The PS5 Pro has quickly established itself as a powerhouse console, delivering impressive performance boosts over its predecessor. With the promise of stunning graphics, faster load times, and smoother gameplay at higher frame rates, it’s no surprise that many gamers are eager to see how their favorite titles perform on this upgraded hardware. While many games run beautifully on the PS5 Pro, there’s one major open-world title that is still struggling to fully harness the console’s potential: Elden Ring.
A Performance Boost, But Not Perfect
When Sony launched the PS5 Pro, it was clear that this version of the console would target gamers seeking higher frame rates and more graphically demanding experiences. Many games that are already optimized for the PS5 have benefitted from the extra power of the Pro, running at 4K resolution and maintaining a smooth 60 FPS, a combination that was once considered the holy grail of gaming. However, Elden Ring, one of the most beloved open-world RPGs of the last few years, doesn’t consistently hit that 60 FPS mark—even on the upgraded hardware.
Digital Foundry’s recent deep dive into Elden Ring on the PS5 Pro revealed some interesting insights. The game offers two distinct graphics settings: Quality Mode and Performance Mode. Both settings aim for 60 FPS, but neither can consistently deliver on that promise, especially when it comes to this massive open-world game.
Quality Mode: A Balancing Act
In Elden Ring’s Quality Mode, players are treated to enhanced visuals, but the trade-off comes in the form of fluctuating frame rates. While the console aims for 60 FPS, it often dips into the 50s, and at times, even lower. These fluctuations can be jarring, especially when you're exploring the vast, intricate world of Elden Ring, where seamless performance is essential to immersion.
To make up for these dips, the PS5 Pro’s Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) kicks in, smoothing out some of the stutter. However, VRR only works effectively as long as the frame rate doesn't drop below 48 FPS. If it does, the experience becomes noticeably less fluid, making it clear that the PS5 Pro is struggling to keep up with the game's demanding open-world elements.
Another factor to consider is resolution. While Quality Mode targets 4K, the PS5 Pro doesn’t always hit native 4K resolution. Instead, it dynamically adjusts, hovering between 1512p and 4K depending on the scene. This can lead to noticeable visual downgrades during more demanding moments in the game, further affecting the experience.
Performance Mode: A Slight Improvement
Switching to Performance Mode offers a smoother overall experience, but even this setting isn’t flawless. Frame rates are more stable than in Quality Mode, but Elden Ring still struggles to maintain a consistent 60 FPS. Despite these occasional drops, the performance dips in Performance Mode are generally less severe, and VRR helps smooth out the gameplay. However, even with VRR, the frame rate may occasionally dip below 60 FPS, especially during intense moments or in more populated areas of the game world.
While Performance Mode improves stability, it doesn’t fully eliminate the inconsistencies, particularly in demanding areas or during intense combat. It’s clear that Elden Ring—with its massive world and complex systems—is pushing the limits of even the PS5 Pro.
Not All Games Are Optimized for the PS5 Pro
One crucial thing to remember is that Elden Ring isn’t yet explicitly optimized for the PS5 Pro. This means that FromSoftware, the developer behind the game, hasn’t fine-tuned it to take full advantage of the new hardware, unlike other major titles such as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, The Last of Us Part I, and Alan Wake 2, which have been optimized for the PS5 Pro’s capabilities.
In fact, Elden Ring is an excellent example of how some games can still struggle to reach peak performance, even on the most powerful consoles. As an open-world game with dense environments, complex AI, and a vast number of systems running in the background, Elden Ring is a particularly tough test for any system. It’s possible that developer FromSoftware could release future updates to better optimize the game for the PS5 Pro, just as other developers have done with their titles. But for now, even on the PS5 Pro, Elden Ring isn’t quite able to deliver a consistently smooth 60 FPS at 4K resolution.
The Future of Open-World Games on the PS5 Pro
As the PS5 Pro matures, it’s likely that we’ll see more games optimized to take full advantage of its power, including open-world titles like Elden Ring. While the console does provide a noticeable performance boost over the standard PS5, there are still limitations when it comes to extremely demanding games. Elden Ring is a great example of how even the most powerful consoles can struggle to maintain consistent performance in complex, open-world environments.
That said, the PS5 Pro remains an excellent choice for gamers who want to experience the best graphics and performance available in console gaming today. It’s the ideal machine for titles that are optimized for its hardware, offering a stunning experience in games like Spider-Man 2, Alan Wake 2, and Horizon Forbidden West. But for Elden Ring fans, a flawless 60 FPS experience may still be a bit out of reach—at least until further updates arrive.
Final Thoughts: A Console Ahead of Its Time
While the PS5 Pro offers a notable leap in performance, it’s important to remember that not all games are fully optimized to take advantage of this power just yet. Open-world masterpieces like Elden Ring can still present challenges that even the PS5 Pro can’t always overcome. However, the console is undoubtedly a significant step forward for gaming, and as developers continue to adapt their titles to the new hardware, we can expect even better performance in the future.
For now, though, if you’re a Elden Ring fan, the PS5 Pro is still the best way to play it on a console, even if it doesn’t quite hit that flawless 60 FPS mark. Let’s hope that FromSoftware—or future patches—can help the game reach its full potential on the PS5 Pro in the months to come.
Related Articles:
Comments
Post a Comment