• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Digital Foundry - Witcher 3 performance analysis XO/PS4

L

Lifejumper

Member
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2015-witcher-3-wild-hunt-performance-analysis Hope the issues can get patched.
digital foundry said:
The first distinction is that PS4 caps its frame-rate at 30fps (with v-sync), while Xbox One runs with no cap at all to allow a variance between 30-40fps during play. This means Sony's machine is in theory capable of a smoother experience - with the cadence of frame delivery forced to a consistent rate. However there are issues on the Sony side side as well, and the net result is that neither feels truly smooth, though for very different reasons.
To start with cut-scenes, a firm 30fps line is held on PS4 during an early griffin encounter, and in practice this gives us smoother motion compared to the 35fps read-out on Xbox One (higher frame-rate does not automatically mean a better experience overall, something we've covered in-depth before). However, the problem here is that if the PS4's frame-rate drops below this number, it instantly locks to 20fps.It's an instant switch, much like the double-buffer method of v-sync seen in Metal Gear Solid 4 on PS3. In one later scene involving heavy ice effects, it's notable that Xbox One does glance this 20fps figure at a similar moment, but unlike PS4 it's able to waver up and down the scale more freely. Meanwhile, Sony's platform is stuck at this value for long stretches of a scene.
The PS4's approach causes the sensation of stutter to be worse at these stress points. Where performance is sub-30fps, Xbox One also retains a frame-rate advantage overall - and there's rarely a point in our analysis where Microsoft's hardware isn't ahead. That said, whenever PS4 does render at a clear 30fps, the presence of a cap and the resultant steady frame-pacing makes it the superior game in motion.

Actual gameplay paints a slightly different picture. A trip through the busy Novigrad city really puts both consoles through their paces, and Xbox One is essentially reduced to a 29-31fps range of fluctuations that produces stutter. By comparison, PS4 doesn't go over this line, but nor is it especially well optimised for large areas like this, with 25fps lurches seen at its worst.This is perhaps an issue of background streaming lots of new geometry and NPCs at each turn - as made evident by the heavy texture pop-in for each console. Sadly, each turn prompts Sony's platform to hiccup to 29fps as we canter forward, meaning it rarely feels much smoother than Microsoft's platform in a synced test, despite the frame-rate cap.

In open spaces, rapid gallops through forests produces similar results; regular single-frame drops on PS4 disrupt motion, while Xbox One runs above 30fps to cause its own frame-pacing issues.In battle, both platforms flatten at around 30fps, while a lengthy fight with a griffin shows bigger drops once we cast alpha-based spells such as Igni. The end effect is the same: neither console version feels as smooth as it should, and each is prone to big dips during gameplay.
Overall, the fact Xbox One tends to holds a higher frame-rate is misleading in terms of the quality of the end experience; a capped 30fps is by far the preferred option in this case and we still hope to see it implemented in a future update. The PS4 release has the right tactic, but it lets itself down by being unable to stream in world geometry or render effects at a perfect 30fps to take advantage of this. The perceived effect is a judder to motion on both consoles, for cut-scenes and gameplay, though PS4 is capable of smoother passages of play at times. When it comes to performance, and factoring in the game's superior 1920x1080 output, Sony's hardware is a preference - but it's not the clear choice we had expected.
Click to expand...
 
L

leeh

Member
I feel like this game is getting to much flack for these issues.

I had a decent go at it last night on the X1, it's a stunning open-world game and the frame-rate is very consistent compared to GTAV for example. The frame-stuttering is very noticeable in cut-scenes but I didn't notice it during gameplay.

Well done, CDPR.
 
X

Xater

Member
PS4 frame rate is garbage. Every almost every time you get into combat it drops to like 20 fps and gets real sluggish to play. Really disappointed in what CD Project Red delivered here technically. They did way better with the Witcher 2 port to 360.
 
N

nOoblet16

Member
Christ I would not have expected a developer in 2015, much less CD Projekt to use double buffered VSync. Wtf?
Just getting rid of that would mean a tremendous improvement in framerate.

EDIT: Seems like this is only for cutscenes, that is rather curious.
 
P

Prine

Banned
I'm enjoying the game immensely, the technical issues arnt that big for me. But I do hope a patch is released to cap the fps for X1.
 
D

danowat

Banned
Quoted from article

The first distinction is that PS4 caps its frame-rate at 30fps (with v-sync), while Xbox One runs with no cap at all to allow a variance between 30-40fps during play. This means Sony's machine is in theory capable of a smoother experience - with the cadence of frame delivery forced to a consistent rate. However there are issues on the Sony side side as well, and the net result is that neither feels truly smooth, though for very different reasons.
Click to expand...

To start with cut-scenes, a firm 30fps line is held on PS4 during an early griffin encounter, and in practice this gives us smoother motion compared to the 35fps read-out on Xbox One (higher frame-rate does not automatically mean a better experience overall, something we've covered in-depth before). However, the problem here is that if the PS4's frame-rate drops below this number, it instantly locks to 20fps. It's an instant switch, much like the double-buffer method of v-sync seen in Metal Gear Solid 4 on PS3. In one later scene involving heavy ice effects, it's notable that Xbox One does glance this 20fps figure at a similar moment, but unlike PS4 it's able to waver up and down the scale more freely. Meanwhile, Sony's platform is stuck at this value for long stretches of a scene.
Click to expand...

The PS4's approach causes the sensation of stutter to be worse at these stress points. Where performance is sub-30fps, Xbox One also retains a frame-rate advantage overall - and there's rarely a point in our analysis where Microsoft's hardware isn't ahead. That said, whenever PS4 does render at a clear 30fps, the presence of a cap and the resultant steady frame-pacing makes it the superior game in motion.

Actual gameplay paints a slightly different picture. A trip through the busy Novigrad city really puts both consoles through their paces, and Xbox One is essentially reduced to a 29-31fps range of fluctuations that produces stutter. By comparison, PS4 doesn't go over this line, but nor is it especially well optimised for large areas like this, with 25fps lurches seen at its worst. This is perhaps an issue of background streaming lots of new geometry and NPCs at each turn - as made evident by the heavy texture pop-in for each console. Sadly, each turn prompts Sony's platform to hiccup to 29fps as we canter forward, meaning it rarely feels much smoother than Microsoft's platform in a synced test, despite the frame-rate cap.

In open spaces, rapid gallops through forests produces similar results; regular single-frame drops on PS4 disrupt motion, while Xbox One runs above 30fps to cause its own frame-pacing issues. In battle, both platforms flatten at around 30fps, while a lengthy fight with a griffin shows bigger drops once we cast alpha-based spells such as Igni. The end effect is the same: neither console version feels as smooth as it should, and each is prone to big dips during gameplay.
Click to expand...

Overall, the fact Xbox One tends to holds a higher frame-rate is misleading in terms of the quality of the end experience; a capped 30fps is by far the preferred option in this case and we still hope to see it implemented in a future update. The PS4 release has the right tactic, but it lets itself down by being unable to stream in world geometry or render effects at a perfect 30fps to take advantage of this. The perceived effect is a judder to motion on both consoles, for cut-scenes and gameplay, though PS4 is capable of smoother passages of play at times. When it comes to performance, and factoring in the game's superior 1920x1080 output, Sony's hardware is a preference - but it's not the clear choice we had expected.
Click to expand...
 
M

MatrixMan.EXE

Member
PS4's frame rate is a mixed bag. For the most part it's been okay for me, but it took a real dive near constantly while in Crookback Bog, as well as inside certain small huts. Was so bad during Crookback Bog that I couldn't wait to leave the place.
 
C

c0de

Member
Triggerhappytel said:
Could you please summarise for those of us who can't get through thanks to work filters?
Click to expand...


Both versions have issues, Xbone stutters even more, PS4 higher resolution, Xbone more fps.

"The PS4 release has the right tactic, but it lets itself down by being unable to stream in world geometry or render effects at a perfect 30fps to take advantage of this. The perceived effect is a judder to motion on both consoles, for cut-scenes and gameplay, though PS4 is capable of smoother passages of play at times. When it comes to performance, and factoring in the game's superior 1920x1080 output, Sony's hardware is a preference - but it's not the clear choice we had expected."
 
P

Philippo

Member
I'll be playing the game this summer, hope it get's better by then.
How's the history of CDPR in terms of post-launch tech support?
 
X

Xater

Member
Kenzodielocke said:
Yep, when it rains it's like constant 20fps. Can't imagine it's that much better on Xbox One. (talking about V
elen
.
Click to expand...

Yep, at this point I always meditate to get past the rain.

They should have gone for 900p and maybe a different VSYNC solution on PS4. I'd rather have constant 30fps no matter what.
 
T

Triggerhappytel

Member
danowat said:
Quoted from article
Click to expand...

Thank you. I don't know much about this stuff, but how is it this has the opposite of Tomb Raider for example, which had a much higher and more consistent frame rate on the PS4?

Philippo said:
I'll be playing the game this summer, hope it get's better by then.
How's the history of CDPR in terms of post-launch tech support?
Click to expand...

Gold standard. I'm sure they'll keep patching this for months. Which is fine by me - I'll pick it up when I've finished Bloodborne and Destiny in about three months' time.
 
F

Fat4all

Banned
I don't doubt CDPR will be supporting the console version well after the release, or at least until they feel they can't improve it anymore.

I fell confident picking up the game on my PS4 today.
 
V

visiblemode

Member
"When it comes to performance, and factoring in the game's superior 1920x1080 output, Sony's hardware is a preference - but it's not the clear choice we had expected."

It seems every single one of these articles is so concerned with alienating one fanbase or another that the conclusion is always some sort of toss up. With that in mind I find it odd that they "expected" a "clear choice."
 
H

Hanmik

Member
visiblemode said:
"When it comes to performance, and factoring in the game's superior 1920x1080 output, Sony's hardware is a preference - but it's not the clear choice we had expected."

It seems every single one of these articles is so concerned with alienating one fanbase or another that the conclusion is always some sort of toss up. With that in mind I find it odd that they "expected" a "clear choice."
Click to expand...

the expected "clear choice" might be because of the technical differences between the two consoles.. it´s just a term used to downplay one version over the other.
DF has not been able to recommend a "clear winner" for a long time.
 
T

TechMaster360

Banned
visiblemode said:
"When it comes to performance, and factoring in the game's superior 1920x1080 output, Sony's hardware is a preference - but it's not the clear choice we had expected."

It seems every single one of these articles is so concerned with alienating one fanbase or another that the conclusion is always some sort of toss up. With that in mind I find it odd that they "expected" a "clear choice."
Click to expand...

XB1 can't catch a break on DF, it seems even if the XB1 version was locked at 30fps they would probably still give it to the PS4 because of higher res
 
michalmarek77

michalmarek77

Member
DF talks about version 1.01 of Witcher 3 - pre day 1 patch version.
Now performance should be better. I'm playing on Ps4 (game is beyond georgous) and while during cut-scenes game have some heavy fps drops, during the gameplay it's rather ok.
But i don't have a fps counter on screen so i can't be too sure :p
 
D

dark10x

Digital Foundry pixel pusher
michalmarek77 said:
DF talks about version 1.01 of Witcher 3 - pre day 1 patch version.
Now performance should be better. I'm playing on Ps4 (game is beyond georgous) and while during cut-scenes game have some heavy fps drops, during the gameplay it's rather ok.
But i don't have a fps counter on screen so i can't be too sure :p
Click to expand...
1.02 only seems to add support for multi-region DLC. It was also pulled from the network.

When I played last night 1.01 was the only version available on PS4.
 
C

c0de

Member
TechMaster360 said:
XB1 can't catch a break on DF, it seems even if the XB1 version was locked at 30fps they would probably still give it to the PS4 because of higher res
Click to expand...

Of course because this would be objectively better, resulting in a better image. How much better it is to you or any other random guy out there, considering difference in eye quality, TV setup and so on is out of DF's reach. In this case, 1080p is better than 900p (which isn't necessarily always true, of course).
 
F

Fat4all

Banned
TechMaster360 said:
XB1 can't catch a break on DF, it seems even if the XB1 version was locked at 30fps they would probably still give it to the PS4 because of higher res
Click to expand...

The fact that the Xbox version stutters seems to be the reason they went for the PS4 version, so I wouldn't quite agree.

If the XO version was locked with no jank and drops much less harsh, it probably would of nudged it back.
 
Nizz

Nizz

Member
Xater said:
PS4 frame rate is garbage. Every almost every time you get into combat it drops to like 20 fps and gets real sluggish to play. Really disappointed in what CD Project Red delivered here technically. They did way better with the Witcher 2 port to 360.
Click to expand...

OrbitalMatrix said:
PS4's frame rate is a mixed bag. For the most part it's been okay for me, but it took a real dive near constantly while in Crookback Bog, as well as inside certain small huts. Was so bad during Crookback Bog that I couldn't wait to leave the place.
Click to expand...

Backfoggen said:
Ran into some pretty rough spots on PS4 yesterday in the second area. Sucks.
Click to expand...
And with these posts and this DF analysis, I won't be picking this game up. After I had heard what a great job they did with their Witcher 2 port to 360, I was excited to see what they would bring to PS4. Now I'm reading about how bad the framerate is. We just left a generation where framerates were struggling. Didn't get Assassin's Creed Unity for this same reason, won't be getting Witcher 3 unless they fix that framerate.


Kezen said:
Yikes at framerate on PS4.

Hopefully they'll iron that out.
Click to expand...
If they do, I will be glad to pick up a copy. But as it stands right now, no. Disappointing too because I wanted to get in on this game even though I don't usually play RPGs.
 
G

gtj1092

Member
c0de said:
Of course because this would be objectively better, resulting in a better image. How much better it is to you or any other random guy out there, considering difference in eye quality, TV setup and so on is out of DF's reach. In this case, 1080p is better than 900p (which isn't necessarily always true, of course).
Click to expand...

When would 900p be better than 1080p when comparing the same game across platforms. Give an example when this has happened.
 
T

TechMaster360

Banned
c0de said:
Of course because this would be objectively better, resulting in a better image. How much better it is to you or any other random guy out there, considering difference in eye quality, TV setup and so on is out of DF's reach. In this case, 1080p is better than 900p (which isn't necessarily always true, of course).
Click to expand...

Absolutely 1080p is better than 900p (unscaled) - to me I struggle to see a big difference on my setup but I don't want to get into that debate, each to their own - Personally I think I would take 900p + better framerate over 1080p + worse framerate
 
G

Gurish

Member
So if they will cap the XB1 version the game will run smoother than the PS4 version? it seems to be like in DA:I than.

BTW i have the game on PS4 and it runs beautifully but maybe I'm less sensitive for frame drops than others, for me it's always IQ> FPS unless the FPS is bad, and on the PS4 it feels good to me, much better than any other open world game on previous gen.
 
O

Opus Angelorum

Member
So if the frame-pacing is sorted on the Xbox One it will be the smoother experience.

If I was a PS4 owner I'd rather they dropped it to 900p and have an absolute 100% 30 frames per second.
 
1

1.21Gigawatts

Banned
Sounds like the framerate on Ps4, even though its lower than XB1s, is still more enjoyable than XB1s.
But to me it looks like the issues on XB1 would be easiert to fix than the ones on Ps4.
They just have to lock the framerate down to 30 on Xbox to improve things, while they needed to get the framerate up to 30 on Ps4.
 
C

Cthulhu_Steev

Member
TechMaster360 said:
XB1 can't catch a break on DF, it seems even if the XB1 version was locked at 30fps they would probably still give it to the PS4 because of higher res
Click to expand...

Why would that be wrong then?

DF seem to come down so hard on the fence these days, they rarely recommend one over the other as far as I' can see. It comes down to a 'pick 'em' between consoles fps/res or 'get the PC version of course' rather than 'resolution wins!'.

Nizz said:
And with these posts and this DF analysis, I won't be picking this game up. After I had heard what a great job they did with their Witcher 2 port to 360, I was excited to see what they would bring to PS4. Now I'm reading about how bad the framerate is. We just left a generation where framerates were struggling. Didn't get Assassin's Creed Unity for this same reason, won't be getting Witcher 3 unless they fix that framerate.
Click to expand...

Just hangfire for a month, or so (or wait for the 'gold' edition when all the DLC is out) these issues are pretty much sure to be fixed - unless CDPR give the job to From.
 
F

Fat4all

Banned
Opus Angelorum said:
So if the frame-pacing is sorted on the Xbox One it will be the smoother experience.

If I was a PS4 owner I'd rather they dropped it to 900p and have an absolute 100% 30 frames per second.
Click to expand...

If it was a guarantee, I'd agree 100%.

They could work on patching it to a smoother 1080p game down the road.
 
D

danowat

Banned
Lifejumper said:
Honestly the issues dont bother me in actual gameplay. Performance issues dont detract how great this game is. You should get it imo :)
Click to expand...

I'm not particularly sensitive to any of this stuff, and wouldn't pickup anything wrong with the game without DF pointing it out, heck, I don't even notice the ghosting in PCars when playing it.

But I know some are sensitive to these things
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Digital Foundry: Grounded Tech Review - Problems on PS5 and Switch - All Consoles Tested
Analysis Review 2 3
115
8K
onQ123 replied
[ Digital Foundry] Helldivers 2 - PlayStation 5/PC - Tech Review
Analysis Review 2
79
11K
GymWolf replied
Digital Foundry: Half-Life 2 & The Orange Box - 4K 60fps Mod For Xbox Series X - 1440p 60fps on Series S!
18
2K
RPS37 replied
(Vg Tech) Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered PS5 & Switch & Xbox Series X|S Frame Rate Test
Analysis
6
1K
MDSLKTR replied
Digital Foundry — RTX 4070 Super vs PS5: How Much Faster/Better Are Today's Mid-Range GPUs?
Analysis 5 6 7 8 9
420
26K
M1987 replied
Top Bottom