PS5 And Xbox Series X Have Very Different Star Wars: Squadrons Enhancements

Publisher EA has outlined how some of its more recent games will take advantage of the power in the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S / Series X. Not all games are created equal, though, as there's a crucial difference with Star Wars: Squadrons on the next-gen consoles.

According to EA, Squadrons will have two different graphics settings on Xbox Series S and Series X, akin to the performance modes found in something like Team Ninja's Nioh franchise. One, aimed at better visual quality, will improve the game's lighting model and pushes the game up to 1440p at 60 fps on the Xbox Series S and up to 4K at 60 fps on the Xbox Series X. Meanwhile, the second graphics setting that's geared toward better performance gets Squadrons up to 1440p at 120 fps on Series S and up to 4K at 120 fps on Series X.

Conversely, Squadrons on PlayStation 5 will run at the same resolution and frame rate as the PlayStation 4 Pro version, except with improved lighting. It's been reported that the aerial dogfighter hits 1440p and 1800p at 60 FPS on the more-powerful PlayStation 4, so that's about what you can expect here.

This means Star Wars: Squadrons on Xbox Series S / Series X is capable of things that aren't possible in the PS5 version: 4K and 120fps. That's a stark contrast, and it's unclear why this is the case or if a future update might change things. The Xbox Series X, based on technical specifications, appears to be slightly more powerful than the PS5. The Xbox Series S is not more powerful.

In either case, whether players opt for the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series S / Series X version of developer Motive Studios' Star Wars dogfighter, Squadrons will support variable refresh rate options for monitors and TVs that allow for the feature. And the game across the board, from PC to PlayStation 4 to Xbox One and beyond, will include cross-play support.

Star Wars: Squadrons earned a 7/10 in GameSpot's review.