Fallout 4 Runs Slightly Better on PS4, With Xbox One "Stutter" Reported
Hard-drive solution found for minor graphical freezes on Xbox One; Publisher representative defends PS4 performance.
Fallout 4, the long-awaited open-world action game set in a world in the aftermath of nuclear war, runs slightly smoother on PlayStation 4 than Xbox One, if an early performance analysis is to be believed.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II GameSpot Review Hades 2 Early Access GameSpot Video Review Ranking Warhammer 40,000 Video Games - Tier List MY HERO ULTRA RUMBLE – Season 5 Content UpdateTrailer Street Fighter 6 - Akuma Update Launch Trailer Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Story Trailer Breakdown and Lore Discussion Battlefield 2042 | Future Strike – Time-Limited Event Trailer Kingmakers – Official "Wreak Havoc" Vehicle Destruction Gameplay Trailer The First Descendant│Official Dev Talk│Story Deep Dive Trailer System Shock – Console Launch Trailer ELDEN RING Shadow Of The Erdtree | Official Cinematic Story Trailer KINGDOM HEARTS - Official Steam Announcement Trailer
Please enter your date of birth to view this video
By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
A Digital Foundry article, which examines how smoothly Bethesda's latest open-world epic runs on home consoles, suggested that both systems render at 1080p, usually at 30 frames-per-second, with VSync enabled.
However, the analysis also claimed that "the Xbox One version that has a tangible disadvantage," due to an occasional stutter issue that appears to be linked to problems with the console pulling data from the hard-drive at speed. Internal playthroughs at GameSpot would suggest this graphical stammer is not frequent, but not avoidable either.
"Entering new areas can see second-long pauses, and even switching weapons sometimes causes problems," the report found, and went on to suggest that densely populated parts of the game world--such as Diamond City--exposes the problem.
"Matching runs to the gates of Diamond City shows Xbox One dropping to a record 0fps (zero) while PS4 turns the same corner at 28fps," the report claimed.
Considering the infrequency of these stammer issues, their importance to players is a matter for debate. GameSpot's Fallout 4 review noted a few performance issues, but added: "In the grand scheme of things, Fallout 4's minor issues pale in comparison to its successes."
The review continued: "When you put the controller down, you think about the friend you betrayed to benefit another, the shifting tide of an incredible battle, or the moment you opened a drawer and found someone's discarded effects, making you wonder how they felt before the bombs fell. In moments like these, Fallout 4 can be an intoxicating experience."
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II GameSpot Review Hades 2 Early Access GameSpot Video Review Ranking Warhammer 40,000 Video Games - Tier List MY HERO ULTRA RUMBLE – Season 5 Content UpdateTrailer Street Fighter 6 - Akuma Update Launch Trailer Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Story Trailer Breakdown and Lore Discussion Battlefield 2042 | Future Strike – Time-Limited Event Trailer Kingmakers – Official "Wreak Havoc" Vehicle Destruction Gameplay Trailer The First Descendant│Official Dev Talk│Story Deep Dive Trailer System Shock – Console Launch Trailer ELDEN RING Shadow Of The Erdtree | Official Cinematic Story Trailer KINGDOM HEARTS - Official Steam Announcement Trailer
Please enter your date of birth to view this video
By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
SSD Solution
Pete Hines, a representative for publisher Bethesda, has defended Fallout 4's performance on both home consoles.
Interacting with fans on Twitter, he suggested that the PlayStation 4 graphical issues have only been aired by one voice in the press. A series of messages, posted by Hines, can be found below.
@DavidMo92898701 no they aren't. they regurgitated one thing one person said. game runs well on PS4.
— Pete Hines (@DCDeacon) November 9, 2015
@JamesWatch ? I told you my experiences. Article says "Fallout 4 does hold 30fps as a general rule". So...
— Pete Hines (@DCDeacon) November 9, 2015
Meanwhile, a subsequent Digital Foundry article suggested that if fans hook up their Xbox Ones to a solid-state hard drive, and then port the game files over, the stammer issues will decrease considerably.
Fallout 4 released on Tuesday November 10 across the UK, Australia, and North America. On its launch day it broke concurrent user records for a non-Valve game on Steam.
GameSpot's Fallout 4 review was loaded with praise for the open-world title, though it said that various bugs had affected the experience. Critic Peter Brown cited "plainly framed scenes and basic animations lend a roughness to the finish product, as do its frequent glitches."
Further Reading
- Fallout 4 review
- Fallout 4 review round-up
- Fallout 4 ultimate guide
- Fallout 4 essential tips
- Fallout 4 graphics comparison video
- Top loot locations in the early hours of Fallout 4
- Fallout 4 base building beginners guide video
- A visual tour of Fallout 4
- 5 secret games you can play in Fallout 4 video
Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
Join the conversation