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stryke · Jul 11, 2015

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2015-f1-2015-performance-analysis

F1 2015 is an enticing prospect for fans of Codemasters' racing series. Built using a reworked version of its existing Ego engine, this year's instalment is the first driving game from the studio that targets 60fps since the Colin McRae Rally titles on PS2 and the original Xbox. PS3 and Xbox One saw a prevalence of 30fps caps, but with the new wave of consoles there's a sense that things are starting to change - that there's more of a focus on 60fps gameplay in genres that particularly stand to benefit from smoother, more responsive action.

Native 1080p resolution is also present on the PS4, though the Xbox One game gets a 31 per cent cut in pixel density down to 900p. However, the difference has less of an impact than the numbers suggest: the overall presentation appears a little softer on the Microsoft platform, with a touch more sub-pixel break-up and a slight reduction in resolved texture detail, but otherwise, image quality is broadly comparable to the PS4 game. Codemasters' use of post-processing effects and anti-aliasing results in a softened look to the game across all formats, and this works in favour of the Xbox One release by avoiding the sharp lines that highlight upscaled jaggies.

Kicking off with a run through in the first part of Monaco, we find frame-rates hovering between 50-60fps on the PS4, with performance hitting lows of around 45fps during crashes or spin-outs when other cars are around. The combination of twisting turns and detailed scenery highlights the judder caused by this inconsistency, and as we dart through the narrow city streets the experience feels uneven as a result.

In comparison, the Xbox One version has a much tougher time in reaching the ideal 60fps goal despite the resolution drop, and frequently we find the game operating 10fps slower than the PS4 version in comparable scenes. Performance sticks closely in the 45-50fps area throughout a general run of play, with constant screen-tearing part of the package.

As a title targeting 60fps, F1 2015 is on shaky ground. Performance is by no means close to being stable, but the PS4 version comes closest to hitting the target, delivering gameplay that feels a step up in terms of precision and responsiveness, especially when compared directly to the last-gen 30fps titles. The situation is more compromised on Xbox One, with judder more frequently interrupting the experience than we'd like.

Framerate test

Other things I noted:
- I don't think 900p is entirely correct. From my counting ~1344x1080 is more accurate. If someone else can pixel count that would be great.
- grass seems to be randomly generated
- PS4 seems to have more shadowing/AO?
- Background geometry of the buildings is off in Monaco on PS4, for some reason a couple of buildings have been lowered, which is further accentuated by the people on the roof floating in mid air.

John Bender · Jul 11, 2015

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1078337

StrongBlackVine · Jul 11, 2015

Is this an early look or finished product?

Keyser Soze · Jul 11, 2015

StrongBlackVine said:
Is this an early look or finished product?

Game was released Friday

Miles Quaritch · Jul 11, 2015

Taller buildings and blinds down = X1 superior.

stryke · Jul 11, 2015

Since I watch F1 I feel like maybe I should know this but why is there two different car models for Mercedes? Is one of them the B-spec?

Javin98 · Jul 11, 2015

What you said may be true, OP. I'm no pixel counting expert, but the XB1 version didn't seem like 900p to me. 900p is usually blurrier than this. Either way, this is yet another game that has both resolution and frame rate advantage on PS4. Also, those floating buildings look weird. Looks more like a glitch than anything.

Backfoggen · Jul 11, 2015

stryke said:

PS4 buildings lack stability confirmed

brobban · Jul 11, 2015

Shame, was planning on buying for PS4 if the framerate was solid.
Will wait and see if the performance increases after a patch or two

Javin98 · Jul 11, 2015

stryke said:

Is it just me or does the XB1 version lack AO as well? Look at that traffic light (?) and railings to the side. There seems to be missing shadows. This what you meant, OP?

GribbleGrunger · Jul 11, 2015

LOL

Native 1080p resolution is also present on the PS4, though the Xbox One game gets a 31 per cent cut in pixel density down to 900p. However, the difference has less of an impact than the numbers suggest: the overall presentation appears a little softer on the Microsoft platform, with a touch more sub-pixel break-up and a slight reduction in resolved texture detail, but otherwise, image quality is broadly comparable to the PS4 game. Codemasters' use of post-processing effects and anti-aliasing results in a softened look to the game across all formats, and this works in favour of the Xbox One release by avoiding the sharp lines that highlight upscaled jaggies.

Mula · Jul 11, 2015

Lightning/shadowing looks realy better on PS4. Different AO ?

allan-bh · Jul 11, 2015

IQ seems similar on PS4 and Xbox One. Too bad the frame rate fluctuates too much even in PS4.

But the worst news for me is a near constant tearing.

Solaire of Astora · Jul 11, 2015

stryke said:
Since I watch F1 I feel like maybe I should know this but why is there two different car models for Mercedes? Is one of them the B-spec?

The game has cars from 2014 and 2015.

Green Yoshi · Jul 11, 2015

In comparison, the Xbox One version has a much tougher time in reaching the ideal 60fps goal despite the resolution drop, and frequently we find the game operating 10fps slower than the PS4 version in comparable scenes. Performance sticks closely in the 45-50fps area throughout a general run of play, with constant screen-tearing part of the package.

This sounds bad. :-(

Seanspeed · Jul 11, 2015

GribbleGrunger said:
LOL

Don't know what's so funny there. Softening an image doesn't get rid of jaggies/aliasing, but it can reduce the noticeability of them.

stryke · Jul 11, 2015

Solaire of Astora said:
The game has cars from 2014 and 2015.

Ah.

flipswitch · Jul 11, 2015

XB1version has constant tearing, what about on PS4?

Portugeezer · Jul 11, 2015

Tired of this 60fpr this gen, if you do 60fps make it a good 60fps.

Not this 40 - 60fps bullshit. That is not 60fps.

Seanspeed · Jul 11, 2015

flipswitch said:
XB1version has constant tearing, what about on PS4?

Apparently still has tearing, but its minor(according to those in the OT thread who posted an example of it).

Also, XB1 version does seem to lack AO, though outside of the Armco in the Monaco pic, I had to really dig to find another example where it was noticeable:

Honestly, I think the IQ in this game looks like ass in screenshots. The CA is awful and has no place in this sort of game.

Kysen · Jul 11, 2015

You've got to wonder if PS4 dropped to 900p would it deliver a locked 60?

dragonfart28 · Jul 11, 2015

Seanspeed said:
Don't know what's so funny there. Softening an image doesn't get rid of jaggies/aliasing, but it can reduce the noticeability of them.

Agreed.

I would say it's a rare case, but sometimes a lower resolution with more AA looks better than a higher resolution without it.

But looking at the performance of both consoles, it would make more sense just to get the PC version.

shaki123 · Jul 11, 2015

dragonfart28 said:
Agreed.

I would say it's a rare case, but sometimes a lower resolution with more AA looks better than a higher resolution without it.

But looking at the performance of both consoles, it would make more sense just to get the PC version.

Do not buy the PC version. At least, if you want to play online. Game is completely broken as shit.

Kayant · Jul 11, 2015

flipswitch said:
XB1 version has constant tearing, what about on PS4?

If you watch the framerate test you can see tearing on both.

Kysen said:
You've got to wonder if PS4 dropped to 900p would it deliver a locked 60?

Would depend if they are GPU bottlenecked.

dragonfart28 said:
Agreed.
I would say it's a rare case, but sometimes a lower resolution with more AA looks better than a higher resolution without it.

But looking at the performance of both consoles, it would make more sense just to get the PC version.

I think that depends also on what AA is being used. It's kinda like with DSR where the image can be blurry even though it's being downsampled from a higher resolution.

Shin-Ra · Jul 11, 2015

OMG a racing game with good AF!

High levels of anisotropic filtering (possibly even full-on 16x) ensure texture mip-map layers blend seamlessly into each other, with details remaining clear as the road surface and surrounding grass and gravel extend out into the distance.

stryke · Jul 11, 2015

Here's possibly another example of difference with AO

Javin98 · Jul 11, 2015

stryke said:
Here's possibly another example of difference with AO

Yup, definitely looks like AO is missing on the XB1 version. Strange how DF didn't comment on it.

Dictator93 · Jul 11, 2015

Javin98 said:
Yup, definitely looks like AO is missing on the XB1 version. Strange how DF didn't comment on it.

Preliminary performance thing, not a face-off right?

Javin98 · Jul 11, 2015

Dictator93 said:
Preliminary performance thing, not a face-off right?

True, but they mentioned AF. Doesn't seem like a stretch to mention AO as well in this article, don't you think? Especially since it is quite noticeable.

madmackem · Jul 11, 2015

Seanspeed said:
Don't know what's so funny there. Softening an image doesn't get rid of jaggies/aliasing, but it can reduce the noticeability of them.

By having a blurry image yet they say the image quality is equal which one is it.

Certinty · Jul 11, 2015

Performance doesn't seem that bad that I'll give the game a complete miss, but definitely getting it on PS4 now.

Shin-Ra · Jul 11, 2015

Sharpen filter on Xbone again?

Mr E. · Jul 11, 2015

Kysen said:
You've got to wonder if PS4 dropped to 900p would it deliver a locked 60?

Wouldn't the abhorrent 900p rip there eyes out tho? Lol.

Discusguy · Jul 11, 2015

Framerate is ass. If Codemasters can't keep a locked 60fps don't even bother.

eso76 · Jul 11, 2015

Javin98 said:
Yup, definitely looks like AO is missing on the XB1 version. Strange how DF didn't comment on it.

DF hasn't been as thorough and accurate as it used to lately.

Vinsanity. · Jul 11, 2015

FANTASTIC

Shin-Ra · Jul 11, 2015

I wonder if the Xbone SDK defaults to sharpening upscaled games with the option to turn it off.

It's even more noticeable on the right-angle frame edge to the right of the UBS board.

Seanspeed · Jul 11, 2015

eso76 said:
DF hasn't been as thorough and accurate as it used to lately.

Its not the full analysis.

madmackem said:
By having a blurry image yet they say the image quality is equal which one is it.

Its really not difficult and I've explained it already, not that DF needed to explain it further in the first place.

They also said broadly comparable, not equal.

Javin98 · Jul 11, 2015

eso76 said:
DF hasn't been as thorough and accurate as it used to lately.

I have to agree with this. Even some of their face off articles seem to have inadequate info about the games' visuals.

travisbickle · Jul 11, 2015

The IQ looks as "bad" as it usually does for a non-native version.

Seanspeed · Jul 11, 2015

Javin98 said:
I have to agree with this. Even some of their face off articles seem to have inadequate info about the games' visuals.

They've never been 100% perfect and accurate or caught absolutely everything every time. People are just paying more attention now especially after the heavy duty DF bashing that went on for a little while there.

Shin-Ra · Jul 11, 2015

The water spray low-res transparency's a pretty big eyesore in the rain but it's fairly convincingly dense.

Javin98 · Jul 11, 2015

Seanspeed said:
They've never been 100% perfect and accurate or caught absolutely everything every time. People are just paying more attention now especially after the heavy duty DF bashing that went on for a little while there.

I never said or expected them or any other tech site to be perfect in the first place. But I do expect them to be more thorough in their analysis. I mean, they can save the other stuff for the full face off, but an effect that has a noticeable impact such as AO was not even mentioned or hinted at. Imagine if NXGamer missed out something like that.

Diablohead · Jul 11, 2015

Reminds me of the building which was moved in the final version of resident evil 2 compared to it's demo where you could see it's windows correctly.

Anarion07 · Jul 11, 2015

Oh man that really goes to show valuable AO really is.
But having it missing completely on XO seems like some kind of bug to me?

Seanspeed · Jul 11, 2015

Javin98 said:
I never said or expected them or any other tech site to be perfect in the first place. But I do expect them to be more thorough in their analysis. I mean, they can save the other stuff for the full face off, but an effect that has a noticeable impact such as AO was not even mentioned or hinted at. Imagine if NXGamer missed out something like that.

This isn't the full analysis, once again. Which you even mention. C'mon now.

I also wouldn't say this has a significant impact in this game from what I've seen and will be even less noticeable at F1 speeds...

And if NXGamer missed it, nobody would care because he seems to be able to get away with all sorts of things and the same people I regularly see criticize DF usually show nothing but praise for NXGamer.

Javin98 · Jul 11, 2015

Seanspeed said:
This isn't the full analysis, once again. Which you even mention. C'mon now.

I also wouldn't say this has a significant impact in this game from what I've seen and will be even less noticeable at F1 speeds...

And if NXGamer missed it, nobody would care because he seems to be able to get away with all sorts of things and the same people I regularly see criticize DF usually show nothing but praise for NXGamer.

And like I said earlier, DF mentioned AF in this article, but didn't mention the lack of AO on the XB1 version. Shouldn't something this noticeable be pointed out in this article as well? Whether it is significant to you or not is irrelevant. The point is AO is missing in the XB1 version whether by accident or intentionally. Also, I find it ironic that most people find HBAO+ to look significantly better than SSAO but you said that the lack of AO is insignificant here. And regarding NXGamer, I can already list several posters who will jump on him even if it was a small mistake.

Angel_DvA · Jul 11, 2015

Both console are missing power but one more than the other, i think we can stop with the Xbox One has better framerate when Sony has the better resolution when those things were true on "3" games that have a partner deal with MS.

the PS4 version building issue is probably a glitch, it will be patch pretty soon but the lack of AO from the X0 is a bigger problem, we have to wait for the full analysis but it's a clear victory for the PS4 here.

Three · Jul 11, 2015

Seanspeed said:
This isn't the full analysis, once again. Which you even mention. C'mon now.

I also wouldn't say this has a significant impact in this game from what I've seen and will be even less noticeable at F1 speeds...

And if NXGamer missed it, nobody would care because he seems to be able to get away with all sorts of things and the same people I regularly see criticize DF usually show nothing but praise for NXGamer.

Preliminary performance analysis which talks about resolution and AF. Come on now, they missed it. No need to start making excuses.

Backfoggen · Jul 11, 2015

Javin98 said:
I never said or expected them or any other tech site to be perfect in the first place. But I do expect them to be more thorough in their analysis. I mean, they can save the other stuff for the full face off, but an effect that has a noticeable impact such as AO was not even mentioned or hinted at. Imagine if NXGamer missed out something like that.

Oh, NXGamer has made plenty mistakes in the past. Doesn't stop people on here from trying to push him as the new go-to unbiased tech analyst.

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