Face-Off: Alien: Isolation

Judging by PC results on lower-end hardware, it doesn't seem outside the realms of possibility for the PS4 - and to a lesser extent the Xbox One - to deliver something closer to a 60fps experience given the benefits of closed-box optimisation. So what could be the limiting factor on consoles? Perhaps the low-power AMD CPU cores are to blame.

[Evo21]

"Performance is obviously the deciding factor here and it's clear PS4 has a distinct advantage. As such the PS4 game gets our recommendation for console owners ..."

[starchild]

Ok, good, this comparison brings to light the fact that two versions of a multiplatform game can have the same resolution and target framerate and still not have parity between them.

A mind-blowing concept, I know.

People freaking out about the AC Unity resolution parity issue should keep this in mind.

[Eonjay]

Except when a Director tells you he enfoeced parity, believe him. What in the actual heck. They came out and said it. This isn't a conspiracy.

[starchild]

No thank you, I don't believe everything everybody says. Otherwise I'd be believing I will soon be enjoying AC Unity on my PS4 at 1080p/60fps, since a Ubisoft dev said that too.

Devs sometimes say stupid things, as we all do, and I'm always going to use my own judgement to decide whether something makes sense or not. When I heard Unity would be 1080p/60fps on PS4 I didn't believe it for a second because what I know about the hardware and graphics tech led me to believe that it would be nearly impossible.

Likewise, when this other Ubisoft guy said they aimed for the same spec to avoid debates it didn't ring true to me. I don't know why he said it, but I'm guessing that in the moment he thought it sounded like a good thing to say. I don't believe that that is the fundamental reason.

And even if there was some grain of truth to what he was saying, what was he referring to exactly? Which specs was he referring to? Just the resolution and framerate? Or total graphical parity across the board?

Maybe for their game they thought it better to have parity in resolution and target framerate, but allow each console to perform to their abilities in other areas. It's just another approach. We've seen the same approach with games like Alien Isolation and Destiny. There's nothing that says extra graphics horsepower has to be used exclusively to increase resolution.

[internationterrorist]

star advice to starchild@

You read the article and say that it not parity because the PS4 version is has superior preformance to the x1 version and so might AC.U.

But I read the article and it scream of more Parity in Aliens isolation.

Digitalfoundry " Judging by PC results on lower-end hardware, it doesn't seem outside the realms of possibility for the PS4 - and to a lesser extent the Xbox One - to deliver something closer to a 60fps experience given the benefits of closed-box optimisation. So what could be the limiting factor on consoles?"

P.S
The PS4 version again far superior quality vs X1. X1 fans have dreams of parity. But the fact are that is is impossible to get parity against superior hardware. 50% more GPU cores advantage will never disappear. My advice to you x1 fans don't focus on parity or pray for parity. Just enjoy x1 exclusives and x1 inferior 3d party multi platform games.

even though we're left with the nagging feeling that 60fps should have been possible on Sony's hardware based on the game's PC showing.

[starchild]

@ internationterrorist

I'm not an Xbox fanboy. I don't even own an Xbox One. I'm first a PC gamer and second a PS4 gamer. I am only expressing my point of view of what I believe to be the truth. You guys always jump to such conclusions whenever someone disagrees with your cult-like ignorant opinions.

So now you are going to claim Alien Isolation was purposely held back on PS4? You guys get more and more absurd each day.

The PS4 version is superior to the Xbox One version. Are you really telling me that the developers purposely made both the Xbox One version and PS4 version of their game run and look worse than it could have? If you honestly believe that, you don't have the slightest clue about game development. No developer would do that.

Game developers take pride in their work and they want their games to be the best they can realistically be (given budget and time constraints). Nobody would purposely gimp their game, especially since it would likely result in lost sales on both platforms.

If the PS4 were truly capable of running this game at 60fps it would mean that the Xbox One version could easily run at an average of 45fps if not higher, which would have meant they could have achieved a locked 30fps on the XB1 without any problem. Since we know that the XB1 version is running below 30fps much of the time, with screen tearing to boot, the only explanation in your scenario is that they gimped the PS4 version AND XB1 version.

But this doesn't make sense. Why would they make both versions of their game crappier than they could have been? Why would they purposely cripple both of their console versions? They would have a whole lot to lose and virtually nothing to gain.

To go from 30fps to 60fps requires literally double the performance from the hardware, but the PS4 is NOT twice as powerful as the XB1. It's somewhere between 0% and 50% more powerful than the XB1 depending on where the demand on the hardware is and what the bottlenecks are. So if the Xbox One version is struggling to maintain 30fps, even in the best case scenario of the PS4 having a 50% hardware advantage, that would still only allow the PS4 version to hit around a 40 to 45 fps average framerate, assuming the PS4 version didn't have other graphical advantages, which is does.

Again, this makes no sense. The PS4 version IS superior to the Xbox One version so it's not like gimping the PS4 version would be any favor to the Xbox One. The Xbox One version has several negatives and is inferior to the PS4 version anyway.

The PS4 version mostly runs at 30fps, except in more demanding areas, and the main issue with its framerate are very large frame latency spikes. This means that certain frames require an inordinately long amount of time to be delivered, thus resulting in a pause or hitch in the game's framerate.

To think that they purposely built this issue into the PS4 version is an absurd proposition. It's clearly an issue with a stall somewhere in the pipeline. Some weak link in the hardware is not able to keep up with a consistent frame delivery.

Some of you need to realize that both consoles have fairly weak CPUs and neither have the most ideal memory architecture. Having to use the ESRAM on XB1 or the graphics oriented GDDR5 on PS4 is not ideal for all scenarios. It's understandable that some games, depending on their design, are going to be limited by these CPUs and memory architectures.

[starchild]

We've seen such stuttering not only in Alien Isolation, but also in games like Thief, which again was noticeably superior on the PS4.

It's ridiculous to say that the developers purposely did it for parity, because the games are not on par in the first place. No, what's really going on is that these consoles have limits and bottlenecks that some game engines work better with than others.

I do agree that developers of all games should do whatever it takes, even if it means paring back the visuals from what they had originally planned, in order to at least maintain a solid 30fps, without significant frame drops or screen tearing, on both consoles. Then allow each console to achieve whatever they can from there in terms of other graphical elements and resolution.

[moegooner88]

Good to know will hopefully pick up the PS4 version at some point, heard great things about the game. Reminds me a bit of Nemesis " chasing " me in RE3.

[Benjammin25]

It's great. There's a few minor pacing issues here and there but apart from that, I have no problem giving the game an 8 or a 9.

[kalimero2]

Good job SONY! Another multiplat superior on PS4

[Perjoss]

You should mention Creative Assembly as they are the ones that actually made the game. But yeah Sony did a great job too with the console for sure.

[MasterCornholio]

"As such the PS4 game gets our recommendation for console owners, even though we're left with the nagging feeling that 60fps should have been possible on Sony's hardware based on the game's PC showing."

WTF?

I hope that isn't true though because it would stink knowing that the devs could have done more with the PS4 if they ignored parity.

Anyways I thought there was something strange with the cutscenes from the streams that I watched and I'm glad that Digital Foundary explained the issue in the article.

[TWB]

No, they meant that based on GPU specs, the PS4 should have been able to reach 60 FPS (when compared to similar GPUs on PC) but for some reason it does not. This might be due to weak CPU and how the engine uses/requires CPU power.

CPU in PS4 is either way only marginaly more powerful than PS3s PPU and CELL (some say its actually weaker than CELL, I dont know for sure though)

So yeah, CPUs are pretty weak in both PS4 and XB1 which may limit them in many games. Both, PS4 and XB1 could possibly have reached rock solid 30 FPS during gameplay if the CPUs were only little stronger.

Atleast this is what Im getting from the article.

[slasaru01]

Wow, wow, wow, they never judged by performance last gen.
Even when ps3 had framerate issues and longer load times and popups, and especially screen tearing, they never put it as minus. What hypocrites, gosh

[DVS-Zev]

not true at all actually.Many times, many sites, gave the "you should buy 360 version" nod.Even for such simple things like better shades of grass.

And i remember xbox fanboys chest thumping and flag waving like it was the be all end all situation lol

How the times have changed.Shame none of that matters anymore to certain people.I would be very interested to hear their thoughts on all these recent multiplats :(

[hello12]

As such the PS4 game gets our recommendation for console owners, even though we're left with the nagging feeling that 60fps should have been possible on Sony's hardware based on the game's PC showing.

Really? In comparison, both consoles target 30fps as the target frame-rate, although neither manages to solidly stick to it under load. Performance is mostly stable on PS4 with frame-rates incurring a light drop in combat, but the action remains v-synced at all times, so we never encounter any tearing.

How can you get 60fps if that's happening seriously you should be getting zero drops at 30fps.

X BOX 1 version is 1080p native, so its obvious frame rate is getting effected by the jump.

Honest feedback goes along way DF and stop blowing smoke up peoples you know where!

[Allsystemgamer]

Why should it be able to run at 60 you ask?

My damn laptop runs it at 1080p averaging around 70fps! That's why!

[PCBOX]

Oh my God they say PS4 should get 60fps with this game where diy you pull this from DF? Those guys are extreme PS4 fanboys. Destiny performed better on XO but they said PS4 better, on their own video you can clearly see that XO performs better. FIFA15 look better on XO their self showed it with their video but they told PS4 version is better. If I were them wouldnt publish a video because what they say is completely reverse what thet show. They put their selves in to fool position. Now when everything is the same with XO they say but PS4 performs better. Sold people sad.

Another proof is they lately admitted that the PS4 version of Diablo III had hiccups like on XO on several places but we tested XO version hard to find everything out.Look at their video they hide those hiccups of PS4 version.Bravvooo bravvvooo DF keep moving.No more words.I am pretty sure if another tech guru site do reviews,do say completely the reverse.

[Gamer4life888]

....sarcasm or just retarded? i can't tell..

[CernaML]

It really is a sad and pathetic sight isnt it?

[CernaML]

Somebody call the waaahhhmbulance.

You can delude yourself all you want. The PS4 is the go to console for superior multiplatform titles. Your amount of crying wont change that. :)

Your pathetic attempts at making DF out to be biased towards Sony falls flat on its face when this same article shows that the 360 version is superior to the PS3 version.

Stay delusional, xpuppet.

[Allsystemgamer]

Were you born from an Xbox? What is wrong with you people!

My civic is faster than your camaro because you do the speed limit too!

It SHOULD be 60fps given the ps4s card is pretty muh equivalent to a 7850! My laptop with a GTX780m runs this game on ultra at 1080p OVER 60fps. THAT is why. Not because you deluded fanboys think one sight prefers the OBVIOUSLY more powerful machine.

[Letthewookiewin]

The PS4 is the best. Sorry go cry now.

[MCTJim]

This game has so many mixed reviews...think I will wait to buy it used. So if I dont like it, I can return it and get my money back.

[Allsystemgamer]

90% of the reviews are above 80

[MCTJim]

only be a week or two till I can get it used at Gamestop.

[higgins78]

This puts the whole Wii U 'underpowered' saga into perspective. So, the PS4 is so powerful that it's running games at an inconsistent 30fps - which is what comes from being a console wanting to run every game under the sun. Meanwhile, the Wii U has less games but what it does have (particularly exclusively) run and looks on par with its 'rivals'. Keep your DriveClub and Resistance...make mine a Bayonetta 2 and Smash Bros.

[internationterrorist]

There this little thing called parity maybe you have heard of it. Developers are going for Parity between PS4 and x1. I think that Aliens isolation PS4 frame rate is just more Parity from the developers. PS4 can run the game at 1080P 60fps but x1 can't so the developer gimps the PS4 version . So not to upset the x1 fans base. Just read the comments and see how upset tbe xbox fan are because the PS4 version preforms better at the same resolution. The same xbox fan have a bigger problem with the PS4 with in higher resolution or higher frame rates than the x1 version. So game developers are feeling pressured to make both PS4 and x1 version of the multi platform games the same. But that's hard because the PS4 has 50 % more GPU cores than X1. Half of x1 games are below 1080P . Only 2 games Watchdogs and Battlefield 4 are 900p on PS4.

I Like Nintendo but their games are targeted for children. But I still love The Legend of Zelda.

[higgins78]

While Nintendo (and their games) may (or may not) be targeted at children, doesn't mean they are for children - any more than videogames in general. This gen we have Wonderful 101, Tropical Freeze, Bayonetta 2, Pikmin 3, certainly not games 'children' will get on well with...and in truth, its games like GTA, COD and likewise which seem to more on children's playlists these days.

[Father__Merrin]

this looks like a surprising good game