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Confirmed: Tomb Raider more definitive on PS4

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Xbox One Frame Per Second

We’ve been waiting patiently for Digital Foundry’s performance analysis of the new Definitive Edition of Tomb Raider for the new consoles ever since rumour and speculation said that the game would perform significantly worse on Microsoft’s new console. The results are in, confirming our fears; the Xbox One, as it stands right now, is under-performing.

According to Digital Foundry, the new, 1080p version of last year’s hit game, with fancy new special effect and rezzed up textures is indeed running at 30fps for the most part. According to their analysis though, it drops to as low as 18 frames per second in gameplay. the original reported figure was 24fps, but somebody noticed during one of the videos that it does indeed drop to 18.  That 18 isn’t really indicative of actual performance, and the average frame rate is quite a bit higher.

That doesn’t mean that it’s all sunshine for the PlayStation 4  either though; though it does hit 60fps pretty regularly, it also dips pretty low, hitting 33 fps at its lowest. Still, even at its lowest the PS4 has a performance margin of 88% over its rival.

Here are the average frame rates in gameplay and in cut-scenes.

Gameplay

Both versions seemed to be frame-locked, with the Xbox One capped at 30, and the PS4 capped at 60. Reports from those who’ve played it, say the PS4 version does dip, but remains smooth for the most part. It’s worth mentioning that each version was handled by a different studio.Port factory Nixxes, who did the PC version of the original game handled PC duties, while Sleeping Dogs studio United Games Front handled the Xbox One. So is it possible that the differences are purely down to developer experience, or difficulty in porting?

Well, no. Here’s what Eurogamer says:

“The overall feeling we get from the game is that two different developers handed in two different performance levels, and decisions were made on how best to work with the results. With the PlayStation 4 averaging at 50fps and often hitting 60fps, frame-rate was left unlocked, producing the markedly higher results you see in the tables above.

For Xbox One, we can only speculate, but we suspect that a lower overall performance resulted in even more noticeable judder were the game to remain unlocked – which would look really unattractive compared to the capped 30fps frame-rate we see in the final game.

What’s curious from our perspective is that United Front Games on Xbox One would have benefited from a reasonably straightforward porting process from the original PC DirectX 11 code since both platforms use the same API, while Nixxes would have needed to translate the original PC version across to the PS4’s LibGNM API – not exactly a walk in the park …”

Another development source we reached out to suggests that the DX11 ‘driver’ for the Xbox One still requires a lot of work.

I’m actually genuinely impressed that the PS4 can handle the game, which is essentially the PC version on ultra, with TressFX (though a different implementation of the tech) at pretty good frame rates, regularly hitting 60fops. This early in the generation, it bodes for well for future titles, which will only get better as developers get to grips with the PS4’s LibGNM API.

As far as the Xbox One’s poor performance goes, well that just kinda sucks. It’s not unexpected though, if you’ve been paying attention to the underlying hardware. They’re essentially the same architecture, only one is of lower specification than the other. This sort of gulf was inevitable from the onset, and I believe it’s only going to get worse as the Xbox One’s weaker GPU struggles to keep up with the more forward-thinking implementation in the PS4.

But it’s all about experiences, and the experiences are the same, right? Right?

acceptable

Last Updated: January 28, 2014

58 Comments

  1. Umar Break Dancing Cyborg

    January 28, 2014 at 10:09

    No, the experience is NOT the same, at ALL. Ask anyone who played DmC on console VS PC. Metal Gear Reveangence wouldn’t be the same at 30fps…

    Reply

    • Manoj

      January 28, 2014 at 15:31

    • Manoj

      January 28, 2014 at 15:35

      Exactly…for a game like MGR, 30 FPS would have been a roadblock for raiden’s combat style…especially the last boss fight needed fluidity by all means like I shared above.

      Reply

  2. Alien Emperor Trevor

    January 28, 2014 at 10:10

    Heh, PS4 runs it better than my PC. Time for an upgrade 😉

    Reply

    • Willem Swanepoel

      January 28, 2014 at 10:39

      R7000 for a PC upgrade or a new console ^_^

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        January 28, 2014 at 10:47

        Nah, R3k max for a new gfx card. Rest of the PC is just fine.

        Reply

        • CypherGate

          January 28, 2014 at 11:22

          Until you need to upgrade again for The Witcher 3 😉

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 28, 2014 at 11:32

            That is the upgrade for Witcher 3. I love you Witcher 3!

          • ALKi1234

            January 28, 2014 at 11:40

            Off topic. The guys from Witcher 3 said they are maxing out the new consoles. If the game runs identical on both consoles does that mean it could have been allot better on ps4 and that the Xboxone holding back the ps4 version?If that’s the case, their credibility is out the window.

          • oVg 60fps > 30fps

            January 28, 2014 at 11:53

            Yet no matter how hard they try to match the lowest denominator the PS4 version will happily run at 6ofps.

          • Zubayr Bhyat

            January 29, 2014 at 07:50

            Noticing the same thing in these comparisons. PS4 is really showing its muscle. When will it be maxed out though?

          • Acornbread

            January 28, 2014 at 16:31

            Same here, so glad I got good components. My PC’s nearly 3 years old and the only thing showing it’s age is the graphics card. Can’t wait for that game, actually hoping they delay it so that I have more time to save for a decent upgrade. 😛

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 28, 2014 at 17:34

            Mine turns 3 in a couple of days as well heh.

          • Acornbread

            January 28, 2014 at 17:56

            What graphics card are you running?

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            January 29, 2014 at 07:22

            Radeon 6950

  3. Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

    January 28, 2014 at 10:12

    You know. i thought the point of consoles was to have a standard system where you were guaranteed a certain level of performance. Even if it was at a constant 30FPS.

    The new gen consoles seem to suffer more with frame-rate drops than I would have thought a console would. Certainly more than their previous counterparts.

    Now it’s more like a PC than ever. This is not good news. Yes, the PS4 performs impressively but to go from 60FPS all the way down to 30FPS is a very drastic change and will be noticeable. Jaggy gameplay will be more pronounced and that is defeating the very purpose of console gaming

    Reply

    • Umar Break Dancing Cyborg

      January 28, 2014 at 10:19

      One of my main gripes with console. You would expect steady frames right. WRONG….Read Dead Redemption sends his regards!

      Reply

      • TiMsTeR1033

        January 28, 2014 at 10:32

        RDR on xbox was good

        Reply

        • Umar Break Dancing Cyborg

          January 28, 2014 at 10:33

          Frame rate was really bad though

          Reply

          • TiMsTeR1033

            January 28, 2014 at 10:41

            Did you have it installed?

      • Spathi

        January 28, 2014 at 11:02

        Blight Town joins the fun!

        Reply

    • oVg 60fps > 30fps

      January 28, 2014 at 10:39

      I would expect that back in 2008. But now when 4K TVs are around the corner we can see that the 2 major Gaming consoles are hanging around the lowest common denominator. The cool kids having a fag behind the bicycle shed. While Nintendo is showing off its 1080P 60fps Wind Waker on the ball court with the hot chicks.

      Reply

    • Sentient_slug

      January 28, 2014 at 11:57

      should have played Demon souls. damn, talk about frame rate drops. i agree, console games should not be released like that. rather have jaggy graphics than jaggy framerate. i know thats kinda like saying id rather have herpies than terminal cancer but hey. Herpies for the win i guess.

      Reply

  4. Hammersteyn

    January 28, 2014 at 10:21

    So essentially people are paying more for a console that’s less powerful than the PS4. Why? For the Kinect? For watching TV? For Ryse or Fighter Within? I just don’t get it.

    Reply

    • Umar Break Dancing Cyborg

      January 28, 2014 at 10:23

      I think Fighter Within is the reason…Yup, Fighter Within, that game looks SICKKKKK

      Reply

    • Umar Break Dancing Cyborg

      January 28, 2014 at 10:51

      • Hammersteyn

        January 28, 2014 at 11:00

        Can’t wait for this

        Reply

    • oVg 60fps > 30fps

      January 28, 2014 at 11:27

      Exactly and Microsoft know it. They want the Nintendo Wii demographic. The Casuals is where the money is and the sooner they take over the American living room the sooner they can plug the Smart Glass and all the other Windows 8.888336483 bollocks.
      Microsoft changed the day they revealed the Kinect. Just sad that the success of the XBOX was thanks to the hardcore gamers. Seems that SONY is the last haven for the gamer who enjoys kick ass off line AAA exclusives.

      Reply

  5. oVg 60fps > 30fps

    January 28, 2014 at 10:27

    ONE step behind starting the 22nd of Feb 2013.

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      January 28, 2014 at 10:29

      tee hee

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        January 28, 2014 at 10:31

        Bwahahahaha!

        Reply

      • oVg 60fps > 30fps

        January 28, 2014 at 10:31

        WHAT THE FUCK? Humans used to make cool music??????
        I have been listening to FNB ads on 5fm with all that casio keyboard KUK with some American black rapper featuring another hard ass black rapper for far to long now.

        Reply

  6. Rags

    January 28, 2014 at 10:30

    So the next gen consoles perform like a 3 generation old mid range graphics card like the nvidia 560 you can pick up now second hand for ~R1600. Probably worse if the console versions don’t have AA and AF maxed.

    http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-650-ti-boost-gk106-benchmark,3463-7.html

    Much better to get a Nvidia Shield instead of a console.

    Reply

  7. MichaelMatusowsky

    January 28, 2014 at 10:34

    IS it just me who doesn’t notice the differences in FPS between the two? Like honestly I can’t see the difference O,o

    Reply

    • Willem Swanepoel

      January 28, 2014 at 10:37

      Its more like geek jerk off material. The better the fps the bigger the … hehe yeah

      Reply

    • Rags

      January 28, 2014 at 10:38

      You wont since its recorded at a fixed sampling rate. 🙂

      Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      January 28, 2014 at 10:38

      youtube is capped at 30fps, so it’s impossible to actually see it on youtube.

      Reply

    • Sageville

      January 28, 2014 at 11:37

      The human eye can only differentiate up to about 42 Frames per second, any higher and you won’t be able to tell the difference, I think ideally a platform should deliver a frame rate of about 50 fps while not dipping below that magic 42 fps limit.

      That is the target the industry needs to be heading towards, forget about +100 frame rates, rather focus on limiting the FPS drop to prevent it dipping below 42 fps.

      Reply

      • Acornbread

        January 28, 2014 at 16:27

        Really? I can clearly see a difference between 40 & 60. Above 60, sure, it’s superfluous, but the extra smoothness from 40 to 60 is noticeable. Generally though, I reckon a stable framerate is preferable to one that’s all over the place, even if it goes higher.

        Reply

      • MichaelMatusowsky

        January 28, 2014 at 16:59

        I notice the difference between 60-80 in the games I play. Dat smoothness yo!
        (Difference between V-sync on and off).

        Reply

        • Acornbread

          January 28, 2014 at 17:53

          Do you have a 120Hz monitor? From what I’ve read, your refresh rate limits your frames-per-second, so on a 60Hz monitor, anything above 60 doesn’t make a difference.

          Reply

  8. Rock789

    January 28, 2014 at 10:43

    Honestly can’t wait to get hold of this. Really looking forward to diving in and enjoying the new Tomb Raider experience. 🙂

    Reply

  9. oVg 60fps > 30fps

    January 28, 2014 at 10:46

    You would think a R8000 machine with its MANDATORY fuck cam would be pushing 60fps 1080p at ease. NO?

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      January 28, 2014 at 10:47

      Don’t worry, they’ll patch in extra frames later. 😉

      Reply

      • oVg 60fps > 30fps

        January 28, 2014 at 11:23

        8 Gigs of RAM for LIVE American NFL LOL

        Reply

  10. Pieter Kruger

    January 28, 2014 at 11:06

    So is 1080p 60fps impossible on Xbox One or are the developers just rushing production/ports as it’s obviously more difficult to code for Xbox one?! Do not buy underperforming multiplat games from lazy ass stupid developers! If you do they will keep pushing sub par crap down your throats just like they did with PS3!

    Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      January 28, 2014 at 11:15

      ever think maybe the Xbox One just doesn’t have the power..

      Reply

      • Pieter Kruger

        January 28, 2014 at 11:22

        No…..it’s very capable I’m sure! And also, unlike with the PS3 we have immediate customer feedback these days so we’ll be seeing a big improvement in quality on the Xbox One much sooner than we did on the PS3! ????

        Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      January 28, 2014 at 11:56

      Hahaha….

      http://www.polygon.com/2013/11/12/5095900/digital-foundry-dead-rising-3

      Click on link and see that even the exclusive Dead Rising 3 has only got 720p and running at a capped 30fps… Oh and it also falls below 25 fps….
      So my point is that even the exclusives can’t get enough power to come close to the PS4!!! That is just sad really!!!

      Reply

      • Pieter Kruger

        January 28, 2014 at 12:42

        And thus you are implying that all PS4 exclusives and most multiplats are running at 1080p 60fps locked?? Hahaha….

        Reply

        • Jonah Cash

          January 28, 2014 at 14:12

          Which one of the Xbox exclusives are running at higher than 30fps????? You see what I did there????

          Reply

          • Pieter Kruger

            January 28, 2014 at 14:19

            Forza

          • Jonah Cash

            January 28, 2014 at 14:29

            1 is not bad at all……….

  11. Sageville

    January 28, 2014 at 11:51

    Is this game worth a look on the PS4? I haven’t played a tomb raider since the days of her sharp pyramid boobs.

    Reply

  12. Sentient_slug

    January 28, 2014 at 11:55

    Shit being the playstation fanboy that i am i want to say this is awesome. but will we really notice the difference between 30 and 60 frames? i think it will be one of those things that feels like a sixth sense of greatness. I’m not saying 60 Isn’t better than 30 i just don’t think the Xbox one guys will be losing out on that much really considering all last gen games were run at 30 frames and it never bothered me at all. unless the games dipped to 15. Maybe this will become a problem for xbox gamers later if the low frame rate is indicative of a weaker system but once again there is no stone cold fact here. one article says its weaker but the next says that the developers are still getting used to the xbox and they will improve over time. So gaming journalism is the faulty one running at a low frame rate if you ask me. No offense lazyG I’m talking about the bigger monster that is gaming journalism, not your gaming journalism!.

    Reply

    • oVg 60fps > 30fps

      January 28, 2014 at 12:21

      I understand what you are saying.
      Still, its not very next gen is it? All that money when one can choose the cheaper outperforming console.
      I expect 1080p native games, not up-scaled all running on 60fps. This is next gen.
      People say you cannot tell the difference, well those who played both versions of BF4 will beg to differ.

      Reply

  13. jonam

    January 28, 2014 at 15:26

    “They’re essentially the same architecture, only one is of lower specification than the other. ” and yet they talked so much about how eDRAM would be clear any difference. It seems game after game we keep seeing the same stuff…1080p(PS4) to 720p(Xbone)

    Reply

  14. starcraftisbetterthandotaorlol

    January 29, 2014 at 15:04

    ahaahahahahahahahaahahahahaahahahahahahaahhahahahahahahahahaahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahaha
    Oh the salty tears of those who have been lied to

    Sony does Marketing
    Microsoft does Lies

    Lies like: “the hardware performance difference is very small” and “everyone loves kinect”

    Reply

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