
There's no way a series s could do raytracing like ps5 or series x. It would need a while extra dedicated amount of die space or run at like 480p lol.

Amd gpus just aren't really cut out for RT

Especially a 4tf one.
 
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Skifi28

Member
Of course it's sarcasm. It's also mixed delusion thinking that 1) a third party cross gen title is a testament to what a platform can do and 2) MS in anyway promised that all developers would take full advantage of every feature the XSS has.

If a developer chooses not to use raytracing on the XSS it in no way means the system isn't capable of running the feature. This game for instance didn't launch with raytracing on the more powerful systems either.

It IS wonderful to see people so concerned with the budget platform as usual.
Its like the moment the XSS is mentioned, you are instantly summoned. I'd like to know how it works if it's not too much of a bother explaining! Is it physics? Magic?
 
Any game that’s only 1080p in performance mode on XSX/PS5 is a “wait for $20 sale” for me. Not gonna pay more to play a game on my new box that needs to be 30fps to play at a next gen resolution. That being said the game does look interesting and is on my wish list.

Really hope once this gen really kicks off we see 1440p/Quality OR RT settings/60fps as the standard. I can see 30fps sticking around for open world games like the Matrix Demo, but anything else doesn’t have an excuse at this point unless it’s the XSS version.

RE Village is a perfect example. It has Checkerboarded 4K (with barely any ghosting I noticed), 60fps, and RT, with only minimal dips in Framerate. That’s what I want this gen. Anything 1080p or 30fps is a pass.
 

ethomaz

Banned
Any game that’s only 1080p in performance mode on XSX/PS5 is a “wait for $20 sale” for me. Not gonna pay more to play a game on my new box that needs to be 30fps to play at a next gen resolution. That being said the game does look interesting and is on my wish list.

Really hope once this gen really kicks off we see 1440p/Quality OR RT settings/60fps as the standard. I can see 30fps sticking around for open world games like the Matrix Demo, but anything else doesn’t have an excuse at this point unless it’s the XSS version.

RE Village is a perfect example. It has Checkerboarded 4K (with barely any ghosting I noticed), 60fps, and RT, with only minimal dips in Framerate. That’s what I want this gen. Anything 1080p or 30fps is a pass.
You will see a lot 1080p render with AI upscale yo higher resolution this gen. You won’t get native higher resolution in most games.

There is a reason why the UE5 demos are all lower resolution.
 
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FrankWza

Member
Of course it's sarcasm. It's also mixed delusion thinking that 1) a third party cross gen title is a testament to what a platform can do and 2) MS in anyway promised that all developers would take full advantage of every feature the XSS has.

If a developer chooses not to use raytracing on the XSS it in no way means the system isn't capable of running the feature. This game for instance didn't launch with raytracing on the more powerful systems either.

It IS wonderful to see people so concerned with the budget platform as usual.
Halo infinite was made by a 3rd party developer? Is that why they didn’t include the 120fps option on the series s that the x has?
 

SlimySnake

Flashless at the Golden Globes
There's no way a series s could do raytracing like ps5 or series x. It would need a while extra dedicated amount of die space or run at like 480p lol.

Amd gpus just aren't really cut out for RT

Especially a 4tf one.
The matrix demo runs an open world with incredible Ray traced reflections and lighting at 720p.

This is a linear game with small corridors. Should have no issues running this at 1080p if consoles are running it at 4k at times.
 

Leyasu

Banned
The matrix demo runs an open world with incredible Ray traced reflections and lighting at 720p.

This is a linear game with small corridors. Should have no issues running this at 1080p if consoles are running it at 4k at times.
Well this is on the devs then no?
 
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