Control Resonant is set to release on September 24, and Digital Foundry’s tech experts compared the project’s work on Xbox Series X | S and PlayStation 5 | Pro. The game is created on the Northlight engine, which Remedy Entertainment previously used in Alan Wake 2.
Journalists note that developers have significantly improved the technology in order to use it in a larger semi-open world. The game uses global lighting, volumetric fog, screen reflections, and physically destructible objects. However, the increased draw distance can cause shadows, reflections, and image quality issues on the console. Highlights comparing Control Resonant on Xbox and Playstation:
- There are two graphics modes available on Xbox Series X and the base Playstation 5. The performance-first option uses a resolution of approximately 864p, scaled to 1440p at 60 FPS, and the frame rate may drop to 33-35 FPS during particularly difficult moments. In “Quality” mode, the resolution is 1260p, 30 FPS, and up to 17 frames are dropped.
- By prioritizing quality, players not only get higher resolutions, but also improved shadows and reflections. The most obvious difference between the Xbox Series X version and the Playstation 5 is a rare tearing at the top of the screen when performance drops. However, the average frame rate of Microsoft’s console was slightly higher, but it also fell short of the target.
- Xbox Series S operates at a resolution of approximately 864p in one mode and targets 30 FPS. Graphics settings, including shadows, reflections, and models, are mostly consistent with performance modes on Xbox Series X and Playstation 5. The game will typically maintain 30 FPS, but during particularly difficult moments the frame rate may drop closer to 20 frames per second.
- The Playstation 5 Pro uses PSSR and improves image quality at an internal resolution of around 864p, just like a standard Playstation 5 or Xbox Series X, but games are more stable at 60 FPS, although framerate drops often occur. In quality mode, the resolution is approximately 1224p, 30 FPS, and reflections and shadow tracking are added. Balanced mode offers approximately 1080p, the same RT effects, and a target of 40 FPS. The Playstation 5 Pro is the only console with hardware ray tracing.
Overall, Digital Foundry feels that Control Resonant’s optimization is less than ideal. The game on all consoles suffers from significant framerate stability issues, which clearly affects gameplay.
