Home Gaming Which console runs Fallout 4 best?

Which console runs Fallout 4 best?

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Fallout4 (6)

Yesterday, reports suggested that Fallout 4 had performance problems on the PlayStation 4. Judging from the videos cited as proof, I personally found the claims a little on the overblown side. The technically-minded chaps at Eurogamer’s Digital Foundry have put the game through its paces on all of its available platforms, and found performance wanting on both consoles. The PC version, they say, is mostly fine.

The game is made to run at 30fps, which it manages most of the time on both machines. Both machines render the game natively at 1080p, with little in the way to distinguish them visually. It’s in framerate where it becomes easier to tell the console versions apart.

Fallout4 (9)

Though both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 seem to struggle in certain areas, and with certain effects, it’s the Xbox One that fares worst.

“All things put into perspective, Fallout 4 does hold 30fps as a general rule, but drops are noticeable. For example, moving between major city areas is a particular strain on the engine, causing PS4 and Xbox One to drop to 20fps in matching spots on the map.

Like clockwork, each platform lurches downward for a spell when passing a threshold in the environment – suggesting assets are being decompressed on the fly for the next location. 30fps is restored relatively quickly on arriving at the next spot, and it’s business as usual from there. However it’s not an ideal setup when these connecting areas are filled with enemies, and controller response suddenly takes a hit – though PS4 holds a frame-rate advantage in matching runs.”

Both consoles run the game well enough, with the PlayStation 4 running it a bit better it seems – but there are bigger issues that hit the Xbox One version. According to Digital Foundry, the Xbox One seems to have an asset streaming problem that sometimes brings the game screeching to a halt. Yes, a complete stop, with the game running at 0fps.

“On top of this, Xbox One is unique in its suffering of a stuttering issue, halting the game experience for up to a second during play. It’s a glaring hitch downward, and matching runs to the gates of Diamond City shows Xbox One dropping to a record 0fps (zero) while PS4 turns the same corner at 28fps. Each has their blips, but having tested two separate Xbox One and PS4 consoles, the results are always the same across the world at large; we get sizeable stutters on Microsoft’s console that aren’t present on PS4.”

Fallout4 (2)

It’s not all sunshine and roses for that platform either though, as heavy firefights bring the PlayStation 4 version to its knees as well.

“While most battles produce a similar overall frame-rate, shootouts involving heavy transparency effects can affect PS4 more negatively than we’d expect. In extreme cases, such as on approaching an early Deathclaw enemy in Concord town, PS4 wavers close to the 20fps line when letting rip on a minigun. Fire, smoke, and blood splatter effects collide, and on re-testing this section several times on both consoles, Xbox One consistently produces a near-unshakable 30fps. It’s possible this is a side-effect of Bethesda’s choice to begin engine optimisations on Xbox One – but even so, PS4’s lengthy stretches at the low 20fps range are out of place, given its advantages in every other area.”

The PC version has its own issues, but for the most part runs well on a wide range of hardware.

“For now though, evidence so far suggests those buying Fallout 4 on console should get an overall smoother experience from PS4. It’s far from perfect, and we have a suspicion re-tests will be due once each machine receives new patches down the line. As ever, we’ll update as new information comes in. Meanwhile, for those with PC as their platform of choice, all the signs look good for a smooth experience even on budget kit. We’re currently putting together an in-depth guide to settings tweaks and recommended setups, so expect that in the next couple of days.”

Last Updated: November 10, 2015

100 Comments

  1. Pieter Kruger

    November 10, 2015 at 08:09

    I see now I’ll have to get this before Feb 2016 to also get Fallout 3 for free. Hopefully it’ll be patched and maybe even mods will be up and running by then?!

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      November 10, 2015 at 08:11

      At least you don’t have to subscribe to access this vault, right? 😉

      Reply

      • Nikola

        November 10, 2015 at 08:13

        XD!

        Reply

      • Pieter Kruger

        November 10, 2015 at 08:19

        At least you have an option to access this vault right? ????

        Reply

  2. Hammersteyn

    November 10, 2015 at 08:13

    No surprises then

    Reply

    • Allykhat

      November 10, 2015 at 08:13

      Took the words right out of my mouth

      Reply

    • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

      November 10, 2015 at 08:14

      😀

      Reply

    • Nikola

      November 10, 2015 at 08:15

      Yip! I am just happy the game actually is not that broken besides the few drops in fps game is very playable from the reviews I saw:)

      Reply

      • miaau

        November 10, 2015 at 08:19

        I must admit to being pleasantly surprised on that score.

        Good on them, releasing a more or less working game

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          November 10, 2015 at 08:20

          Must agree, that was the biggest surprise of them all

          Reply

    • cloudzn

      November 10, 2015 at 17:58

      and this is why they allowing console modding, they make the game 80% complete and the 20% to modders to fix

      Reply

  3. Greylingad[CNFRMD]

    November 10, 2015 at 08:14

    PS4 it is then, I’ll be trading in for it so it’ll at least come at a bit of a discount…

    Reply

  4. miaau

    November 10, 2015 at 08:14

    If I owned the game, the only correct answer would be MY console. Cause I would be playing and having fun.

    So there.

    Witcher 3 had these same issues on Xbox One, as did Skyrim on Xbox 360, that second stutter as you crest a hill (not all of them, but some)

    Reply

  5. Nikola

    November 10, 2015 at 08:14

    *insert some insult about how Xbox One is crap*

    I am getting tired of this;) hahaha

    Reply

    • miaau

      November 10, 2015 at 08:17

      I am getting tired of your getting tired of getting tired of mocking something you, clearly, know NOTHING about. So there.

      Also, is it crap or is it just like crap? These are important facts to know when we insult things like this.

      Reply

      • Nikola

        November 10, 2015 at 08:39

        First of all I know a LOT;) Geez hey not my fault Xbox One is less powerful and under performs in 90% cases comparing to the PS4 ;P But if it’ good enough for you who really cares!

        Hmm tough question there not sure I think it’s like crap not actual crap:)

        Reply

        • miaau

          November 10, 2015 at 08:42

          I meant your knowledge of crap. Good to hear you are an expert. Please do not spread that around. try and keep that contained. 🙂 🙂 🙂

          Ah, fun. Sorry. Or not.

          I am sure you understand PC and System Architecture, that was not in doubt.

          Reply

          • Nikola

            November 10, 2015 at 08:53

            Very aggro today hey! Geez don’t really need to argue over stupid stuff like console wars on the internet people can’t take jokes!

            I am out. Peace.

          • miaau

            November 10, 2015 at 08:58

            Um, are you now teasing me?

            If I came across as aggro (Hmm, first post, a bit aggro, sorry), that was not the intention. I just an opportunity to deliberately misunderstand your point and make it all about crap, not the endless console debate.

            But you are right, I am not in the best frame of mind today, so perhaps all attempts at teasing, joking around and other forms of cat play must cease for the rest of the day.

            Edit*
            “I am out. Peace.”, the last thing I want is that. I enjoy engaging with you and others on silly points, in a light-hearted and fun manner.

          • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

            November 10, 2015 at 08:59

            Your cat is fat, and ugly. Dogs are better.

            😛

          • miaau

            November 10, 2015 at 09:00

            So, the new basset. Yay. At least he did not crap in the room overnight last night! That is great, went out to do it and is only a few weeks old (dunno, like 12 or something)

          • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

            November 10, 2015 at 09:02

            Bassets. Those dogs are really stupid (not meant as an insult, just stating that they are a bit dof)

          • miaau

            November 10, 2015 at 09:04

            Really? Um. Sunday afternoon at park, he got the idea of walking on leash really, really quickly. My wife would walk and randomly changed direction and he learnt, where she walked, he (the dog now) must follow.

            Of course, I followed my little girl around the park, where she walked / ran, I walked / ran.

          • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

            November 10, 2015 at 10:04

            I don’t mean that in an ugly way, walking on a leash is easy etc, I’m just talking about them being dof in a general sense. They ALWAYS need guidance else they do very stupid things

          • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

            November 10, 2015 at 10:21

            Bassets in general, are more hard headed than anything else, we had one which we tried to school, through a proper puppy school nogal, it worked, but bloody hell was it a mission and still, the dog wouldn’t care most of the other times you didn’t apply a stern form of discipline, to the extent that my wife walked out the one day facing him, with a dove, still partly alive, in his mouth, when she shouted at him he swallowed the thing whole…

          • miaau

            November 10, 2015 at 10:42

            Um. Ok.

            I am already a bit upset that we have the dog. Wow. This seems like a fun future for us and the dog.

            I will try to train him, basic commands and hand signals,, He is very food focused, so that helps in training.

          • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

            November 10, 2015 at 11:12

            I find that enforcing you are the alpha over a dog works better than any other training.

          • miaau

            November 10, 2015 at 09:02

            And the Scottish Fold is big boned, dammit!

            Big boned, I tell you. And big fur as well, so thick, so super thick.

          • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

            November 10, 2015 at 08:59

            Y U P!$$ off miaau?

            😛

          • Nikola

            November 10, 2015 at 09:00

            I am soory…..

          • miaau

            November 10, 2015 at 09:01

            Insert laughing here.

            Y NO P!$$ off miaau!

  6. Hammersteyn

    November 10, 2015 at 08:16

    Reply

    • KingKappie

      November 10, 2015 at 08:18

      SO… you will be keeping BO3?

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        November 10, 2015 at 08:19

        • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

          November 10, 2015 at 08:20

          Need I remind you what you told me yesterday?

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            November 10, 2015 at 08:21

            The guys twisted (broke) my arm. I’ll keep it till JC3 launches for now.

            *Le Sigh

          • miaau

            November 10, 2015 at 08:23

            Did they use a crane to twist your arm?

            This is Blops 3, right?

          • Hammersteyn

            November 10, 2015 at 08:25

            hahaha. I promised to play co-op and zombie mode and to at least pretend I’m having a good time.

          • miaau

            November 10, 2015 at 08:26

            actually, I have no idea. I was surprised I somewhat enjoyed my time with Battlefront Beta, so have no clue how playing this game MP is.

          • KingKappie

            November 10, 2015 at 08:26

            I think you should get Fallout. with the drop in frames you might be able to hit the target.

          • Hammersteyn

            November 10, 2015 at 08:31

            ROFL!

          • Jonah Cash

            November 10, 2015 at 08:32

            Hahahahaha (Refresh)

          • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

            November 10, 2015 at 08:58

            [features comment]

            Hahaha, perfect

  7. konfab

    November 10, 2015 at 08:22

    I don’t get the game devs, I would rather have 720p and have a silky smooth experience.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      November 10, 2015 at 08:22

      Agreed.

      Reply

    • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

      November 10, 2015 at 08:23

      But it’s “Next Gen”?

      Reply

    • (Umar) Must be Cipher

      November 10, 2015 at 08:24

      Same here. Smoof 1st.

      Reply

    • oVg

      November 10, 2015 at 08:50

      hear flipping hear.

      Reply

    • WitWolfy

      November 10, 2015 at 10:10

      I blame gamers forcing devs to play their hand and attempting to make all console games 1080P, then turn around and bitch when it stutters like a Skrillex song.

      Reply

  8. VampyreSquirrel

    November 10, 2015 at 08:34

    Is it even possible to get a physical copy of this game for PC in this country?

    Reply

    • miaau

      November 10, 2015 at 08:38

      It would seem, from other posts yesterday, that physical copy is not the entire game, like a 14 gig download or something after the 5 gig from disk

      Actually, check the 14 gig download size, my memory is spotty last few days.

      Reply

      • VampyreSquirrel

        November 10, 2015 at 08:41

        That I don’t mind, a download of 30GB is the issue.

        Reply

        • miaau

          November 10, 2015 at 08:45

          Ah, you on 3g. I remember Neverwinter nights 2. Buy it, come home and watch it update.. 2.5Gig later, on a game of total size 2 gig, I realised each auto update WAS the previous plus, but it auto updated….

          R2k bill to Vodacom, cause wife and I thought internet would stop when cap was reached…. oops.

          I feel you.

          Reply

          • VampyreSquirrel

            November 10, 2015 at 08:54

            Haha, I’m on LTE actually as there’s no other option where I’m staying at the moment.

            I’ll track down someone in JHB/PTA that has downloaded all the game files and go leech from them XD

          • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

            November 10, 2015 at 08:57

            I’ll tell you what.

            Buy me the game. I’ll download AND deliver the install files to you. I’ll even bring a few beers so that we can discuss, things and whatnot

          • VampyreSquirrel

            November 10, 2015 at 08:59

            Lol!!! You’re so funneh!!!!

          • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

            November 10, 2015 at 08:59

            I’ll drop it off, I promise. Unless you stay in Benoni or Brakpan, then NO DEAL

        • Simon

          November 10, 2015 at 13:44

          Got in on the go at the moment, 19 GB needs to be downloaded (5.2 GB comes on disc) just watching it tick by, *sigh* why didn’t they put more of it on disk

          Reply

          • VampyreSquirrel

            November 10, 2015 at 14:37

            Thanks man!

    • Captain JJ the Goo

      November 10, 2015 at 08:41

      Quite a number of places was selling it.
      Got mine from CNA.

      Reply

      • VampyreSquirrel

        November 10, 2015 at 08:42

        What did you pay for it, if I may ask?

        Reply

        • Captain JJ the Goo

          November 10, 2015 at 08:43

          R400

          Reply

          • VampyreSquirrel

            November 10, 2015 at 08:43

            Let me know what the download size is later? Please? 🙂

          • Captain JJ the Goo

            November 10, 2015 at 08:45

            Will do. It’s being delivered to a friend’s house (we bought two to save on delivery costs), and he’s downloading with his fiber line, so I should be good to go soon 😀

  9. Captain JJ the Goo

    November 10, 2015 at 08:39

    I’m imagining watching a video with comparisons and still being biased about pc.
    #noYouTube

    Reply

  10. Greylingad[CNFRMD]

    November 10, 2015 at 08:42

    There is a fine line between optimisation and visual fidelity, both of these are dependant on the quality of an engine that produces them, by now, we all should know that Bethesda try their best to deliver both, but they’ve always balanced more to the visual fidelity side, even though Fallout has never been about it’s graphics, it’s nice to see them try…

    Reply

  11. oVg

    November 10, 2015 at 08:48

    Thats shit. The frame rate should always be locked like Destinys 30fps. It feels smooth and partly the reason why people say they cant tell the difference between 30 and 60. Keep it locked, even if it means bringing the the res down to 900p like in Assassins Creed Syndicate.

    Gameplay = Framerate over Graphics = resolution should be standard in this day and age, otherwise its un-emmersive.

    Reply

    • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

      November 10, 2015 at 09:06

      Thing is though, a game won’t have that level of immersion if all of the characters looked like clay dolls, even at 1080p, having a higher frame rate means that you have to switch off things like light bloom, god rays, dense fog, shaders etc. each of these contribute to what we see as enhanced/immersive game attributes…

      Reply

      • oVg

        November 10, 2015 at 09:17

        I don’t mind mannequin looking characters like Dragon Age, its things like snapping in and out of sniper mode and having to deal with a massive frame drop while doing so and learning how to compensate, that sucks.

        Esspecially after 250 hours spent in MGSV. Thats why its my GOTY, gameplay could not be any better than that.

        Reply

        • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

          November 10, 2015 at 10:26

          I plonked way too much time into MGSV, and yes, it does make a massive difference when your gunplay is affected by the games’ capability to hold that 30/60fps, but it’s also something we could expect from this engine, it doesn’t look like that of TW3 for instance, it doesn’t look like the FOX engine either, but it’s the one that Bethesda loves to use…

          Reply

  12. oVg

    November 10, 2015 at 08:57

    Lets wait and see if the frame rate drops to 5fps like the Ps3 version of Skyrim after 80hours. When the save file got to 8mb it revealed a memory leak rendering the game unplayable.

    Reply

  13. Timmy_The_Good_Troll

    November 10, 2015 at 08:59

    Please can someone find out how much you have to download for the PC version if you got the retail copy. Thanks

    Reply

    • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

      November 10, 2015 at 09:00

      I think 30GB

      Reply

      • oVg

        November 10, 2015 at 09:00

        dafuq?

        Reply

      • Timmy_The_Good_Troll

        November 10, 2015 at 09:01

        Seriously!

        Reply

      • SargonTheRebornBatpanda

        November 10, 2015 at 09:01

        Wow. That’s a big number. Bigger than the pirated download of the game itself. Not that I’d know anything about that of course. I bought my copy.

        Reply

      • miaau

        November 10, 2015 at 09:10

        Whatever happened to clever compression? You would download a 5 gig game and it would be a 12 Gig game? I know a lot of the media is already compressed, similar to JPG technology, but sheesh, all of it?

        Reply

      • VampyreSquirrel

        November 10, 2015 at 09:11

        It’s apparently closer to 20GB… I can’t find any confirmed reports of the download size :/

        Reply

        • Simon

          November 10, 2015 at 13:50

          Yo dude dropped a comment to you above, 19 GB

          Reply

      • Timmy_The_Good_Troll

        November 10, 2015 at 09:38

        Is there a way to license the game on one PC, and download the patch on another PC, and then copy the download to the licensed one. Thanks

        Reply

        • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

          November 10, 2015 at 10:05

          Jip, Steam download, then backup the install files, copy to other pc and install off the backup files

          Reply

          • Timmy_The_Good_Troll

            November 10, 2015 at 10:05

            Thanks

    • Alessandro Barbosa

      November 10, 2015 at 09:49

      Retail copy only as around 5GB of the total 24GB download. Busy watching my Steam download the rest right now

      Reply

      • Timmy_The_Good_Troll

        November 10, 2015 at 09:50

        Thanks.

        Reply

    • Simon

      November 10, 2015 at 13:48

      For those who want to know I’ve got it downloading atm, 5.2 GB comes on the disc, another 19GB needs to be downloaded to make up a total of 24 GB, current estimates of my download 20 hours from now, why Bethesda

      Reply

  14. SargonTheRebornBatpanda

    November 10, 2015 at 08:59

    All I took from this is that PC WINS AGAIN! 😀

    Reply

    • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

      November 10, 2015 at 09:00

      ^This guy

      xD

      Reply

    • Kromas untamed

      November 10, 2015 at 09:03

      PC only loses when either Sony or MS pays Ubisoft to gimp the PC version.

      #Watch_Dogs #Neverforget

      Reply

  15. miaau

    November 10, 2015 at 09:11

    Why is Lords of the Fallen, a game that looked pretty ok graphically, coming in at just over 5gig download? I think they did a lot with a little space (not played it yet, but seen it played and read several reviews and whatnot)

    Do these games, Mordor, WC3, DA:I, need to be 35Gb plus?

    Reply

  16. Frik van der Hewerskink

    November 10, 2015 at 09:59

    30FPS, sucks that I have played on pc all my life, I will never be able to go down to 30FPS O.o

    Reply

  17. WitWolfy

    November 10, 2015 at 10:07

    So over hyped game is over hyped?

    Reply

  18. Gardos

    November 10, 2015 at 10:29

    Is anyone excited for Just Cause 3? I’ve never played one of them but it looks like pure childish (in a good way) fun! That’s all I came here to say.

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      November 10, 2015 at 10:37

      JC2 was a ton of silly fun, so I’m keen to see what happens with 3.

      Reply

    • Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja

      November 10, 2015 at 11:09

      As Trev said, JC2 was ridiculous amounts of fun. I spent HOURS just messing around instead of doing missions

      Reply

  19. Deceased

    November 10, 2015 at 10:30

    Ai … ai … ai … 🙁

    #theyllneverlearn ?

    Reply

  20. Guava_Eater

    November 10, 2015 at 11:52

    I wonder if the tests on Xbone were done with the new Windows 10 UI

    Reply

  21. E Seminolus

    November 10, 2015 at 16:13

    So the Xbone version gets an in-game screenshot viewer? That’s not fair. Hahahas

    Reply

  22. Effects

    November 10, 2015 at 17:06

    I’m running the game on pc. 860m gpu Intel i7 n no matter what setting I put the game on it just feels laggy still. Not smooth at all. Don’t know where I’m going wrong because it’s running at 50+ fps on medium but still feels laggy n glitchy. Annoying making me not want to play it.

    Reply

  23. a_no_n

    November 11, 2015 at 10:12

    *Rides in on his vast hovering PC, his thinning hair blowing majestically in the wind*
    “Filthy console peasants.” He bellows obnoxiously into the air at the gathered hordes looking upward.

    “you will not know fallout 4 untill you have played Fallout 4 on the infinate capabilities of a master race PC.”
    *Hovers off, leaving the masses to continue their futile conversation*

    Reply

  24. Nachopinion

    November 11, 2015 at 15:42

    This game has turned my perception of my PS4 from a game console to the Fallout machine. lol

    Reply

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