Destiny 2 on the next gen offers the upgrade that matters

Bungie is launching into next-gen systems with additional support for Destiny 2 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, and X, delivering the key feature many fans have been waiting for: a jump to 60 frames per second. But how successful has the next generation transition been? How do the three new consoles stack up against each other and what are the major upgrades beyond the increased frame rate? Bungie is renowned not only for its excellent visual design and solid technology, but also for delivering very similar experiences across all platforms – and the same is true with Destiny 2.

To keep things simple, Destiny 2 offers true 4K resolution on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, with the pixel count resolving to native resolution of 3840×2160 on each in a large majority of test plans. Bungie has developed a dynamic resolution system for this engine (most notably used on the PS4 pro), and it’s probably deployed here as well, although it looks minimal. There is also an element of uncertainty about the operation of the DRS system; a lower limit of 2560×2160 is considered a very rare extreme on every new generation machine. However, where there are brief signs of sub-native rendering, it may just be lower resolution effect buffers producing aliases. Overall, this is a clear positive. Essentially, moving from PS4 Pro to PS5, you double the frame rate and remove the most glaring drops in resolution when using DRS. Meanwhile, comparing the 4K picture on Xbox One X and Series X, there isn’t much to differentiate them visually except for the huge performance upgrade.

For testing, I used the initial tutorial steps for comparisons, which brings us back to the classic cosmodrome area of ​​the first Destiny – plus the decisive battles from the latest Destiny 2 expansions. Importantly, there is cross-play compatibility. within specific console families, so PS4 / Pro owners can play with PS5 players, while the same is true for Xbox One and Xbox Series families. This may perhaps explain why very little has changed beyond performance: key rendering features remain unchanged, and even the disappointing texture filtering quality is fully on par with the X series with One X. Thoughts may have changed slightly, but it’s clear that Bungie’s focus here has been on increasing the frame rate, which it couldn’t do on last-gen systems due to limitations. processor.

Image quality comparisons between PS5 and Series X reveal that Bungie has set a visual bar for consoles that it doesn’t intend to deviate from. The games are effectively identical – the PS5 only showing a slightly higher rate of resolution drop below 4K. In fact, the evidence seems to indicate that the Microsoft machine is not using DRS much, if at all. Performance at 60 fps is generally excellent on the X-Series too, but there are some minor frame rate drops from the target 60 fps, while the PlayStation 5 is slightly more consistent in this area. In short: a little more clarity on Xbox, but a very occasionally smoother ride on the Sony machine. For its part, the S-series has a similar performance profile to its big brother, and although we noted the DRS in effect here (with the maximum lens of 1920×1080), it barely shows up. It’s a solid version of the game.

Another key next-gen improvement is the ability to adjust the field of view, expanding the visible playing area to the user’s liking. It’s a slider available on all new generation systems, and without a doubt, a welcome addition to competitive gaming. For the record, I did not notice any impact on performance by widening the field of view. A somewhat controversial addition is also intriguing: 120 fps play in the game’s PvP Crucible area, available only to X-Series and PlayStation 5 users (where the S-Series tops out at 60). Technically, the PS5 and Xbox Series X lower the target render resolution to 1440p at 120Hz – which is, coincidentally, the limit for games at 120Hz on some HDMI 2.0 TVs. In order to maintain high frame rates, horizontal dynamic resolution scaling is in effect – I noted a minimum of 1520×1440. In-game, the X-Series again has more dips below 120 fps, although each can drop to the 80-90 fps region in Iron Banner mode, especially when a lot of Super Charge moves stack up.

All in all, adding a 120Hz rendering of the Crucible is a wonderful extra, but I’m concerned that last-gen console gamers still locked at 30fps have to face gamers at 120fps. and 60 fps on their shiny new consoles. It’s definitely an uneven competition when next gen users get so much more visual feedback with lower input latency as a result, plus the FOV slider for an extended view of each card.

Ultimately, while next-gen improvements beyond frame rate are slim in the field, Destiny 2 on Xbox Series and PlayStation 5 uses the enhanced capabilities of each machine to good effect to deliver competitive improvement. online. Running the game at 60 fps and beyond was previously the preserve of PC and Stadia-only gamers, and finally we have it here. Considering all of this, now is the perfect time to get back into the game – the Beyond Light expansion is worth a visit, while Bungie clearly has ambitious plans for Destiny 2 in 2021: cross-play on all systems is promised. and with a high-rate performance framework now available to console users, there is now closer parity with the excellent PC version. We can’t wait to see what Bungie has in development with the next gen consoles as a baseline, but in the meantime, new content and performance improvements give Destiny 2 a boost for console gamers.