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Digital Foundry: Assassin's Creed Shadows - PS5/Series X/S Tech Review - A Big Visual Leap For the Series

Not sure if it's because I am currently playing the often f-ugly looking Rise of the Ronin on PC, a game that looks like an early PS4 game at best yet is arguably worse looking that the actual PS4-era Ghost of Tsushima, but AC: Shadows sure looks glorious visually on Xbox X and PS5, at least in the 30/40 fps modes. Hopefully, this means that the PS5 Pro version gets all the eye candy but at 60 fps (and with a 40 fps hideout mode instead of 30 fps?).
 
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Wow PS5 Pro makes base PS5 look like Series S lol. Apparently no PSSR in use. Running at same internal resolution and using same upscaling method as base.

A01xtI7.jpeg
VUdEAIx.jpeg
B6OLzz9.jpeg
A5DJJBr.jpeg
Well, yeah, that's a HUGE difference. Damn.
 

Zathalus

Member
RTGI is rather transformative, makes those "RT is not needed"posts look a bit silly.

Slightly off-topic, but I think this thread kind of proves that no matter what DF does, some will still endlessly bitch about them. A dedicated video about the Pro version is landing tomorrow that is apparently full of praise, and we still have the usual suspects complaining.
 

yogaflame

Gold Member
But you still hear from people that it's a waste of time and resorces:

uJU85f8.jpeg

RTGI is rather transformative, makes those "RT is not needed"posts look a bit silly.

Slightly off-topic, but I think this thread kind of proves that no matter what DF does, some will still endlessly bitch about them. A dedicated video about the Pro version is landing tomorrow that is apparently full of praise, and we still have the usual suspects complaining.

i-want-some-more-oliver.gif
 
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After reading through this thread, I guess I should feel bad that I will be playing on PS5 and prioritizing performance. It seems like I am always "doing it wrong" these days as a console user who prefers performance.
 

viveks86

Member
Yeah, but even the low setting on PC shits on the console RTGI. This looks like it could be the equivalent to medium.
True. If they can get it equivalent to medium and improve those ugly/aggressive shadow maps (unlikely), that would hit a sweet spot. The resolution was already quite high iirc.
 

Skifi28

Member
After reading through this thread, I guess I should feel bad that I will be playing on PS5 and prioritizing performance. It seems like I am always "doing it wrong" these days as a console user who prefers performance.
There's no "right" or "wrong" answer, you do what feels/looks best for you. Some people will be playing on Series S or even a Switch 2 in the future, if it works for them who can say otherwise.
 

memoryman3

Neo Member
Wow the Xbox series s only has a 30fps mode? Is this the first game to do that on the Series S?

Many modern triple A games (Kingdom Come Deliverance, Star Wars Outlaws, Space Marine 2 etc.) only have a single mode on Series S now. Which can be the 60fps Series X performance mode with lower resolution textures.
 

Killer8

Member
This is a gigantic leap over any other open world game on the market. You might be able to argue that Red Dead 2 did one thing better, or some other game did something else better. But to cram in a whole suite of ray tracing features, changing seasons, basically no LOD pop-in thanks to virtualized geometry, and a surprising amount of destruction physics is all pretty mind blowing. Say what you want about the quality of the game, the Ubisoft engineers hit it out the park - much like Star Wars Outlaws last year.

Can people finally shut the fuck up about "RT isn't needed" and "graphics are going backwards" now?
 

viveks86

Member
Yeah, not surprising whatsoever. The base consoles fps needs to be chopped by 1/3 or 1/2 to run it. Does the Pro still have the nicer hair?

I'm not immediately finding any comment about the hair. I looked around in the perf mode section of the video. Nothing mentioned. I'll re-watch it again later to see.

Looks like even the pro is using the ugly ass hair in its performance mode. That's very disappointing as I thought it made a huge difference.

Found some proof that the performance mode on Pro is not using the hair strand system.

Xbox comparison from DF:

QaKKzW7.jpeg


Pro screenshot from Cycu1:

aq7l8DR.jpeg


The hair matches performance mode while the rest matches quality mode
 
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Darsxx82

Member

It seems that the 40fps (balanced) mode in PRo doesn't have RT reflections, only the 30fps (quality) mode. Which goes against what PSblog stated a few days ago.
I don't know what the difference is between performance mode and 40fps if RT reflections isn't one of them. I suppose higher resolution and IQ? I guess DF will say whether this is the case or not because is a rare situation.
 

viveks86

Member
It seems that the 40fps (balanced) mode in PRo doesn't have RT reflections, only the 30fps (quality) mode. Which goes against what PSblog stated a few days ago.
I don't know what the difference is between performance mode and 40fps if RT reflections isn't one of them. I suppose higher resolution and IQ? I guess DF will say whether this is the case or not because is a rare situation.
game of thrones agree GIF


PS Blog already updated this as well as Ubisoft's official marketing material. Check the OT. The difference will be higher IQ and hair strands (and allegedly draw distance but haven't seen confirmation of that).
 

Seomel

Member
Not sure if it's because I am currently playing the often f-ugly looking Rise of the Ronin on PC, a game that looks like an early PS4 game at best yet is arguably worse looking that the actual PS4-era Ghost of Tsushima, but AC: Shadows sure looks glorious visually on Xbox X and PS5, at least in the 30/40 fps modes. Hopefully, this means that the PS5 Pro version gets all the eye candy but at 60 fps (and with a 40 fps hideout mode instead of 30 fps?).
Pro performance will basically be quality mode of base, pro quality goes above with more raytracing
assassins-creed-shadows-update-on-the-console-specs-v0-3qja7sviewne1.jpge1.jpg%3Fwidth%3D1920%26format%3Dpjpg%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Dd189709a2307873bb74b2558de4f54b0380069e3
 
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Darsxx82

Member
Pro performance will basically be quality mode of base, pro quality goes above with more raytracing
assassins-creed-shadows-update-on-the-console-specs-v0-3qja7sviewne1.jpge1.jpg%3Fwidth%3D1920%26format%3Dpjpg%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Dd189709a2307873bb74b2558de4f54b0380069e3

It's not really. The average resolution in PS5/XSX's quality mode is clearly higher than that of PRo in performance mode.

It would be more accurate to say that PRo's quality mode is equivalent to PS5/XSX's 40fps mode (and even then it would be at a more lower average resolution).

Edit: It seems that the Pro's performance mode doesn't offer the new hair physics either. So it's not even equivalent to the 40fps (balanced) mode on base consoles.
 
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Gaiff

SBI’s Resident Gaslighter
Pro performance will basically be quality mode of base, pro quality goes above with more raytracing
assassins-creed-shadows-update-on-the-console-specs-v0-3qja7sviewne1.jpge1.jpg%3Fwidth%3D1920%26format%3Dpjpg%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Dd189709a2307873bb74b2558de4f54b0380069e3
Seems like the resolution of the base PS5 in Quality Mode is significantly higher than the Pro’s resolution in Performance Mode. All the extra GPU horsepower is used to keep RTGI. It was that or a higher resolution, not both.
 

Seomel

Member
Seems like the resolution of the base PS5 in Quality Mode is significantly higher than the Pro’s resolution in Performance Mode. All the extra GPU horsepower is used to keep RTGI. It was that or a higher resolution, not both.
Will see tomorrow anyway when df releases video
 

Thick Thighs Save Lives

NeoGAF's Physical Games Advocate Extraordinaire
For the guys in this thread who have early access to DF videos, can you quickly check and see if they mention the DRS range for the balanced mode on PS5 Pro and which resolution it sticks to the most?

As a side note, it's clear that the game has been authored with RTGI in mind since the lighting in the perf mode on the base consoles looks very flat and a generation behind.
 

saintjules

Gold Member
For the guys in this thread who have early access to DF videos, can you quickly check and see if they mention the DRS range for the balanced mode on PS5 Pro and which resolution it sticks to the most?

As a side note, it's clear that the game has been authored with RTGI in mind since the lighting in the perf mode on the base consoles looks very flat and a generation behind.

All he said in the balanced mode section was that he has record capture limitations but suggests the Pro has higher resolution than the base.

AFAIK, nothing of DRS range was mentioned.

Edit: Thick Thighs Save Lives Thick Thighs Save Lives I caught DRS mention in perf mode section when Oliver was playing with camera to the sky. Said that DRS system couldn't keep up with the motion / pace in that moment (dips in the frames).
 
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yogaflame

Gold Member
Off topic: Well on technical side of things, this game gives hope that we might see GTA6 run on 4k/60fps with RT for those looking for RT features on 60fps especially on ps5 pro. But 4k/60 fps with good IQ and physics for GTA6 will suffice for me, I'll be thankful if RT is included but I will not be angry if there is none.
 
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Astray

Member
If this game hits then it's gonna start selling people on the Pro.

Game looks honestly gorgeous in almost every respect.

Guess nobody cares that the fighting animation is really choppy and unfluid then 🤷🏻‍♂️
Always was with Assassin's Creed tbh. Fighting and fighting animations were always the series' Achilles heel.
 

Justin9mm

Member
After reading through this thread, I guess I should feel bad that I will be playing on PS5 and prioritizing performance. It seems like I am always "doing it wrong" these days as a console user who prefers performance.
I mean the Pro is for ppl like you and me wanting best IQ in performance mode, but the price is a hard pill to swallow for some. I bought the Pro day one, Stellar Blade is legit wow, but I really bought it for future titles, obviously this is one of those times where it shines above the rest. This won't be the last. Plus Pro will be the best console to play GTA VI day one regardless if it has a performance mode or not. For me that game alone is worth the upgrade.
 
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rofif

Can’t Git Gud
Off topic: Well on technical side of things, this game gives hope that we might see GTA6 run on 4k/60fps with RT for those looking for RT features on 60fps especially on ps5 pro. But 4k/60 fps with good IQ and physics for GTA6 will suffice for me, I'll be thankful if RT is included but I will not be angry if there is none.
I hope gta is not 60. If it is, they messed up
 

Mr Moose

Member
It seems that the 40fps (balanced) mode in PRo doesn't have RT reflections, only the 30fps (quality) mode. Which goes against what PSblog stated a few days ago.
I don't know what the difference is between performance mode and 40fps if RT reflections isn't one of them. I suppose higher resolution and IQ? I guess DF will say whether this is the case or not because is a rare situation.
Update: A previous version of this article inaccurately stated Balanced Mode would feature Extended Ray Tracing on PS5 Pro. The text has since been updated to correct this.
Ubisoft getting their own info wrong.
 
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I mean the Pro is for ppl like you and me wanting best IQ in performance mode, but the price is a hard pill to swallow for some. I bought the Pro day one, Stellar Blade is legit wow, but I really bought it for future titles, obviously this is one of those times where it shines above the rest. This won't be the last. Plus Pro will be the best console to play GTA VI day one regardless if it has a performance mode or not. For me that game alone is worth the upgrade.

Had the Pro come with an attached disc drive, I would've considered trading in my OG PS5. I do play plenty of games digitally but I am not willing to give up disc media yet, and I am not hunting down a separate drive. I am not a videophile but it is getting frustrating to have to pay for "premium" products to get the best out of a console. It is a nuanced discussion with pros and cons on all sides.
 

Gaiff

SBI’s Resident Gaslighter
Off topic: Well on technical side of things, this game gives hope that we might see GTA6 run on 4k/60fps with RT for those looking for RT features on 60fps especially on ps5 pro. But 4k/60 fps with good IQ and physics for GTA6 will suffice for me, I'll be thankful if RT is included but I will not be angry if there is none.
The game has an internal res of around 1080p in performance mode on the Pro without PSSR. Why would you expect GTA VI to be 4K60 with RT? Based on this game, there's virtually no chance it will even be 1440p upscaled to 4K using PSSR and 60fps with RT, even on the Pro.
 
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Darsxx82

Member
Ubisoft getting their own info wrong.
Yes, another user already pointed out to me that there was an update on PSblog.

It's still rare that the 40fps mode doesn't maintain the same graphic assets as the quality mode and that may even be the reason for the error information.

It would be interesting to know what extras this "balanced" mode offers compared to the same mode on base consoles and maybe compared to the Pro quality mode. Perhaps higher resolution and LOD than the quality mode that has RT reflections?

Also curious that Ubisoft doesn't mention whether or not hair physics are implemented in the different modes, even though this is a notable feature 🤔.
 
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DanielG165

Member
Will definitely be playing this cranked up on PC with my Series X as my secondary, set to Quality mode. The fact that we’re seeing more and more games using RTGI on console is incredible, and that they’re doing so quite well considering how the hardware is now 4.5 years old.

This makes me all the more excited to see how Rockstar will squeeze every last ounce of graphical and computational power out of these machines with GTA 6, even if they’re likely to all run the game at 30 fps, or perhaps 40 with the Pro.
 

lh032

I cry about Xbox and hate PlayStation.
performance pro mode looks incredible, sadly im not gonna play this game like other Ubi gamaes.
 

MikeM

Member
Man I want to see the PC review from DF. Specifically, FSR 3.1 means FSR 4 for us 9000 series owners. Want to see that quality before I splash out on this.
 
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