In light of the release of Elden Ring, it’s time to take a look at the state of the last-generation consoles, specifically the PS4, Xbox One, Xbox One Pro, and Xbox One X, and determine whether any of these consoles can deliver a decent gaming experience. Is it really necessary to upgrade your console at this time, given the scarcity of current-generation consoles? When you take into account the controversy surrounding Elden Ring’s performance, the future doesn’t appear to be very bright. In the end, the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X aren’t that bad, and the base PS4 is also acceptable. The Xbox One S, on the other hand, is the only option that should be avoided.
However, despite the fact that the PlayStation 4’s performance isn’t quite up to par, the visuals of Elden Ring’s world are absolutely breathtaking. For the majority of the game’s playtime on the PlayStation 4, the frame rate will most likely be 30 frames per second due to anticipated issues with uneven frame-pacing, which we’ve seen in previous Souls games played on the console before. There have also been some notable frame rate drops below 30 frames per second in the game, though these are typically restricted to areas with a high concentration of enemy enemies. In contrast, a sudden change in direction or encountering scenes with a large number of special effects may cause the system to stutter and become unresponsive. As a result of the dragon battle, Limgrave’s performance drops to 25-30 frames per second, which is the worst-case scenario I’ve seen thus far; however, even in this case, the performance drops are only noticeable for a short period of time. The fact that PS5 consoles are currently in short supply does not rule out the possibility of using an existing console rather than purchasing new hardware in order to participate in the Elden Ring tournament.
Elden Ring on the base Microsoft machine is a profoundly unsatisfying experience – it is the version of the game that makes the greatest number of sacrifices in terms of both playability and graphics. I’m not exaggerating. As a result of our experience with it during the network beta, it’s possible that we shouldn’t be too surprised by it now. Using a variety of techniques, From Software attempts to squeeze the base Xbox into a playable state, albeit at a lower 900p resolution and 30 frames per second than before. At the beginning of your journey in Limgrave, a low shutter speed is used to capture the shadows in the surrounding area. Because the grass density has been set to the engine’s very lowest setting (which appears to be even lower than low on cheap Elden Ring runes), it also makes Limgrave appear barren and devoid of any depth. Adding insult to injury, on the base console, visual effects such as ambient occlusion and shadows are drastically reduced, resulting in scenes with a low-cast sun appearing unusually sparse in appearance.
In terms of appearance, the Elden Ring turnout is the most aesthetically displeasing version of the Elden Ring that has ever existed. For the record, if you are still playing on a base Xbox One, I strongly advise you to hold off until you can upgrade your hardware in order to get the most out of this incredible game’s first-person experience in its entirety. In our testing of the Xbox One, we discovered that it had been released in a severely hampered state. In fact, one of the most frustrating aspects of the game is the state of the enemy animations, which can be seen here. In the near-to-mid range, you’ll notice that enemies move at a different frame rate than the rest of the game until they come within the attacking range of your character.
This low-refresh animation trick is used by all console platforms to improve and stabilize performance, but Xbox One takes it to an obnoxious new level of extreme with its implementation. Despite all of these compromises, the game will run at a frame rate of 20-30 frames per second – and even if the game does achieve its performance goal, From’s trademark inconsistent frame-pacing will cause it to appear as if it is running at a lower frame rate, which is the final nail in the coffin for the title.
As a starting point, consider the following: When compared to the Xbox One version, the PlayStation 4 version of the game performs surprisingly well, despite the fact that it is not the best version of the game available. The resolution is a standard 1080p, grass density has been improved, and ambient occlusion, shadows, and draw distances – while far from being on the same level as the PS5 and Series X – have fared reasonably well in comparison to their predecessors in this generation. The jarring lower frame rate enemy animation on Xbox One is still detectable, but it is less intrusive overall, despite the fact that it is still noticeable. This console feels identical to the one that From Software intended for the standard release in every respect; there are no bells and whistles, but it is a just-about passable way to play games on the PlayStation 4. With a 1080p display, it serves as an excellent foundation upon which the PS4 Pro and PS5 can build their respective Elden Ring Intelligence Strength Build experiences.
There are two significant advantages to considering the PS4 Pro as a second-generation console over the base PS4: higher resolution and faster frame rate. A current-generation console would be required to notice any differences in the visual settings, as most of the visual settings, such as grass density and shadow resolution, are virtually identical to those of the base console. With the GPU advantage provided by the PS4 Pro, the game’s native pixel count can be increased to 1800p, which is accomplished through the use of a technique similar to the checkerboard rendering technique used in Sekiro last year, as previously mentioned.
