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Digital Foundry: Starfield PS5/PS5 Pro Review - A Good Game... But There Are Issues

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Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
​



It's been a long wait for Starfield to arrive on PlayStation consoles - but here we are. At a basic level, things land where we expected - broad parity between base PS5 and Series X (though Xbox runs faster in unlocked VRR modes) while PS5 Pro can deliver some useful upgrades. But there are technical issues here - including game-crashing bugs - that must be addressed.


00:00 Introduction
01:00 Mode overload!
02:19 PS5 performance mode 60 FPS
05:25 PS5 visuals mode 30 FPS
08:13 PS5 Pro performance mode 60 FPS and PSSR toggle
11:35 PS5 Pro visuals mode 30 FPS and enhanced mode 30 FPS
14:37 Other mode options: 120Hz and VRR
18:46 Concluding thoughts
 
- Up to 24 possible graphical permutations on the PS5 Pro
- DF are not covering every mode in detail for the length of the video
- PS5 has a total of 7 graphical permutations

- At this point the game crashed for DF numerous times on both PS5 and Pro
- They also noticed hitching in the Series X version in the intro now that wasn't there before in the initial testing

- Base PS5:

- Performance mode runs around 1080p with software VRS and targets 60fps
- Series X counts the same resolution and same kind of VRS
- Looks pretty much the same as the SX version in Performance mode

- Visuals mode has numerous improvements in visual features and can be toggled to 30/40/unlocked fps.
- Not much noted here other than the SX's broader VRR providing better support for higher FPS

- PS5 Pro:

- In Performance mode Some settings are upgraded relative to base PS5 but resolution is lower and goes to 900p w/ PSSR by default, however newer PSSR can be toggled on system level
- The new PSSR, however, comes with its own issues with occlusion issues and 'chunks' showing on image at various points, these issues are not present on the old PSSR that's default in the game.
- John thinks it's still largely better overall though
- Performance drops in CPU limited areas (inside cities) still remain like the other consoles
- Visuals shows similar features to base PS5's visual quality, 1440p to 4K via PSSR
- Enhanced mode goes to 1800p with some higher quality settings like cube maps and shadows, but it runs at 30fps and makes the "Visuals" mode redundant
- DF note the crashes kept bringing them out of the experience

- No proper HDR support

- Other modes rush:
- The game has Graphics, Frame Rate target, V-Sync toggles and the system level PSSR
- V-Sync toggle doesn't do anything and it always remains non

- With unlocked FPS in Performance mode, performance usually goes in this order: PS5 < Series X < PS5 Pro, though PS5 Pro is running lower internal resolution with PSSR
- CPU limited areas can show PS5 Pro run around 10% faster than other consoles

- General recommendation:
- Quality modes at 40hz lock runs fairly decently and seems to be the one they keep citing repeatedly

- Oliver is "not too happy" with the port, with the crashing being his biggest negative point. Other things like the proliferation of graphical modes, broken V-Sync toggle on PS5 and the PS5 Pro port not being the best.
 
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A simple OK port.
The only slightly surprising thing is that the PS5 Pro, in performance mode and unlocked, runs at a lower base resolution (900p) than the Xbox Series X and PS5 (1080p). However, in quality mode, the PS5 Pro runs at 1800p compared to 1440p on the Xbox Series X/PS5. Perhaps they're trying to maximize the frame rate gains after PSSR does its job in tha mode?🤔

P.S. Unlocked frame rate modes are absolutely necessary when using framerate-intensive mods. It's a matter of choice.
 
Meh. I'll keep playing the best PS5Pro update so far, which happened to have been released this week as well : Cyberpunk 2077
 
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Bojji said:
Agree, overall it's better.

I just don't get why resolution is so low on Pro, fuck me.
Click to expand...

it wouldn't surprise me if they applied the pre-patch Xbox SX Performance mode settings to PS5 Pro on accident. it was 900p before on Series X in DF's tests, and is now 1080p... so maybe they applied their old performance settings, added PSSR on top, and then as they increased the resolution on Xbox and PS5 forgot to also adjust that mode on the Pro.

OR... PSSR is just so demanding that it was needed...
 
Seems decent on the base Ps5, might pick it up when it's on sale.
But is it me or is the game ugly as fuck? I've seen some screenshots and gifs posted around here where it looked pretty nice. But in this video every gameplay clip regardless of which graphics mode and console they are showing looks like crap.
 
Is this the first time they've ever released a video late on a Friday?
I wonder why the odd timing with this one.
 
Fbh said:
Seems decent on the base Ps5, might pick it up when it's on sale.
But is it me or is the game ugly as fuck? I've seen some screenshots and gifs posted around here where it looked pretty nice. But in this video every gameplay clip regardless of which graphics mode and console they are showing looks like crap.
Click to expand...

It is mediocre visually.

Sometimes you will be amazed by some random planets but that's about it.
 
Last edited:
Bojji said:
It is mediocre visually.

Sometimes you will be amazed by some random planets but that's about it.
Click to expand...

Yeah seems very uneven to say the least. From the video I gather that the interiors look somewhat better than the exteriors?
Because this
AuS6cbJVR1qgIKof.jpg


Even accounting for Youtube compression and all that looks like a mid budget Ps4 game.
And that's in the graphics mode.
 
Yikes, I was getting a bit tempted to check it out due to the relatively cheap launch price but it will have to wait, hopefully it will be patched.
 
Fbh said:
Yeah seems very uneven to say the least. From the video I gather that the interiors look somewhat better than the exteriors?
Because this
AuS6cbJVR1qgIKof.jpg


Even accounting for Youtube compression and all that looks like a mid budget Ps4 game.
And that's in the graphics mode.
Click to expand...

Ship and bases interiors are probably the most detailed, yeah.

skit_data said:
Yikes, I was getting a bit tempted to check it out due to the relatively cheap launch price but it will have to wait, hopefully it will be patched.
Click to expand...

todd-todd-howard.gif


Bugs and crashes are part of the experience for Bethesda games
 
Last edited:
Bojji said:
Bugs and crashes are part of the experience for Bethesda games
Click to expand...
Yeah I always tend to forget because I rarely play their games, despite not finishing more or less every Bethesda game since Fallout 3 due breaking questlines and/or save files getting corrupted. I tried getting all achievments on the Skyrim Ultra Enhanced Special Extra Edition for PS5 but realized the civil war questline was broken and wouldn't progress about 100 or so hours in.
 
Only Bethesda manages to ruin a PSSR2 and a lower resolution on Performance mode on a console more powerful than a PS5/XSX.
What a crappy company.
 
Bojji said:
Bugs and crashes are part of the experience for Bethesda games
Click to expand...

Haven't played it since the new updates but echoing John that at launch and around the first story DLC, Starfield was by far and wide the most stable Bethesda RPG at launch with little to no issues.

Though it seems like something fucked up in the new updates with all the crashing on PS and the terrible chugs in the intro on SX.
 
"DF note the crashes kept bringing them out of the experience"

Oblivion and now Starfield

WTF, Bethesda?
 
Topher said:
"DF note the crashes kept bringing them out of the experience"

Oblivion and now Starfield

WTF, Bethesda?
Click to expand...
Youre surprised? Bethesda games on ps have almost always been like water and oil.

I still remember how looking into puddles would cause crashing on the ps3 version of skyrim
 
Codes 208 said:
Youre surprised? Bethesda games on ps have almost always been like water and oil.

I still remember how looking into puddles would cause crashing on the ps3 version of skyrim
Click to expand...

On PS3, I could understand. Lots of devs had problems with it. PS has been based on AMD tech for 13 years. Bethesda should be able to figure this out.
 
Nex240 said:
A good game? Something wrong with that title.
Click to expand...
? It is though.

It's not a great game, but I would call it good. It's still the best gunplay BGS has ever produced. Ship combat / dogfighting is also decent, outpost management is improved from FO4, and there are a lot of decent side quests / faction stories.

Yeah the main story is disappointing, none of the characters are really interesting and the engine has some rough limitations for 2026 but it's a good game.
 
Fbh said:
Yeah seems very uneven to say the least. From the video I gather that the interiors look somewhat better than the exteriors?
Because this
AuS6cbJVR1qgIKof.jpg


Even accounting for Youtube compression and all that looks like a mid budget Ps4 game.
And that's in the graphics mode.
Click to expand...
I remember when the game came out I played it because I was bored and had Game Pass (tried it on both Series X and PC), and I was like oh wow this actually looks really good especially for a BGS game and then I left the intro area.

That starting level really looks so much different then anything else I saw in the 5-10 hours that I played before I got bored.
 
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Wait when did Starfield become a "good game"?

I mean we all know it's FULL of Bethesda JENK but this one was really bad from initial reviews/impressions
 
Oliver getting checked by John in the middle of the video was hilarious. Dude has been seriously playing the whole game with old PSSR, looking like this in this game:

Screenshot-2026-04-10-at-4-05-19-PM.png


IMG-0855.jpg


Because there's a glitch with palm tree leaves on PSSR2..

Ice Cube Reaction GIF


DLSS5 backlash must have broke him or something, first the Cyberpunk colossal fuck up and now this in the span of a couple of days ain't normal. Something's off with the guy.
 
almost bought this again on Pro after seeing so many Youtubers fellating this games graphics on the Pro.

Glad I didn't but disappointed to learn how sloppy the port is.

Bethesda, Bethesda never changes.
 
Vick said:
Oliver getting checked by John in the middle of the video was hilarious. Dude has been seriously playing the whole game with old PSSR, looking like this in this game:

Screenshot-2026-04-10-at-4-05-19-PM.png


IMG-0855.jpg


Because there's a glitch with palm tree leaves on PSSR2..

Ice Cube Reaction GIF


DLSS5 backlash must have broke him or something, first the Cyberpunk colossal fuck up and now this in the span of a couple of days ain't normal. Something's off with the guy.
Click to expand...


Yeah, I don't understand why people are taking this video seriously if he used the old version of PSSR. That seems like shoddy work on DF's part.
 
No proper HDR support? I know the game was a little washed out on my Series X, but I think i found recommend settings to make it a little better. Did they mean no support at all?
 
Lame port, but if anyone wants to play it on PS5, here it is.

It's still better than Oliver saying "PSSR" tho, every time it happens i want to kill myself with a potato peeler.
 
I keep seeing Youtubers saying how it looks better on the Pro than they remember it. So who to believe them or Oliver? If he played with old PSSR that coupd explain some of the discrepancy.

I don't trust the opinions of these Youtubers at all because all they care about are clicks and I don't trust Oliver much either. Haven't agreed with a lot of his reporting regarding the Pro.
 
I've been playing for a few days without a magnifying lens and computer eyes to tell me it's not entirely native 4k.

It's been running great and looks great for my Pro on a 77" OLED. I'll try to place my face directly on the screen next time I play to see if I can see a jagged edge.
 
Topher said:
On PS3, I could understand. Lots of devs had problems with it. PS has been based on AMD tech for 13 years. Bethesda should be able to figure this out.
Click to expand...

Bethesda has always screed up in technical terms. For over 3 decades, they have never made something that runs well and is not riddled with bugs.
 
CLW said:
Wait when did Starfield become a "good game"?

I mean we all know it's FULL of Bethesda JENK but this one was really bad from initial reviews/impressions
Click to expand...
LRGFL4LJTMS5A3Lx.jpeg

This is what's considered a "good game".
It's a 7-9 game, with scores varying between those numbers based on your personal preferences.

It's not for everyone though, seen in userscore even if much of it is still bombings. If you still rate it lower than 7 at this point you probably don't like the genre, sci-fi theme, or you haven't tried the new update. There is still jank for sure. And the UI is still a mess. But user score on Steam moved up a lot after the update. Still below 70% but I think it'll climb going by my initial impressions as a long time player.
 
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Started on my SteamOS pc last night, very nice I like the atmosphere.
No HDR in 2026 is wild for a space game. Also couldnt trigger FSR4 in the menu so had to put some launch commands in. Seems to be working now.
 
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