Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 has been out for nearly two weeks – which in the realm of AAA videogames is forever ago. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve played of it so far, but like just about everything else in my life (Other games, eating, personal hygiene, sleep) it’s taken a backseat to Fallout 4.
If you’re one of the fortunate folk who rock multiple platforms and you’re still keen on picking the game up, you may be at odds about which version of the game to pick up. Often, the PC version of the game it’s the one that’s best – offering better resolutions, better visual fidelity and better frame rates. Not this time though. At least, not for the moment.
Eurogamer’s Digital Foundry has put all three of the worthwhile versions of the game through their stringent tests, and found that, surprise! it’s the PlayStation 4 version that they recommend.
In truth, none of the versions of the game is particularly technically impressive – with dynamic resolutions muddying things up the PS4 and Xbox One. The console versions manage something mostly resembling parity
Treyarch is keen to push back technical boundaries for this franchise, and as a result we see PS4 and Xbox One versions matching the PC game with many of the highest settings enabled across much of the presentation. This delivers a lavish visual spectacle that certainly impresses during the series’ extravagant set-pieces, but it also means that the engine often struggles to deliver anything approaching a solid frame-rate. There’s not much in it in terms of performance between consoles, but the PS4 manages to carve out an advantage during the campaign with its consistently higher resolution – often native 1080p – while things are less rosy on the Xbox One, where the more aggressive dynamic framebuffer implementation can have a serious impact on image quality.
Thankfully, the multiplayer manages to stay mostly locked at its intended 60fps – but the version you opt for mostly comes down to where your friends are.
Multiplayer is the saving grace for the game on both platforms. While resolution drops below the intended 900p on Xbox One, both consoles regularly achieve a slick 60fps experience with noticeable drops limited to explosive scenes. The PS4 version comes out ahead on the basis of providing a higher resolution, but the series’ fast-paced twitch shooting still works well on Xbox One. In that respect the Sony platform has an overall advantage, but if you primarily play online, the Xbox One version is still a solid choice if that’s the platform where your friends are. Activision’s marketing priorities have changed – and PS4 also has the advantage of getting DLC content ahead of other platforms.
The big surprise (or perhaps not, given how poorly PC versions of Call of Duty have been of late) is that you’ll need bleeding edge equipment to keep up with the consoles, and super computers to surpass them. That’s largely down to a lack of decent optimisation though, and it’s a situation that could improve with time. With the low install bases on PC though, I wouldn’t hold my breath too long.
The PC version powers past the console releases in terms of the raw feature-set, but the graphical upgrade while running in 1080p is actually smaller than expected, with PS4 in particular coming very close in several areas. Optimisation also appears a little lacking here, and hitting solid 60fps while completely eclipsing console level visuals in areas aside from raw resolution isn’t easy without utilising some high-end kit. And even there, the frequent stutter often distracts. Those using lower-end hardware are likely to struggle – and that’s a real disappointment, bearing in mind how accomplished Advanced Warfare operated even on budget-orientated PC hardware. In theory, it’s the PC version that should be the preferred platform for Black Ops 3, but it doesn’t quite feel like quite the finished article – right now, it feels like PS4 offers the best experience without having to spend a fortune on hardware.
Last Updated: November 19, 2015
Nikola
November 19, 2015 at 14:04
Well we all knew this which game is not the best on PS4;)
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 19, 2015 at 14:07
You speaking Albanian again?
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 14:15
????2016????
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 19, 2015 at 14:16
I’m getting my fawr in 2016?
Thanks Prof, I’ll make a note of your contribution in my memoirs
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 14:19
XD
RinceThis
November 19, 2015 at 14:18
????2016????
RinceThis
November 19, 2015 at 14:13
Stop bullying the PS4!
Darren Peach
November 19, 2015 at 14:28
Tomb Raider ?
honais
November 19, 2015 at 15:07
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oVg
November 19, 2015 at 14:59
Lara can Raid Mars for all I care 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2015 at 14:08
“Often, the PC version of the game it’s the one that’s bes6 – offering better resolutions, better visual fidelity and better frame rates. Not this time though. At least, not for the moment.”
Is that typo intentional irony or unintentional?
RinceThis
November 19, 2015 at 14:14
Hey, at least he found a number. Why can’t you be happy for him?!
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2015 at 14:20
Be happy for someone else? Have you forgotten to take your medication again?
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 14:21
He has new friends that abuses him only half the time
RinceThis
November 19, 2015 at 14:21
bwahahahahah
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2015 at 14:22
Then they’re not really his friends. :/
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 14:24
At least he’s nice then
RinceThis
November 19, 2015 at 14:25
Get in the corner!
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2015 at 14:33
….
RinceThis
November 19, 2015 at 14:39
GOOD!
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 19, 2015 at 14:42
You guys are so cute when you argue, like an old couple!
RinceThis
November 19, 2015 at 14:21
I thought, I… Thought you had changed man…
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2015 at 14:24
You’re hallucinating as well?
RinceThis
November 19, 2015 at 14:24
Sorry! WOMAN! bwahahaha 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2015 at 14:29
…
RinceThis
November 19, 2015 at 14:34
hahahahaha!
Generic ZA
November 19, 2015 at 14:17
Is it not a bit early for FBFD ;P
RinceThis
November 19, 2015 at 14:19
lol
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 14:20
There is no debate
Generic ZA
November 19, 2015 at 14:31
*sulks
Why did you have to reply with logic?
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 14:31
XD sorry
Pieter Kruger
November 19, 2015 at 14:21
Maybe on single player, but not multi player because………..PSN!
Darren Peach
November 19, 2015 at 14:23
PSN works very well for COD. Always find games with all my bars at the max. But other games, Eish bru…but Eish.
James Anderton
November 19, 2015 at 14:21
So, I think the better question is: Is anyone actually playing BO3?
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 14:23
More people than Battlefront
James Anderton
November 19, 2015 at 14:30
I think Battlefront is going to do just fine. It’s a shooter marketed and made to bleed the casual audience dry.
Like Candy Crush, but in an FPS format.
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 14:31
And like Candy Crush it gets old fast for the non casuals?
James Anderton
November 19, 2015 at 14:32
It’s like you’re in my head.
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 14:32
lol
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 19, 2015 at 14:33
First the duck thing, now this.
I think I’ve had enough interwebz for today…
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
November 19, 2015 at 14:36
Yoh, that duck thing…. I’m not sure I’ll ever get that image out of my head…
Darren Peach
November 19, 2015 at 14:24
I am. All the time. Fragging the crap out of school kids is fun. Child abuse I suppose…. 😉
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 14:26
I muted everyone by default. Listening to them makes me feel even worse for playing COD
RinceThis
November 19, 2015 at 14:26
Shame, are they using strong words again? 0_O
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 14:29
I’m not even black O_o
RinceThis
November 19, 2015 at 14:29
Are you more Ops, or is that a personal question? tehehe
Darren Peach
November 19, 2015 at 14:30
I logged into a match late last night and I heard a withering comment about my joining the match, Oh no, Joepeach is here, We’re fucked ( Dripping in sadistic sarcasm ). O booi, I fucked em up good…..They all left.
RinceThis
November 19, 2015 at 14:32
Good boy!
Mossel
November 19, 2015 at 14:55
That’s what’s really strange for me with regards to consoles. There aren’t really kids on PC with random banter.
Darren Peach
November 19, 2015 at 15:01
It’s more a joke than anything. But there are many young ones playing COD. Don’t get me started on the clans. Run together in packs and gang up on you…. Elderly abuse. had a match where I kept running into a group of three or four campers. On the flip side, Sometimes I sneak up behind the sods and get 5 quick frags.
Mossel
November 19, 2015 at 15:07
hahaha! Yes that’s the best! Knifing those flippen campers! I’m still on the fence on this. To buy or not to buy?
Darren Peach
November 19, 2015 at 15:11
It’s very different to Advanced Warfare. I dig it but I can only stomach a certain amount until I get sick of it every day. I haven’t played much of the single player campaign. I would recommend it if you are a huge COD fan. But the main reason I play it cause it’s the only game where I get very good ping. Honestly, I would rather not recommend it at face value, only to save you from regretting your choice.
Darren Peach
November 19, 2015 at 14:27
Yep, The smorgasbord of kiff Souff effrican accents makes me wanna cry……
Generic ZA
November 19, 2015 at 14:30
Sigh, Shooti … I mean silencing the squeakers, that is more of a public service than a crime 😀
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
November 19, 2015 at 14:32
So much like Arkham Knight then?
oVg
November 19, 2015 at 14:51
Are people even playing anything other than Fallout?
James Anderton
November 19, 2015 at 14:55
I’ve been playing StarCraft 2 and Guild Wars 2… while ALSO playing Fallout
People can play more than 1 game at a time you know.
oVg
November 19, 2015 at 14:57
Not according to the posts on reddit. A very good litmus test of whats trending in popular culture. Every single post is of Fallout. and some fucking amazing stuff. Normally its GTAV and COD gifs.
oVg
November 19, 2015 at 14:58
http://imgur.com/a/KNyqR
Guild
November 19, 2015 at 15:13
Never heard of it. Must be kak