Xbox Games Have One Huge Advantage Over PS5
The release of the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 are right on the horizon. With some gamers still trying to decide which console to go with, the more diehard fans are finding ways of illustrating the differences between the two consoles. In particular, one social media post has been making the rounds that has gamers wondering if the Xbox Series X has a major advantage over the PS5.
Twitter user SnoopyG7 has compiled a list of the games on both upcoming consoles that are capable of running at 120fps. The results are pretty surprising, with the Series X boasting a whopping 15 confirmed titles. These include heavy hitters like Gears 5 and Ori and the Will of the Wisps, so fans will be happy to know that these games will feature some impressively high framerates.
On the PlayStation 5 side of things, at least according to this post, things are looking pretty dire. As of right now, the PlayStation 5 seems to only have 5 games announced that are capable of running at 120fps. These games are Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Dirt 5, Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition, Rainbow Six Siege, and Monster Boy and The Cursed Kingdom. And yes, all of those games are going to be available on the Xbox Series X, as well.
I'll just leave this here. pic.twitter.com/yiPIvsqN0q
— Snoopy (@SnoopyG7) October 20, 2020
It is worth noting that a good number of the games that run at 120fps on both consoles are older titles. Games like Rainbow Six Siege and Halo: The Master Chief Collection have been available for quite a while, but are getting a facelift for the new consoles. There are also a few games on this list, including Metal: Hellsinger and Halo Infinite, that do not yet have proper release dates. Halo Infinite was infamously delayed earlier this year, pushed out to an unknown window in 2021. However, that has not stopped Xbox from using that delayed game to sell the Series X.
Speaking of Halo Infinite, some of the replies to SnoopyG7's list have used that game in particular to take issue with SnoopyG7's point. More than a few people have argued that having a higher framerate doesn't necessarily mean that a specific game will actually look better than others. In many cases, lower quality graphics can be easier to run at a higher framerate. This is why so many of the games on the 120fps lists are from at least a year ago or older (with a few exceptions). One person simply replied with a screenshot of Halo Infinite's much-derided graphics, allowing that to speak for itself.
A few commenters have pointed out that not everyone will be able to reap the full benefits of these 120fps games. Depending on what type of television you have, you may not even notice that much of a different from a visual standpoint. Even if your TV is capable of 120HZ, it still needs to support HDMI 2.1. As clarified in a breakdown by VentureBeat, it's looking like many fans excited for 120fps gaming may have to upgrade their televisions before they can actually take full advantage of 120fps. In many cases, gamers without the proper display may have to choose framerate over resolution, and vice-versa.
One fan in particular felt that SnoopyG7 was being unfair in coming after PlayStation. This person tweeted, "I've got XSX pre-ordered for day one but this post is a joke... poking fun at games on the console that has dominated exclusives for as long as I can remember with a feature (120fps) that 99% can't use."
It seems like some fans felt that SnoopyG7's original post was too nitpicky. This is probably why so many comments are also from people who are tired of these kinds of arguments. One person tweeted that they hated the concept of "console wars," and that the two next-gen systems were closer in quality than anyone is willing to admit.
It's also worth remembering how far video game visuals tend to evolve over the course of a single console generation. Near the end of the PS4 and One X life cycle, gamers are seeing titles like The Last of Us Part 2 and Gears 5 that push their respective consoles to their limit. It's likely that this will happen with the new consoles, as well.
Still, it is undeniable that Microsoft has more announced titles that run at 120fps, even if it may be a little while before most console gamers are going to be able to tell the difference. The difference in framerate may not be a big deal to some gamers, who are solely focused on the gameplay (and in some cases, brand loyalty). However, it does seem like this may be one area where Microsoft has Sony beat. People who are looking for the fastest refresh rates in their gaming experiences have just been given a clear look at where to go, at least at the launch of the new console generation.