Warhammer 40K Darktide was originally released for the PC platform. As part of the popular franchise, it delivered first-person co-op gameplay with stunning visuals, utilizing the best PC hardware on the market.
However, the game’s PC version suffered from several noticeable dips in performance, and it appears these issues have carried over to the console port. The game has just been released on Xbox Series S|X, requiring a drop to 864p for a 60FPS target.
Why it matters: This is less than half of the resolution advertised during the launch of the Xbox Series X. Microsoft’s flagship console boasted capabilities of 4K gameplay, but it often runs much lower to achieve 60FPS.
As reported by Digital Foundry, Warhammer 40K Darktide is one of the many releases that push the latest consoles to their limits in 2023.
The game offers two modes on the Xbox Series X, while the budget Microsoft console is limited to a single 30FPS mode. However, this may have been for the better since the performance mode on the Xbox Series X does not offer an ideal experience.
The report highlights Warhammer 40K Darktide renders at an average of 864p on the Xbox Series X in performance mode. While this drop in resolution nets a 60FPS target, it leads to an aliased look and a noticeable drop in image quality.
On the other hand, quality mode renders at around 1368p, showing respectable results at 30FPS. Both render resolutions are upscaled for better image quality, but the performance mode’s lower target leaves a lot to be desired.
The Xbox Series S is limited to a 720p render resolution, which helps the console deliver 30FPS. Despite such aggressive resolution scaling, the performance is not rock sold, with the Xbox Series X, in particular, often failing to hold 60FPS in performance mode.
Warhammer 40K Darktide suffers from stutters and hitches in hectic moments. Performance mode can drop below 50FPS, while quality mode on the Xbox Series X can drop as low as 26FPS.
Microsoft’s budget console shows similar results, albeit at the 30FPS target.
We believe the game requires more work on these platforms since the stutters and hitches in gameplay can be a deal breaker during intense scenarios.
In terms of image quality, our conclusion is similar to the report’s, which suggests AMD FSR 2 would have been the better pick for image quality. The game’s TAA implementation is far from the best, leading to worse image quality and jagged edges.
Nonetheless, Warhammer 40K Darktide is now available on Xbox Series S|X, currently exclusive to the Xbox platform on consoles. It is also on Game Pass, presenting a fun co-op experience in the rich Warhammer universe.
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