Companies Mentioned
Why It Matters
The omission of PS5 Pro‑specific features highlights a broader challenge for cross‑platform titles to fully exploit next‑gen hardware, influencing consumer perception and competitive positioning between Xbox and PlayStation ecosystems.
Key Takeaways
- •Avowed runs solidly on PS5 with three performance modes
- •No PS5 Pro‑specific enhancements despite hardware capabilities
- •Quality mode limited to 30 fps, 1440p resolution
- •Performance mode caps at 1080p, 60 fps upscaled
- •Balanced mode offers 40 fps, requires 120 Hz display
Pulse Analysis
Avowed’s arrival on the PlayStation 5 showcases the growing pains of porting Unreal Engine 5 titles across divergent hardware ecosystems. The game delivers three distinct modes—Quality, Performance, and Balanced—each balancing resolution against frame rate. While the Quality setting targets a respectable 1440p, its 30 fps ceiling hampers the fast‑paced combat that defines the RPG. Conversely, the Performance mode sacrifices visual fidelity for a smoother 60 fps experience, upscaling from 1080p. The Balanced option sits in the middle, offering 40 fps on displays capable of 120 Hz, but none of these configurations leverage the PS5 Pro’s advanced capabilities.
From a market perspective, the lack of PS5 Pro‑specific optimizations sends a subtle signal about Microsoft’s strategic priorities. By delivering a port that mirrors the Xbox Series X experience without exploiting Sony’s enhanced GPU and PSSR upscaling, Xbox Game Studios appears to prioritize a uniform baseline over platform‑tailored performance. This approach may satisfy a broad audience but risks alienating early adopters who invested in the Pro model expecting differentiated visual fidelity. In an era where console exclusivity and hardware bragging rights drive purchasing decisions, such omissions can influence brand perception and future platform loyalty.
Looking ahead, the situation presents both challenges and opportunities. Developers could release patches that unlock higher resolution scaling or introduce a hybrid mode that blends Quality’s visuals with Performance’s frame rate, capitalizing on the PS5 Pro’s hardware headroom. As competition intensifies between Microsoft and Sony, the industry will likely see increased pressure to deliver console‑specific enhancements, ensuring that flagship titles fully exploit each system’s strengths. For consumers, the key takeaway is to set realistic expectations: Avowed runs well on standard PS5 hardware, but PS5 Pro owners may need to wait for post‑launch updates to reap the console’s full potential.
Xbox RPG Avowed Snubs PS5 Pro Support
Avowed is out now on PS5, and the good news is that the Xbox‑published RPG runs pretty well on Sony's system.
The port's been put through the wringer by our friends over at Digital Foundry, and they've found it hard to fault — although it is, overall, a rather unremarkable release in terms of technical prowess.
The game, which runs on the often unruly Unreal Engine 5, offers up three modes on PS5: Quality, Balanced, and Performance. They all do exactly what they say on the tin, but none of them are what you'd call perfect.
For starters, Quality targets 1440p resolution at the cost of a capped 30 frames‑per‑second — but in our experience, it's difficult to recommend based on how combat‑heavy Avowed is. The relatively minor visual boost just isn't worth the trade.
Performance, meanwhile, targets a much smoother 60 fps, but it can only manage a 1080p resolution that's upscaled.
Again, it's not an ideal option given how much effort has been poured into the title's environmental assets; this is a damn good looking game at times.
And then there's Balanced, which offers 40 fps with better visuals, assuming you have a display that supports 120 Hz.
To be clear, all of these modes are in line with what you'll find on Xbox Series X, but it's actually PS5 Pro owners who may feel like they're being let down a bit.
Something of a trend with Obsidian's PlayStation ports, support for Sony's supercharged console is minimal to say the least. Pro players benefit from more stable frames and resolution targets, but that's about it.
There are no bells and whistles here. You don't, for example, get a Pro‑specific mode that combines elements of Quality and Performance, and there's apparently "no sign" of Avowed making any use of the system's PSSR upscaling tech.
Another missed opportunity, then, but at least the RPG's running as intended on PS5 hardware.
Are you playing Avowed on PS5, or PS5 Pro? Just settle for Performance mode in the comments section below.
Source: digitalfoundry.net
0
Comments
Want to join the conversation?
Loading comments...