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Based on the same Snowdrop Engine that powered the incredible Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, we've been anticipating Star Wars: Outlaws for some time - and from a visual perspective, it doesn't disappoint. Tom takes a look at all three console versions and every mode therein, including a look at 21:9 vs 16:9 gameplay.

00:00 Introduction
01:41 Tech Overview
06:30 Ultrawide versus Fill Screen Comparison
09:33 60/40/30fps Mode Comparison
12:54 Series S vs Series X
14:14 PS5/Series X Frame-Rate tests
18:38 Series S Frame-Rate Test
19:51 Verdict

 

[Lunatic_Gamer]

Based on the same Snowdrop Engine that powered the incredible Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, we've been anticipating Star Wars: Outlaws for some time - and from a visual perspective, it doesn't disappoint. Tom takes a look at all three console versions and every mode therein, including a look at 21:9 vs 16:9 gameplay.

00:00 Introduction
01:41 Tech Overview
06:30 Ultrawide versus Fill Screen Comparison
09:33 60/40/30fps Mode Comparison
12:54 Series S vs Series X
14:14 PS5/Series X Frame-Rate tests
18:38 Series S Frame-Rate Test
19:51 Verdict

 

[FoxMcChief]

 

[winjer]

Is this a sponsored add, paid by Ubisoft?

 

[M1chl]

3 minutes no summary, you are slacking

 

[LordOfChaos]

 

[MadchesterManc]

There's a 21:9 mode? Interesting. Used to love doing that all the time on PC

 

[adamsapple]

- Current gen only. Runs on Snowdrop Engine, same engine used for Avatar.
- Choice of 3 modes. 30hz, 40hz, 60hz Performance mode. Only on Series X and PS5
- Series S version has singular performance mode.

- Many parallels with Avatar in terms of tech.
- RT deployed on all consoles.
- RTGI and RT reflections with SSR as backup (enemies only reflected via SSR)
- Distant shadows also ray traced.

- Difficult to ignore some rough spots, however.
- AI, enemy path finding, cut-scene animation etc betray a visually strong package.

- A cinematic 21 : 9 cinematic option also present, and it runs as default.
- DF says this mode only removes top and bottom halves and adds black bars.
- The 16 : 9 mode surprisingly runs with less drops on PS5 when compared to 21 : 9
- Many areas show no virtual difference.
- DF stuck with the full-screen 16 : 9 mode for testing.

- Graphics:
- 60 fps Performance: DRS 720p to 1080p
- 40 fps Quality: DRS 936p to 1252p
- 30 fps Quality: 1134p to 1620p
- Above metrics are broadly same for PS5 and SX. They match visual features as well.
- Series S offers a single 1080p mode.
-FSR is used to reconstruct game to 4K or 1440p (Performance)
- Stair step and fine grass elements still resolve as pixelated noise in areas
- Grass density, foliage distance and reflection clarity is the only major difference in Quality and Performance.
- Series S runs at Performance mode equivalent settings to SX and PS5
- Series S includes all the same RT features with the lighting calculation distance being the only difference. (i-e it resolves farther on PS5/SX)

- Performance:
- All cutscenes are locked at 30 FPS on all modes.

- 30 FPS Quality mode generally runs locked with only one or two single frame drops
- SX uses adaptive V-sync while PS5 is V-Synced, however any tearing on Xbox is largely invisible

- 40 FPS Quality mode is DF's preferred option even with a small hit on image quality
- The game runs at a stable 40 fps on PS5/SX with only minor single drops in DF's testing

- 60 FPS mode doesn't get to a tight 60 FPS lock despite resolution drop
- Broadly matched FPS settings with Xbox deploying adaptive Sync and PS5 using V-sync
- Xbox's 120hz and broader VRR range reduce judder compared to PS5 where any drop below 48hz will manifest as juddering.

- Series S:
- Locked to 30 FPS 99% of the time with single drops.
- Streaming hitches are more glaring on Series S compared to PS5/SX
- DF thinks the absence of a 40 fps mode is a shame, as Avatar supported 40 fps on Series S

 

[Wishmaster92]

They did the model dirty lmao. She’s fucking UGLY! And the facial animation is andromeda level bad wtf?

 

[adamsapple]

They did the model dirty lmao. She’s fucking UGLY! And the facial animation is andromeda level bad wtf?

The game model itself is nothing special, but the animation makes it look much worse than it actually is.

 

[owandeseis]

There's a 21:9 mode? Interesting. Used to love doing that all the time on PC

It's actually a 16:7 or 16:6 instead since it just adds two black bars in the top and bottom part, but it doesn't add anything new on the left or right side.

Really weird that it has less average FPS this way

 

[adamsapple]

It's actually a 16:7 or 16:6 instead since it just adds two black bars in the top and bottom part, but it doesn't add anything new on the left or right side.

Really weird that it has less average FPS this way

As with 99% of major game releases these days, this probably came in hot.

I bet it'll be in a much better place with issues like that and the Performance mode being more stable by its second or third patch.

 

[mansoor1980]

snowdrop is great on consoles

 

[Germuso]

To my eyes avatar looks better, maybe art Style.

 

[adamsapple]

snowdrop is great on consoles

It is.

It has been an impressive engine since The Division.

The facial animations are the only major sour gripe on this game visually (not counting AI issues), otherwise it looks like a fantastic looking and performing game.

 

[Gaiff]

The game looks visually very impressive. The world seems alive.

 

[Hugare]

They did the model dirty lmao. She’s fucking UGLY! And the facial animation is andromeda level bad wtf?

Its 100% on the lighting. If it was the ingame model's fault it would look hideous the whole time, which isnt the case

720p in performance mode is just OOF

Massive graphics team is very talented. Problem is the rest of the studio.

 

[Ammogeddon]

It’s fine if you don’t want to hate on the game, I get it, but don’t try and gaslight everyone that has functioning eyeballs. The character model is objectively fugly. And it’s not mean to say so. The only people that should be offended by this are the unskilled ones that created and animated the model.

 

[Killer8]

The fact they are deploying almost the full suite of ray tracing features on consoles is impressive. RTGI, reflections (with some SSR fallback) and distant shadows.

It's too bad the game is shit.

 

[adamsapple]

720p in performance mode is just OOF

I guess, but not really if you consider that it runs 3 forms of ray tracing on all modes.

 

[Flabagast]

It must be the best RT implementation on consoles yet at 60FPS no ?

Will sure try it down the line

 

[blastprocessor]

Have to say getting that game to run on Series S with RT is impressive.

 

[King Dazzar]

Fuck the ray tracing. I'd much rather have a higher base resolution/sharper image quality and solid 60fps. I prefer the Division 2 graphically because of this. Step backwards for me. £120 for an ultimate version at 720p with an unstable frame rate. Dream on Ubi.

 

[Luipadre]

FSR artifact - the game

You can see it on hair, effects, foliage. Its all over the screen. Disgusting

 

[hemo memo]

They did the model dirty lmao. She’s fucking UGLY! And the facial animation is andromeda level bad wtf?

I think female models should have a clause in their contracts that says ‘No giving me a male jawline or making me ugly’

 

[Portugeezer]

That ultra wide mode is hilarious. Somehow it runs worse with less on screen

 

[Negotiator101]

This looks like a cross gen title with next gen bells and whistles, certainly not built from the ground up IMO.

 

[Bitstream]

Lets see if the modders can improve this experience, some of the screenshots above make the main char model look PS4 quality.

 

[proandrad]

Ray tracing never ends up looking better than the trade off of image quality and fps on current gen consoles. Wish devs would just stop it with RT.

 

[Quantum253]

Its 100% on the lighting. If it was the ingame model's fault it would look hideous the whole time, which isnt the case

720p in performance mode is just OOF

Massive graphics team is very talented. Problem is the rest of the studio.

I watched a brief stream and thought something was wrong with my monitor/PC output because everything looked dark and distorted. Maybe the lighting needs some patching. Gameplay itself looked interesting. I was getting Uncharted X Starwars vibes

 

[bundylove]

To buy or not to buy?

To play now or wait for ps5 pro version?

 

[Rudius]

They did the model dirty lmao. She’s fucking UGLY! And the facial animation is andromeda level bad wtf?

The picture of the real actress completely disprove his argument.

 

[GymWolf]

I think avatar looked much, much better tbh.

 

[King Dazzar]

To buy or not to buy?

To play now or wait for ps5 pro version?

Pro is my only hope. By then if it did get a patch, it should be on sale too, I'd have thought. But for now, I'm out.

 

[Snake29]

Such a shame that the gameplay looks so fucking boring.

 

[GymWolf]

The game model itself is nothing special, but the animation makes it look much worse than it actually is.

I get that digital acting is something that not every dev can do properly, but what is the excuse for the absolutely dogshittly animated ko animations and melee animations? they are cheap AA quality at the very best.

And how did division 2 maker massive(ly) fucked up the gunplay so much?

 

[King Dazzar]

I think avatar looked much, much better tbh.

On PS5 after they patched it. I found interiors looked good in the performance mode. But step outside and the image fidelity was poor, with distant detail atrocious. And even then it wasnt a locked 60 and needed VRR.

 

[Rudius]

It’s fine if you don’t want to hate on the game, I get it, but don’t try and gaslight everyone that has functioning eyeballs. The character model is objectively fugly. And it’s not mean to say so. The only people that should be offended by this are the unskilled ones that created and animated the model.

It can't be lack of skill if the male counterpart looks basically identical to the actor, while the girl looks like that.

 

[Kikorin]

Is this a sponsored add, paid by Ubisoft?

For sure, because in every trailer I've seen it looked worst and worst.

 

[user friendly]

Imagine her telling her pals and family that the main character in the new star wars game was modeled after her? No one will believe her.

 

[MarkMe2525]

They did the model dirty lmao. She’s fucking UGLY! And the facial animation is andromeda level bad wtf?

Did this performance and fidelity focused thread really need this dragged in here?

 

[GymWolf]

On PS5 after they patched it. I found interiors looked good in the performance mode. But step outside and the image fidelity was poor, with distant detail atrocious. And even then it wasnt a locked 60 and needed VRR.

Indoors were a bit shit compared to the outdoors, but since you are outdoors 95% of the time it really didn't matter.

On pc the game was straight up some of the best graphic available on the market.

 

[XXL]

 

[bundylove]

Pro is my only hope. By then if it did get a patch, it should be on sale too, I'd have thought. But for now, I'm out.

I am holding back on avatar, alan wake 2, and a few more in hopes to get the best visual experience on my 85inch qn95c.

The tv holds up but you can see a lot of shimer in certain areas so pro is my hope to play at 60fps.

40 is servicable but 60 is the way to go

 

[bundylove]

They did the model dirty lmao. She’s fucking UGLY! And the facial animation is andromeda level bad wtf?

Wow when you downgrade the characters look but not the rest.....its like you be soft just cant kick the habbit

 

[adamsapple]

I get that.

But it's different developers and engine .. even the male characters in Outlaws look like mannequins.

 

[rickybooby87]

It warms my heart to see additional games with a 40FPS option, 30FPS needs to be TRASHED.

 

[Mr Moose]

Seems to be a trend with the V-Sync, is there a reason for it?

They did the model dirty lmao. She’s fucking UGLY! And the facial animation is andromeda level bad wtf?

He has to be fucking trolling, she trips over that chin.

 

[yazenov]

They did the model dirty lmao. She’s fucking UGLY! And the facial animation is andromeda level bad wtf?

Gaslighting 101.

The male model is nearly 1:1 identical, minus the scar on the nose. While the female model in game looks like an abomination compared the IRL model.

 

[Bitstream]

I hear what you're saying, shake and bake, but 30FPS is around for the long haul; as long as 60hz tvs are the primary display for the majority of people