Hellblade 2 Runs At Dynamic Resolution On Xbox Series X|S, 60 FPS Mode Not Supported

Hellblade 2 will run at a dynamic resolution on Xbox Series X|S, and the console version will not support a 60 fps mode.

[darthv72]

It seems like the console version could support a 40fps mode though... if they add 120hz support.

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

You make a good point. I think 40 FPS options will become more common once 120hz TVs become more standardized.

[GamerRN]

I've already seen 40fps modes utilized in great ways, and I'll tell you, the difference is greater than you'd expect. 40fps is playable, I didn't feel 30fps is playable anymore...

[Mr Logic]

@GamerRN

That's because 40fps is the midway point between 30 and 60 based on frametime.

[Einhander1972]

That's conjecture on your part, you don't even know if the game can hold 30 FPS yet.

[darthv72]

Its looking more and more like it was a design decision. which is to say they only wanted everything set to the best quality while providing that 'cinematic' experience of an epic big budget movie. How many big theatrical movies do you know that are 60fps?

Ive played the first game at 60 and while it makes things faster... it also breaks the mood and flow of the game. so I set it back to quality mode where it just feels better. Its not GoW... so its okay that it is slower paced.

[Alos88]

@darthv72 You're trying to turn 30fps into some kind of positive when in reality it's just that the devs couldn't hit 60 consistently. There's a difference between saying 60 isn't needed and trying to gaslight people into believing it's some kind of win for the game.
And that's the other thing- games aren't films. Where 28fps is fine for films we've long since moved on from 30 being the standard here.

[Doomeduk]

If my aunty had nuts she could have been my uncle

[Cockney]

I'm open to being corrected here but I'm pretty sure that only Sony have gone the 40fps route so far, I see little evidence that they'll even entertain the thought

[Fishy Fingers]

Welcome to actual UE5 gaming on the current gen.

Less impressive looking and less feature rich UE5 games are already running at an internal 720p to hit 60fps.

[Einhander1972]

If only we had a 33.5 tf console to to run all these graphically demanding games.

[GamerRN]

And if only we had a 33.5tf console without CPU bottlenecks...

[Rohifaf]

Which console is 33.5Tf?

[wiz7191]

@Einhander lol go ahead and buy into that lie with that 33TF thing and be highly disappointed when it comes out ..

[jznrpg]

Downplaying a better console when you fell for the Beast.

[-Foxtrot]

What’s the point of the Series X being the worlds most powerful console if they are clearly just going to be held back by the Series S…and you know for a fine fact that’s the real reason why.

[darthv72]

The S isnt holding it back... there is no fidelity or performance parity in use here. If anything, if it did offer a performance mode they would push for that on the X while keeping the S in its singular quality mode like other games have done. This is more of a CPU issue than a GPU one.

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

Hellblade 2 seems like it will be much heavier on the GPU side than the CPU side.

[Obscure_Observer]

"What’s the point of the Series X being the worlds most powerful console if they are clearly just going to be held back by the Series S…and you know for a fine fact that’s the real reason why."

One real and also interesting fact, is that there wasn´t nothing holding the PS5 back to harm Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart´s development. I remember how some PS fans used to scream at the top of their lungs how that game is a true next gen game only possible on PS5 and blah blah blah.

And now we know that game (among many other Playstation games on PC) can run even on the Steam Deck which is weaker then the Series S.

It is what it is.

[purple101]

runs on steam deck you say: https://www.youtube.com/sho...

[dveio]

Wait a minute.

Didn't DF debunk all of those "R&C could run on PS4/without SSD" comments because they've tested it with various settings?

Just asking. Not stating.

[StoneTitan]

ahahahahaha @purple101 nice one, Obscure you got owned right there :D
It is what it is ahahahahahaha

[solideagle]

@purple I think youtube one doesn't use the SteamDeck's SSD rather micro SD card which obviously will be slower.

[Elda]

R&C:RA runs flawlessly on the PS5, it does not on the Steamdeck

[RNTody]

There's a difference between running and running the way the developer intended. Batman Arkham Knight and Mortal Kombat 1 "run" on the Nintendo Switch, but clearly at a cost. Ratchet and Clank runs on Steamdeck, but you're outputting at 720fps with reduced image quality and no raytracing. So it's impressive, absolutely, but don't sit there and act like it's 1 to 1 parity just because you can't grasp how the Series S holds back the generation. Hint: the Series X cannot massively outdo the Series S because of console parity, so it's unlikely the Series X is going to ever be utilised to its fullest.

You want to push up with a Pro model, not push down.

[Sonic1881]

7 years in development for just 30fps 🤔

[darthv72]

@Tody... and yet there are plenty of games that offer better visuals and performance on the X than the S. The whole 'parity' thing is about the content... not the fidelity or performance. Which is why things like raytracing is not in S games but is in the X versions. Same with offering various modes for quality and performance on X but not on S.

[jwillj2k4]

At the time of its release there was no technology available that could do what the ps5 ssd can do. As time went on, naturally, technology advanced. Why some people don’t understand time progression is baffling. Its like you’re sub-human or something less intelligent.

Mods I didn’t call him that, just saying he resembles/looks familiar to.

[RNTody]

@darth72 What you and Observer fail to grasp is the development starting point. With a PS5 Pro, all games would be developed for the base PS5 as intended, and then enhanced for the Pro. The benchmark is the PS5 console. The PS5 is mandatory, the Pro is not.

With the Xbox Series S and X, the benchmark is ALWAYS going to be the INFERIOR console from the getgo, the Series S is mandatory. The Xbox X is supposed to be the base model of the generation, but thanks to the S it's never going to be. It's anchored down. Whereas a PS5 Pro would not anchor any development because it's not a different console, and it's not the benchmark of development.

Hence PS5 exclusives will always outdo Xbox Ones. That and developer talent I suppose. The Xbox Series X is never going to be fully utilised.

[Modpeel]

Why is that hardcore xbox fanbots like you are the embodiment of anti-truth? The poster boys of hypocrisy.

[Sonic1881]

Exactly. But Xbox fanboys will still defend Microsoft 😁😂

[Obscure_Observer]

"7 years in development for just 30fps 🤔"

It took 12 years to develop Dragon´s Dogma 2 which runs at 30fps on both PS5 and XS and you were championing that game just the other day.

Such hypocrisy.

I can´t wait to see your lame excuses for GT6 also after 12 years in development to deliver a 30fps performance on both current gen consoles. It´s gonna be funny.

[Flakegriffin]

@Obscure

If you did proper research you’d see that they had the idea 12 years ago for Dragons Dogma 2. Dragons Dogma 2 hasn’t been in development for 12 years..

Took them five years to develop

Source: https://www.vg247.com/drago...

[badz149]

@Obsecure

Dumbest comment so far and Capcom is a 3rd party. Developed for 12 years? You really believe THAT?

So, ok I'll play your game. Starfield was developed for 25 years and only 30fps on the series consoles.

[Obscure_Observer]

@Flakegriffin

"Took them five years to develop"

Hellblade II was announced back in December 2019 as an *early in development* game, so it didn´t took 7 years in development either.

It will be released on May which accounts for less than 5 years since announcement.

[Cockney]

Apparently it took 25 years to make starfield which ran at 30fps

[gold_drake]

that kinda sucks

so it could vary between .. wat, 720 and 1440? yikes

[MeatyUrologist]

I think a game like this that is essentially an interactive movie is fine at 30fps. Should have little impact on gameplay and is more focused on visuals and atmosphere anyway

[Sonic1881]

It still should have a 60fps option even if it's in 1080p

[GoodGuy09]

UE5 for ya.

[SimpleSlave]

"60 FPS Mode Not Supported In Favor Of “Cinematic” Experience" - The Failed Movie Director Syndrome strikes again... Awesome.

Well, while they're at it, why don't they just make the game run at 24fps? Might as well make it truly Cinematic...

[darthv72]

how many big movies have you seen at 60fps? My tv offers a feature called trumotion and it looks cool for animated films but makes regular movies look like crap. Not every game needs 60. Only action, racing, shooting and fighting games need 60 because those are all fast paced. RPG, puzzle, adventure... those are slow and 30 is perfect.

[SimpleSlave]

I don't mind 30fps when and if the Gamplay requires it and not because the Graphics are so Life-Like it's tanking performance.

If your Gameplay is so out there, so impressive, so unique, so intricate that you have no other choice but to drop the game to 30fps? Then I'm OK with that. No problem. On the other hand, if the gameplay is laughably a nothingburger, like the first Hellblade, and all you're doing is spending all of your studio's time and money on the Graphics, so much so that you have to drop your game to 30fps? Fok off. Go get a job at Pixar or whatever.

Now a days good and even great graphics are achievable by great Art Direction, Shaders, Modeling, Animation and most importantly, the Light Rig. Go see how great the first Three Splinter Cells still look on the OG XBOX. And if you manage to make it look Photo Realistic without sacrificing Performance, cool. If not? Learn to scale back and optimize and learn to spec your games better. Simple.

This ain't Hollywood, this is the Games industry. Gameplay is King and Graphics are meant to complement it and not the other way around.

[P_Bomb]

“ RPG, puzzle, adventure... those are slow and 30 is perfect.”

I disagree. Recently replayed Witcher and Cyberpunk in 60fps and the experience was better. Gaming isn’t passive like watching a movie. I whip my camera around a lot. 30fps judder doesn’t support my playstyle.

[IRetrouk]

Can't compare a movies framerate to a games, ones passive the other is interactive, you don't just see the frames, you feel them in your inputs, it's a disingenuous argument.

[darthv72]

Funny you mention splinter cell... those were 30fps slow paced stealth games. Very cinematic for their time that still hold up well. This game will do the same.

[SimpleSlave]

I guess you missed the part where I said: "If your Gameplay is so out there, so impressive, so unique, so intricate that you have no other choice but to drop the game to 30fps? Then I'm OK with that. No problem. "

Splinter Cell on the OG Xbox was something else. Next Gen before Next Gen. And it wasn't simply because it looked good, in fact, the models where not the best, but because the Lights and Sound changed how the game is actually played. Gameplay > Graphics. It so happens that in this case, the advancement of Graphics - The Light System they Used - actually enhanced the Gameplay beyond any other game before it. So the sacrifice is warranted.

Now, if the game had looked like the PS2/Gamecube version, then I wouldn't have brought them up, since they are NOTHING like the OG XBOX version. Not even close. Those could've been 60fps since the Light Rig in those games don't actually change anything.

So my main point with Splinter Cell was that the Light System you use makes THAT much of a difference. Where a lot of games from that Generation look kinda Flat, even with great 3D modeling, the Splinter Cell series can fool a few people in this day and age by looks alone.

This the thing, while Snake was hiding in Boxes or small Bushes while changing his Camouflage in the Option Menu, Splinter Cell was letting you live the life of a modern day Assassin, Hitman, Operative, Ninja by using the Light and Sound System in a more advance way. This was the evolution of what games like Thief started.

And speaking of Thief, the advance Sound system in that game actually enhances AND changes the entire gameplay, by making your steps not only sound different but by changing the Sound Waves and how far they travel through the level in order to alert guards and NPCs. Next Gen stuff that we hardly use nowadays. If we do at all. Pity.

You can even add stuff like Physics to this as well. Where games like Red Faction or Teardown changes the gameplay dramatically because of how the Physics and Collision work. Again, since the Gameplay is the one taking precedent and benefiting because of it, then it's ok to bump down to 30fps in order to experience the new gameplay concepts.

Like I said, if the advancement in graphics help the Gameplay achieve Next Level, then cool. But in Hellblade, nothing they have shown, gameplay-wise, is enhanced by having movie quality graphics. It looks to have the same generic fighting mechanics from the first one. And THAT, to me, is a problem.

[darthv72]

all the things you mention... lighting, physics, sound... you hold those games in high esteem for that yet you dont for this. Why? the first is held in high regard for its ambient sound which many say you need to use headphones to get the full effect. This new version expands upon that while upping the lighting, physics and aureal density to make it even more deep an experience than the first. Its as if you are passing judgement without even experincing it for yourself.

I get it... if you did not like the first then this is more of the same. Why not just be honest and say that without resorting to insulting their vision but make excuses for other games that had similar visions.

[SimpleSlave]

Again, the point is that if the actual gameplay is being affected, then sure, but if it's just a visual aesthetic thing, then no.

"to make it even more deep an experience than the first." This is how you're missing the point. This deep experience could've been achieved with a less performance intensive style. Since none of what Hellblade is doing gameplay-wise, based on the ACTUAL gameplay shown, is being affected by how pretty or realistic it looks. None of it is. Plenty of games are doing more with less.

"Why not just be honest and say that without resorting to insulting their vision but make excuses for other games that had similar visions" Because I find these type of games lacking and misguided. And that's my opinion based on what I see games should strive to be.

Would you rather experience a Dragon coming down, blowing stuff up, smashing the shet out of everything, fighting some army, some other titan, and whatever else in a cinematic? Or would you rather experience the entire thing in real time? Would you rather watch Joel make the decision to save Ellie or would you rather make that decision yourself? Would you rather play as Ellie while she goes down the path of Violence by killing everyone in sight, or would you rather it be left up to you? See where I'm going with this?

Take Bethesda games for example. This whole idea of Protecting Important NPCs is a massive step backwards. The fact that they took away the freedom to kill important quest givers was a massive blow to how I approach every situation now. Cuz there's no dangerous situations anymore. You will never lose anything. See what I mean?

So would you rather just be passive there until some gameplay loop shows up or would you rather take part in everything happening? I know I want full control of the experience. I want to be able to affect the worlds and characters and I want the world and characters to not only react to me but to also try to change me, manipulate me and interact with me. What I don't want is THE MOST AMAZING THING THAT HAPPENS!!!! happens in a cinematic. Or if it's happening, it is happening all the way over there while I hardly affect anything or not even interact with it.

I want for the eventual full integration of everything Cinematic into the Gameplay proper. No more movies, no more walking sections, no more QTE, no more seeing the obvious hands of the devs telling me what I can or cannot do at any one moment. No more anything of that sort. I want full interactivity and actual advance AI. True Next Gen.

There have been many games that have brought forward game mechanics that are, quite honestly, game changing. Take what games like Hitman, Alpha Protocol, Deus Ex, Breath of the Wild, Soulborne, Sherlock Holmes, and others, and put the money in those types of game mechanics. Start small, build upon it, make sure to always reuse your assets in order to save money, and make that the priority. In the end, the graphics will eventually catch up and blow our minds away. But I gotta tell you, from a gameplay perspective? Gaming has been mostly stale for way too long now. Too many "Cinematic" experiences and too many Copypasta game mechanics... uBeSawft...

And no, I'm not talking about Mario, or Sonic, or Tetris or games like that. They certainly have their place. I'm not advocating for ALL gaming to be how I envision them. Just the ones that are pretending without actually trying, cuz AAAA has to be Cinematic!!! or cuz AAAA Graphics!!! cost too much money, or whatever, so the gameplay and interactivity must be sacrifice!

But to each their own.

[hiawa23]

UE5 seems to be a CPU hog and given graphics fidelity, I expected 30 FPS. For those who want better there is the PC version.

[RNTody]

I really think developers should optimise for 40fps fidelity options. Insomniac are really technical wizards and despite preferring 60fps in every single game I played, Spider-Man 2 was the first game where I actually settled on the 40fps option with VRR and 120hz as the best of all worlds.

Closer to topic though, I don't understand how this game couldn't have a performance mode. I mean, it's not the PS3 and 360 era where they can sell this "it's more cinematic" idea to us, surely.

And if it's Unreal 5, maybe the engine just isn't well optimised like its predecessors.

[Psychonaut85]

If they can’t run it at 60 cuz of using that UE5 feature set, just say that. If you wanna play it off like an “artistic” decision then why did the first Hellblade have a 60FPS mode. Cuz in terms of art and mood it’s the same universe.

[darthv72]

the first didnt have a 60fps mode initially... that wasnt added until the Pro/one X came out and they put it in later as an option. the majority who played the original did so at the original 30fps cinematic presentation it was meant to be.

[SonyStyled]

Do you mean cinematic presentation it RELEASED at?
If it was meant to be 30fps, the developers wouldn’t have made a 60fps patch… right?

[cell989]

Is this because of the annoying underpowered Xbox S?

[CobraKai]

As long as i can see the reason for 30fps on screen, im ok with it.

[PassNextquestion]

From memory UE5 and UE engines in general don't have the greatest CPU optimisation. So I'm guessing it's a CPU bottleneck caused by lack have optimisation of the engine.

[BillyCrystals]

Xbone'd

[Ra3030]

"Ninja Theory founder Tameem Antoniades left Microsoft. It’s unknown whether this was due to creative differences between him and Microsoft"

Wait, wait, wait!!! It can't possibly be creative differences between him and Microsoft. We've been repeatedly told that Microsoft, Phil Spencer are anyone at Xbox would interfere with First Party Development. "First Party Developers make the games they want to make"....they said.
Tameem Antoniades leaving would explain why this little 6-8hr game game took well over 5yrs for the 3 Trillion dollar Corporation to complete. Seems every Microsoft First Party Studio is in the mist of a dumpster fire for 3-4yrs now.

[cloganart]

Didnt y’all want next gen games? This is what UE5 does with current gen consoles. It was announced at this framerate running a damn tech demo on PS5.

If you want 60fps next gen games, wait for pro / mid-gen upgrades. Machines can’t keep up with this engine.

Or have developers develop their own engines.

[Kornholic]

Or maybe don't use UE5. UE5 is not the be-all and end-all of video game graphics and engines.

[cloganart]

I will wait to see your reaction when the next naughty dog game uses 30 frames for per second on PS5