Xbox games showcase 2020

[CriticalGaming]

Oh, for sure, it's nothing special. Tho it's been confirmed that the demo ran at a stable 4K/60fps and also uses fully realtime global illumination with ambient occlusion for lighting, which is a pretty expensive solution (tho less than realtime ray-tracing) compared to the largely baked lighting most current gen games still use. Which makes me think that the rather humdrum texture and geometry quality is perhaps a necessary sacrifice to get that 4K/60 performance, and if so then that may indicate the Series X is not as big an upgrade over the One X as MS is saying.

But more likely, since MS said that all Series X released within the first year are cross-gen, meaning Halo Infinite needs to run at least somewhat on the base Xbox One, the lackluster visual fidelity is maybe a sacrifice towards that end.

With all the talk from people complaining about the graphics i wonder if that sacrifice is one that players will be happy with. Though either way im sure the game will sell plenty....or at least get plenty of downloads from the game pass

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

Oh, for sure, it's nothing special. Tho it's been confirmed that the demo ran at a stable 4K/60fps and also uses fully realtime global illumination with ambient occlusion for lighting, which is a pretty expensive solution (tho less than realtime ray-tracing) compared to the largely baked lighting most current gen games still use. Which makes me think that the rather humdrum texture and geometry quality is perhaps a necessary sacrifice to get that 4K/60 performance, and if so then that may indicate the Series X is not as big an upgrade over the One X as MS is saying.

But more likely, since MS said that all Series X released within the first year are cross-gen, meaning Halo Infinite needs to run at least somewhat on the base Xbox One, the lackluster visual fidelity is maybe a sacrifice towards that end.

It’ll probably be like current gen’s 1X/Pro choice of better frame rate vs visual enhancements. The Miles Morales Spider-Man game has something similar with a 4K/60fps mode.

 

[Worgen]

Not surprising, considering he’s probably thinking about it from a raw specs and distribution standpoint of Steam being so closely tied to Microsoft, and ignoring things like a faster SSD, adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, 3D audio, etc. Apparently the curvy faceplates will also be removable or swappable for custom designs.

Actually the ssd that the ps5 is using might end up being an issue. For instance its a smaller size and with ballooning game sizes in this gen, that will cause annoyances, and I would need to look at how they are getting that speed but I think it was with some more proprietary tech and not just the m.2 drive, which means you probably can't just replace it with a normal ssd so you will have to pay sony a premium and they will charge much out the ass for any kind of a larger drive, if one is even available.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

Actually the ssd that the ps5 is using might end up being an issue. For instance its a smaller size and with ballooning game sizes in this gen, that will cause annoyances, and I would need to look at how they are getting that speed but I think it was with some more proprietary tech and not just the m.2 drive, which means you probably can't just replace it with a normal ssd so you will have to pay sony a premium and they will charge much out the ass for any kind of a larger drive, if one is even available.

PS5 SSD expansion upgrades explained: Compatible SSDs and other external storage options explored

How the PS5's external SSD storage upgrade works, including compatible SSDs and other external storage options, explained.

www.eurogamer.net

It sounds like game files could actually be significantly smaller due to eliminating the need for duplication as the PS4 currently requires to load game data.

 

[CriticalGaming]

This video is great!

 

[Worgen]

PS5 SSD expansion upgrades explained: Compatible SSDs and other external storage options explored

How the PS5's external SSD storage upgrade works, including compatible SSDs and other external storage options, explained.

www.eurogamer.net

It sounds like game files could actually be significantly smaller due to eliminating the need for duplication as the PS4 currently requires to load game data.

Ehh, I'm unconvinced about that, but I suppose its possible since they are really using custom hardware, but it once again means that even game data will need to be different on ps5 compared to xbox and pc and whatever Nintendo does.

 

[Dwarvenhobble]

With all the talk from people complaining about the graphics i wonder if that sacrifice is one that players will be happy with. Though either way im sure the game will sell plenty....or at least get plenty of downloads from the game pass

Isn't the entire point of running at 4K meant to be higher graphical quality and fidelity though?

It's like a youtuber who makes flat colour cartoon videos having their cartoon running at 4K. Like yeh it's cool but the difference is almost undetectable from just running at say 1080p when there's no real extra detail you're not getting normally.

 

[CriticalGaming]

Isn't the entire point of running at 4K meant to be higher graphical quality and fidelity though?

It's like a youtuber who makes flat colour cartoon videos having their cartoon running at 4K. Like yeh it's cool but the difference is almost undetectable from just running at say 1080p when there's no real extra detail you're not getting normally.

I mean yeah, the industry loves to brag about graphics until they can't deliver on the graphics and then it's about the game's quality. Which I just find to be the funniest argument. It's silly really.

 

[Worgen]

Isn't the entire point of running at 4K meant to be higher graphical quality and fidelity though?

It's like a youtuber who makes flat colour cartoon videos having their cartoon running at 4K. Like yeh it's cool but the difference is almost undetectable from just running at say 1080p when there's no real extra detail you're not getting normally.

Well there is also frame rate, like I think they reported the new Halo running at 120 fps at 4k, which is actually pretty impressive, its only recently that games and hardware were capable of that.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Well there is also frame rate, like I think they reported the new Halo running at 120 fps at 4k, which is actually pretty impressive, its only recently that games and hardware were capable of that.

I don't believe that claim for a second. I mean, why would the purpose for that even be? Most 4K TVs don't have a 120hz refresh rate and so wouldn't see an advantage from a game running at 120 fps.

A lot of tvs advertise an "effective refresh rate" of 120hz, but that's just using picture smoothing tech to make the screen look like it's running at a high refresh rate rather than it actually running at that rate. The vast majority of TVs run at an actual refresh rate of 60hz, and having your game run at 120 fps on a 60hz display is kind of pointless.

There's a reason that console developers are making a big deal about 4k 60fps. It's because that will max out the display features of most people's TVs.

 

[Hawki]

Anyone kind of getting Sega/Nintendo flashbacks via all this? Like, Microsoft is like Sega - smattering of only a handful strong IPs, but very focused on tech. Sony, meanwhile, is Nintendo - traditional stuff with very strong IPs, focused on software.

(Yes, I know the actual Nintendo is still around.)

 

[Worgen]

I don't believe that claim for a second. I mean, why would the purpose for that even be? Most 4K TVs don't have a 120hz refresh rate and so wouldn't see an advantage from a game running at 120 fps.

A lot of tvs advertise an "effective refresh rate" of 120hz, but that's just using picture smoothing tech to make the screen look like it's running at a high refresh rate rather than it actually running at that rate. The vast majority of TVs run at an actual refresh rate of 60hz, and having your game run at 120 fps on a 60hz display is kind of pointless.

There's a reason that console developers are making a big deal about 4k 60fps. It's because that will max out the display features of most people's TVs.

We are starting to see TVs that can do that, pc monitors have long since been able to do 144hz and higher. I think they are betting its going to be a big thing this generation since you really do notice a difference between 60hz and 144hz.

Anyone kind of getting Sega/Nintendo flashbacks via all this? Like, Microsoft is like Sega - smattering of only a handful strong IPs, but very focused on tech. Sony, meanwhile, is Nintendo - traditional stuff with very strong IPs, focused on software.

(Yes, I know the actual Nintendo is still around.)

I can't post all the pics for this but check this link out that is very relevant. EDIT: Oh neat, it just links all the pics from the tumblr link. I'll have to use this more.

 

[Dwarvenhobble]

Well there is also frame rate, like I think they reported the new Halo running at 120 fps at 4k, which is actually pretty impressive, its only recently that games and hardware were capable of that.

Frame rate is impressive........ I just don't see 4K as a brag when the textures look like they're 720P at best There's a reason a lot of games have special 4K texture packs on PC etc to play in 4K

4K means nothing really when you have textures that look still and without detail.

E.G.

This is available in 4K, see if you can see any difference realistically in the quality vs say 1080p?

 

[Worgen]

Frame rate is impressive........ I just don't see 4K as a brag when the textures look like they're 720P at best There's a reason a lot of games have special 4K texture packs on PC etc to play in 4K

4K means nothing really when you have textures that look still and without detail.

E.G.

This is available in 4K, see if you can see any difference realistically in the quality vs say 1080p?

The texture packs you see for pc aren't 4k, they are high resolution textures. Meaning that up close textures will be clearer and even from a distances things will look sharper whether you are running 1080 or 4k. The textures for the new Halo look fine, not mind blowing but fine. Halo has usually tended to go with a cleaner look for things so its really not that out of place.

4k is different from textures.

You will see difference running at a higher resolution, but it really depends on how big your screen is and how close you are too it.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

We are starting to see TVs that can do that, pc monitors have long since been able to do 144hz and higher. I think they are betting its going to be a big thing this generation since you really do notice a difference between 60hz and 144hz.

I feel like the average person buying a console isn't the kind of person who would think about or even know the refresh rate of their TV. We're in the tiny minority who understand or care, so it doesn't make sense for microsoft to focus on getting to 120fps.

Hell, I still hear console users argue that 30fps is great and that the human eye can't see higher framerates, which is incredibly stupid, but that's the population that the xbox is catering to.

 

[BrawlMan]

Anyone kind of getting Sega/Nintendo flashbacks via all this? Like, Microsoft is like Sega - smattering of only a handful strong IPs, but very focused on tech. Sony, meanwhile, is Nintendo - traditional stuff with very strong IPs, focused on software.

(Yes, I know the actual Nintendo is still around.)

Sega still has way more interesting IPs I rather play than nearly all of the games on X Series X. I see your point though.

We are starting to see TVs that can do that, pc monitors have long since been able to do 144hz and higher. I think they are betting its going to be a big thing this generation since you really do notice a difference between 60hz and 144hz.


I can't post all the pics for this but check this link out that is very relevant. EDIT: Oh neat, it just links all the pics from the tumblr link. I'll have to use this more.

I will add the appropriate music for the Switch.

 

[BrawlMan]

Hell, I still hear console users argue that 30fps is great and that the human eye can't see higher framerates, which is incredibly stupid, but that's the population that the xbox is catering to.

They're a bunch of brainwashed masses that don't know shit. I swear if one more does "cinematic" excuse, I am going to pimp smack their dumb asses.

 

[Worgen]

I feel like the average person buying a console isn't the kind of person who would think about or even know the refresh rate of their TV. We're in the tiny minority who understand or care, so it doesn't make sense for microsoft to focus on getting to 120fps.

Hell, I still hear console users argue that 30fps is great and that the human eye can't see higher framerates, which is incredibly stupid, but that's the population that the xbox is catering to.

Both the xbox and the ps4 are targeting the 4k gaming market and higher frame rates.

 

[Dwarvenhobble]

The texture packs you see for pc aren't 4k, they are high resolution textures. Meaning that up close textures will be clearer and even from a distances things will look sharper whether you are running 1080 or 4k. The textures for the new Halo look fine, not mind blowing but fine. Halo has usually tended to go with a cleaner look for things so its really not that out of place.

4k is different from textures.

You will see difference running at a higher resolution, but it really depends on how big your screen is and how close you are too it.

Yes and no

Generally you can more easily see the issues with lower resolution textures.

E.G you can only really notice this in joke in My Name is Earl if you have a HD tv and a High Definition version of the episode

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Both the xbox and the ps4 are targeting the 4k gaming market and higher frame rates.

Which is good, but I don't believe that either will even try to hit 120fps. There's not enough returns to justify it.

You can't market a game on how good the frame rate is since that's not something that can be demonstrated in commercials, and for the console users care more about graphics than fps. That's starting to change, but I really doubt any developer is seriously targeting 4k 120fps considering the user base that would notice or care is quite small. Locked 4k 60fps should be the sweet spot for console games, and I still think the majority of games will struggle to hit it.