Digital Foundry Article Technical Discussion Archive [2013]

[eastmen]

hmmm

"Unfortunately, at this time, we can't provide final verdicts for either the Xbox One or PS4 versions of the game. Microsoft has specified that review scores must be held until November 12th at 9:00AM PST, and we were not given the opportunity to play the Xbox One version's multiplayer component. Regarding PS4, there were serious stability issues that repeatedly led to crashes after multiplayer matches concluded. As the PS4 is still more than two weeks away from its November 15th launch date, it seems premature to assume that this issue will not be resolved — and penalizing the game this far from the PS4's launch doesn't seem especially fair. We will further evaluate both next generation versions of Battlefield 4 once they launch on their respective platforms next month."

 

[Betanumerical]

So to sum up, the XB1 version has a lower frame rate, lower resolution and less effects?. There also seems to be some texture differences between the two. Some that the XB1 is missing.

 

[Bagel seed]

The sharpening is deliberate by DICE, but that contrast and saturation.. it's the same as this gen with 360 and PS3 gamma differences.

 

[XpiderMX]

So to sum up, the XB1 version has a lower frame rate, lower resolution and less effects?. There also seems to be some texture differences between the two. Some that the XB1 is missing.

Same framerate, lower resolution on Xbox One. Textures are similar, sometimes the PS4 version are worse, and some lighting effects are absent at PS4 (look at 5:12). More jaggies at Xbox One but blurrier at Ps4.

 

[Bagel seed]

Same framerate, lower resolution on Xbox One. Textures are similar, sometimes the PS4 version are worse, and some lighting effects are absent at PS4 (look at 5:12). More jaggies at Xbox One but blurrier at Ps4.

Framerate is not the same.

Having moved ahead in terms of image quality, there's no doubt that Sony's new platform comes out on top overall in the performance metrics too. This is best demonstrated in matching sequences, such as a cut-scene on a Shanghai river where it commands a constant 2-4fps lead, and likewise during the tearing apart of a battleship. In terms of gameplay, the gap widens further during the cannister explosion on the Fishing in Baku stage, with a disparity at well above these numbers - the PS4 regaining 60fps much faster than the fluctuating Xbox One code. We see occasional XO wins in like-for-like testing too, but in our single-player tests, it is clearly the PS4 code that is in the ascendant.

 

[Betanumerical]

Same framerate, lower resolution on Xbox One. Textures are similar, sometimes the PS4 version are worse, and some lights are absent at PS4 (look at 5:12). More jaggies at Xbox One but blurrier at Ps4.

The frame rates both dip, but the XB1 dips far further. XB1 also seems to have crushed blacks.

wrt Framerate drops.
http://abload.de/img/bbt8ewe.png

Both dip in different places but the XB1 seems to drip more often and further.

wrt to textures

http://i.imgur.com/BCpXxjj.jpg

id expect the texture thing to be fixed though.

 

[RenegadeRocks]

Why this difference in gamma ? Is there any reason for that?

EDIT: So the ps4 has higher resolution and still a more stable framerate. So, thats it then.


This is all strange :

As you may notice in our screengrabs, the actual results on PS4 lack the corresponding level of crystal clarity we'd expect of such a significant resolution boost. This should surely be a home run for Sony's console, but what is likely to be a software-based upscale to 1080p delivers less-than-stellar returns, and for better or worse leaves the Xbox One with an often crisper looking, albeit much more aliased image.

What is curious is the level of "pop" given to the Xbox One's textures, where - bizarrely - artwork often seems to be more detailed than on PlayStation 4. In high contrast scenes, we sometimes see a kind of halo effect around some detail, which may suggest some kind of artificial detail-boosting post-process. Whether this is part of Microsoft's new upscaling tech remains to be seen, but we were reminded of the Medal of Honor effect seen in the Darbee Darblet review. However, what is added to texture detail also seems to be applied to XO's most ugly element - its highly noticeable sub-pixel break-up.

The soft blur on PS4 comes across as a missed opportunity given the extra leg-work needed by the PS4's troves of GDDR5 RAM and GPU compute units to hit this 1600x900 mark. Nevertheless the image in motion is clearly the superior of the two - if not quite the knock-out smash we'd expected based on the raw metrics

 

[messyman]

Gamma wise the PS4 and PC look similar.
The X1 version is too dark in some points.

 

[eastmen]

http://i.minus.com/ib2oi1LrWrikmU.gif

textures on the one look better here (look at the ground and grass ) vs the ps4 . So its odd

 

[Delta9]

wow

 

[XpiderMX]

The frame rates both dip, but the XB1 dips far further. XB1 also seems to have crushed blacks.

wrt Framerate drops.
http://abload.de/img/bbt8ewe.png

Both dip in different places but the XB1 seems to drip more often and further.

wrt to textures

http://i.imgur.com/BCpXxjj.jpg

id expect the texture thing to be fixed though.

I mean both are 60fps, not different framerate. Both drop framerate, Xbox One some more.

 

[Bagel seed]

http://i.minus.com/ib2oi1LrWrikmU.gif

textures on the one look better here (look at the ground and grass ) vs the ps4 . So its odd

It's just post process sharpening. I do like the look of it sometimes when I use SweetFX on some games that over blur with piss filters.

Also, DF needs to fix their capture equipment

 

[taisui]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-battlefield-4-next-gen-vs-pc-face-off-preview

PS4 1600x900 with SSAO, X1 1280x720 no SSAO, stabler fps on the PS4. X1 looks "sharper" I think it's just higher contrast.

 

[XpiderMX]

wow

Well...

The result isn't quite as flattering as the campaign mode, but still strong. On 64-player Conquest mode variants of maps such as Lancang Dam or Flood Zone, we get between 40-60fps while in the thick of the action. Sadly, these frame-rate hits do impact gameplay where control latency is concerned.

 

[babybumb]

http://cfa.gamer-network.net/2013/articles//a/1/6/2/7/9/6/6/BF4_XO_005.bmp.jpg
http://cfa.gamer-network.net/2013/articles//a/1/6/2/7/9/6/6/BF4_PS4_005.bmp.jpg
http://cfa.gamer-network.net/2013/articles//a/1/6/2/7/9/6/6/BF4_PC_005.bmp.jpg
http://cfa.gamer-network.net/2013/articles//a/1/6/2/7/9/6/6/BF4_XO_045.bmp.jpg
http://cfa.gamer-network.net/2013/articles//a/1/6/2/7/9/6/6/BF4_PS4_045.bmp.jpg
http://cfa.gamer-network.net/2013/articles//a/1/6/2/7/9/6/6/BF4_PC_045.bmp.jpg

Err XONE looks "sharper" than PC? Something weird going on.. PC even more "washed out" than PS4? XONE black crushed

However, there is discrepancy between the next-gen consoles in the PS4's use of ambient occlusion - which looks comparable to the PC's horizon-based method (HBAO) on ultra settings. This effect creates a gentle shaded halo around your character's hands and gun while approaching walls, adding a sense of depth to 3D objects that would otherwise appear flat. It's a taxing process for any platform

HBAO? Thats insane DICE

 

[djskribbles]

In the DF video, there's a lot of black crush on the X1 version. Wonder if they fixed the gamma issue the X360 had or if they left it the way it was to make things more contrasty.

 

[RenegadeRocks]

The weird difference is gamma is jarring for any proper comparison.
and MP can't be compared cos they did not get to play MP on XOne. Guess, we should just wait for retail relees and comparisons. THey are mentioning crashes in the PS4 MP version too.

 

[Gitaroo]

you can probably tweak your tv setting easily to get the same result as XO version, here some gaffer run PS4 shot with GIMP

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=87923701&postcount=909

same thing with 360 and PS3 this gen.

 

[djskribbles]

So DF has a comparison video out , apparently the ps4 is 900p but has some weird muted color thing going on while the one is 720p but doesn't hae the muted thing happening so textures look much better as does a lot of the lighting.

Really weird there. Hopefully a patch brings the one up to 900p and fixes the muted color stuff on the ps4


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XqWRACk2zY

It's not a muted color thing going on the PS4, it looks like an incorrect gamma output on the X1, just like the X360 had. There's a lot of black crush on the X1 version, but it looks more punchy because of it.

edit: I should have read past your post... beaten several times.

 

[Gitaroo]

welp

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=87924675&postcount=1173