Halo: Campaign Evolved – the latest big budget release from Microsoft – is out and in the hands of sci-fi lovers on both PlayStation and Xbox. However, after some arduous testing, you might be surprised at which console runs it best.
Per Digital Foundry – who tested the game on Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and the PS5 Pro – the game runs well on all available platforms. The Xbox Series S has “broadly” similar visual characteristics as the more powerful Xbox Series X, thanks to Unreal Engine 5 tech and Lumen Reflections. Even so, the internal resolution remains around 720p with consistent performance.
Halo: Campaign Evolved – Official Cinematic Story Trailer
As for the Xbox Series X, differences in graphical fidelity is “minimal” between the 60fps performance and 30fps quality modes. Performance mode does make some sacrifices with foliage and shadows, and there’s a difference in image quality too with performance mode looking “softer”. In terms of internal resolutions, the game in performance mode on the Series X came in at 1224p, while quality 1440p, which is nothing to shake a stick at!
Then enters the PS5, which is where things get interesting. According to Digital Foundry, the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions have experiences that are “almost identical” across both performance and quality modes, with only minor differences in shadows and finer details. Digital Foundry notes: “the two consoles are effectively on parity in terms of image quality and overall presentation.”
However, there’s one exception. Cutscene stuttering experienced on the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S was absent on the PlayStation 5, which Digital Foundry says provides “a more cohesive experience.”
Then, finally, there’s the PS5 Pro. As you can imagine it offers the best Halo: Campaign Evolved experience, with Digital Foundry noting PSSR helps provide: “noticeably sharper, cleaner image that mitigates some of the lingering anti-aliasing artefacts seen elsewhere.” Image quality and frame rates are smoother than the PS5 too, which is nice.
So, aside from one weird fire rate and accuracy assault rifle bug appearing to make the gun worse on the PlayStation than other platforms, PlayStation owners seem to get the best experience from Halo: Campaign Evolved. What a strange time to be alive!
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