Alan Wake 2 has emerged as a visually stunning game that pushes the boundaries of modern console hardware. The PC and, most especially, the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, have been put to the test with this title, with a particular focus on visual fidelity and performance. As we delve into the technical capabilities of these consoles, it becomes evident that while both platforms offer a commendable experience, Xbox Series X has a definitive edge in rendering Alan Wake 2, as per Digital Foundry.
Remedy Entertainment have implemented two distinct modes in Alan Wake 2: a quality mode and a performance mode. These modes have been designed to cater to different preferences, balancing visual quality with frame rate. The quality mode targets 30 frames per second, focusing on enhancing the visual details, while the performance mode aims for a smoother 60 fps by dialing down some of the graphical settings.
The difference between these modes is evident in various aspects of the game’s presentation. In the performance mode, we observe a reduction in the density of environmental objects, less intricate terrain surfaces and compromised texture filtering as well as simplified volumetric lighting. Shadow quality also takes a hit in the performance mode, with distant objects losing their shadows, and lower-quality shadow filtering. Other graphical settings like Level of Detail (LOD) adjustments and global illumination are also scaled back to achieve the desired frame rate.
When it comes to resolution, the Xbox Series X renders Alan Wake 2 at 1270p in quality mode and 847p in performance mode, with upscaling to 4K and 1440p respectively, using AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 2. The PS5 uses the same resolutions, suggesting a parity in visual quality between the two platforms. However, the devil is in the details – or in this case, the frame rates.
Digital Foundry’s technical analysis highlights Xbox Series X’s performance advantage over PS5. In performance mode, the Series X almost locks to 60 fps, with rare deviations. This consistency in its frame rate delivers a smooth and stable experience, enhancing the gameplay fluidity. Conversely, the PS5, aiming for similar targets, encounters challenges in maintaining a steady frame rate. There are instances where the PS5 dips below its frame-time targets, leading to an unstable gameplay experience, particularly in demanding scenarios.
The Xbox Series S, the less powerful sibling of the Series X, also delivers a respectable performance. It runs Alan Wake 2 at 30 fps, with a similar visual setup to the Series X’s performance mode. Although there are observable compromises, especially in texture resolution and screen-space reflections, the Series S offers a gameplay experience that punches above its weight class.
From a technical standpoint, Alan Wake 2 showcases Xbox Series X’s improved hardware. The raw computing power of the Series X enables it to iron out most performance dips that are noticeable on the PS5. This is particularly noteworthy given that the game is a graphical showcase, requiring substantial hardware capabilities.
Interestingly, Alan Wake 2 has become a testament to the Xbox Series X’s advertised hardware superiority. The console was touted as the most powerful at its launch, and this game has finally showcased the meaningful difference that the supposedly trivial power gap can make. While the PS5 is by no means a slouch, it’s in these challenging scenarios that the additional compute resources of the Series X become significant.
With at least 30% more raw power than PS5 and the ability to use mesh shaders, which improves rendering efficiency, the Xbox versions of games should start running better than PS5 counterparts as more developers become comfortable using advanced DX12 functions. However, the elephant in the room, being the Xbox Series S, remains. Xbox’s insistence on performance parity between the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X forces developers to spend more time working on a console that’s been laughably outsold all over the world.
Remedy Entertainment previously voiced out its concerns (twice, in fact) about the added work required to optimize Alan Wake 2 on Xbox Series S. Finally, Xbox nearly missed out on this year’s GOTY frontrunner, Baldur’s Gate 3, because of this rule.
While Alan Wake 2 is a performance win for the Xbox Series X, Microsoft needs to find a way to incentivize developers to spend more time highlighting the performance gains. Otherwise, this will be all for naught.
Microsoft currently isn’t planning to release a mid-generation upgrade for the Xbox Series X while rumors suggest that the PlayStation 5 Pro is coming in late 2024. However, new versions of the Xbox Series S/X are coming in mid-2024, although Phil Spencer insists that the company’s exact plans weren’t fully revealed as part of the earlier FTC leaks.
