Graphics
Ongoing coverage on Graphics.
Latest coverage
Conan Exiles Enhanced is officially live for Steam gamers today with an engine upgrade and boosted graphics
Funcom, in partnership with Inflexion Games, has released Conan Exiles Enhanced, a free upgrade for Steam players featuring an engine overhaul to Unreal Engine 5, boosted graphics, and a revitalized UI. This significant update, launching just before the game's 8th anniversary, unifies the Exiled Lands and Isle of Siptah into a single experience. The enhancements are exclusive to Steam and will not be available on consoles.
Video: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Nintendo Switch 2 vs. PS5 vs. Xbox Series S graphics comparison
A new comparison video showcases the graphical differences between Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S. The Nintendo Switch 2 version, running at 30 frames per second, features some visual cutbacks compared to the PlayStation 5, such as missing food items and reduced vegetation, though it appears comparable to the Xbox Series S in some aspects.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth confirms Nintendo Switch 2 resolution, dev talks hair rendering changes
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi revealed the game's internal resolution ranges for the Nintendo Switch 2, with dynamic scaling between 756p-380p in handheld and 1080p-540p in docked mode, enhanced by DLSS. Hamaguchi also discussed subtle blur adjustments for hair rendering to achieve a natural balance within the Switch 2's environmental constraints.
Roblox announces AI-driven upscaler called Roblox Reality
Roblox has announced Roblox Reality, an AI-driven upscaler designed to generate high-fidelity visuals and significantly reduce development time and cost for creators. The technology integrates the existing Roblox Cloud and Game Engine with AI-driven Video World Models to enhance rendering details. An early version is expected later this year or in early 2027.
Roblox unveils photorealistic AI graphics overhaul and fans already hate it
Roblox Corporation has unveiled Roblox Reality, an AI-powered system designed to bring photorealistic graphics to the platform. Despite the potential for enhanced visuals, the announcement has been met with criticism from fans and players who dislike the shift away from Roblox's traditional aesthetic. The company also confirmed that this new feature will not be free, requiring a subscription or payment due to its reliance on cloud computing.
Roblox Announces New AI-Powered Graphics Overhaul, and Fans Aren't Happy
Roblox has announced a significant overhaul of its graphics powered by artificial intelligence. However, the announcement has been met with dissatisfaction from some members of the game's community.
Crimson Desert PS5 Re-Review – A Patchwork of Brilliance
This re-review of Crimson Desert on PlayStation 5 highlights significant improvements made through recent patches, particularly in graphics and gameplay mechanics. While the main story and some character development remain weak points, the game's open world, immersive systems, and refined combat now offer a much stronger experience than at launch, making it a compelling, albeit flawed, addition to the action RPG genre.
Arc Raiders – upgraded PS5 Pro PSSR upscaling available April 28
Embark Studios has released update 1.26 for Arc Raiders, introducing an upgraded PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) upscaling technology for PlayStation 5 Pro players. This enhancement aims to provide sharper, more stable visuals with reduced artifacts and improved reconstruction of moving objects, without impacting performance. Base PlayStation 5 models will continue to use TSR upscaling.
Pokémon Champions producer Masaaki Hoshino says the game has to deal with more "limitations" when it comes to graphics
Masaaki Hoshino, producer for Pokémon Champions, addressed fan criticisms regarding the game's visual presentation and performance limitations, particularly on the Nintendo Switch. He explained that compared to Pokkén Tournament, Pokémon Champions faces more constraints, partly due to its need to run on mobile devices, though he highlighted improvements in shadows and battle effects.
The Switch 2 is a graphical powerhouse and soon Nintendo will prove it - Reader’s Feature
A reader speculates on Nintendo's strategy for the Nintendo Switch 2, suggesting its increased power is intended for high-fidelity games not yet revealed. The author theorizes that Nintendo is holding back major titles, possibly including a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time or a new 3D Mario game, to showcase the console's graphical capabilities, which are on par with current-generation platforms like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S.
'PS5 Pro Redefines the Graphics Experience on Consoles': Assassin's Creed Remake Promises 'No Compromise' on Sony's System
Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced will leverage the PlayStation 5 Pro's enhanced capabilities, particularly its upscaling technology, to deliver a "no compromise" graphical experience. Ubisoft developers highlighted improvements in ray tracing, image stability, and overall visual fidelity, noting that the game is rebuilt on the Anvil engine with more detailed characters and denser environments.
Upscaling issues continue to plague Crimson Desert post-patch, but Pearl Abyss isn't throwing in the towel
Crimson Desert continues to experience upscaling issues, particularly with Intel's XeSS and AMD's FSR Ray Regeneration, following a recent patch. Developer Pearl Abyss is actively working on resolving these graphical problems, which include blurry environments and screen flickering, while also implementing other game improvements.
Games Inbox: Did you know GTA 6 was made in the UK?
This article discusses the UK's role in game development, highlighting that Grand Theft Auto 6 is being made in Scotland by Rockstar Games. It also touches on reader opinions regarding Nintendo's lack of Star Fox announcements, the potential for a Starwing remake, and the perceived decline of UK-based game developers. Other topics include the leak status of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, the technical capabilities of the PS5 Pro, and the development of games like Pragmata and Fallout: New Vegas.
Indie Developer Transforms Choppy River Graphics Into Smooth Flowing Curves
An independent developer has showcased a significant visual upgrade, transforming their game's rivers from blocky hexagonal tiles into smooth, flowing curves. This iterative improvement highlights the attention to detail often found in indie game development, enhancing the game's aesthetic and potentially impacting gameplay elements like pathfinding.
Saros will have PSSR 2 on PS5 Pro for 'an even clearer higher resolution image at 60fps' but story cinematics…
Developer Housemarque has confirmed that Saros will utilize PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution 2 (PSSR 2) on the PlayStation 5 Pro, offering a sharper image at 60fps. While gameplay will maintain a high frame rate, story cinematics will run at 30fps on both the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro to prioritize visual quality.
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire Scores 83/100 as Critics Praise Graphics, Slam Difficulty
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire has received a review score of 83/100, with critics praising its graphics, animations, exploration, soundtrack, and characters. However, the game has been criticized for its high difficulty and narrative issues. Despite its flaws, the score indicates a solid success for an indie detective title.
Crimson Desert’s Momentum Continues With 10 Incredible New Changes
Crimson Desert has received another significant update, introducing numerous changes and improvements based on player feedback and previously discovered bugs. Key additions include toggling weapon visibility, faster dialogue progression, improved targeting and fast travel systems, and new aerial movement options. The update also brings enhanced skills for companions Damiane and Oongka, official Intel Arc GPU support with XeSS 3.0, and various quality-of-life improvements to the world map, font size, camera options, and inventory management.
RuneScape’s Road to Restoration reaches rendering reforms to refine representation
RuneScape is implementing rendering reforms as part of its 'Road to Restoration' initiative to improve the game's visual presentation. These updates focus on refining lighting, shadows, and character models to achieve a more organic and natural look, addressing issues like plastic-like textures and inconsistent shadows.
Starfield PS5 Review: Free Lanes Update Makes it Bethesda’s Best RPG in Years - Vice
Starfield is now available on PlayStation 5, with a "Enhanced" graphics mode showcased on the PS5 Pro. The article highlights gameplay from New Atlantis and orbital dogfights, testing the console's performance in the vast Settled Systems.
Pokémon Champions Launch Woes Continue as Switch 2 Players Discover They Must Manually Dock and Undock Consoles for Best Graphics
Pokémon Champions has launched with a bug affecting the Nintendo Switch 2, preventing higher 4K visuals when the console is docked. Players must manually undock and then re-dock their console to enable the best graphics settings.