Monster Hunter Wilds is anticipated to be an incredible game. However, technical analysis is revealing some concerning signs. There are possibilities and concerns that the console versions, on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, are struggling with performance.
Resolution Fluctuations and Blurry Graphics in Performance Mode
Digital Foundry has analyzed Monster Hunter Wilds for consoles. Their results indicate that achieving a solid 60 frames per second in Performance Mode may require significant graphical sacrifices.
The game uses aggressive dynamic resolution scaling to maintain 60fps. Resolution dips can occur in demanding scenes, reaching as low as 720p. Peak resolution might reach 1080p during less intense moments, but the average resolution is around 900p. This can result in blurry graphics. Visual settings are also lowered considerably in Performance Mode, including reflection detail and LOD pop-in.
Furthermore, AMD's FSR 1 is used for upscaling to 4K. FSR 1 is known for lacking sharpness, especially without proper temporal upsampling. This issue is amplified in this context.
Frame Rate Instability: Not a Locked 60fps Experience
Despite visual sacrifices, Performance Mode does not consistently maintain 60fps. Frame rate dips below 60fps occur, particularly during intense action. A VRR display could improve the experience. Without VRR, these frame drops may be noticeable.
Resolution Mode (30fps target) and Balanced Mode (40fps target on 120Hz displays) offer better stability, though occasional dips still occur. Uncapped frame rate mode does not provide significant performance gains in most situations.
Xbox Series S: Facing More Compromises
The Xbox Series S version faces greater challenges, as expected. It exhibits further visual quality reductions, including lower texture resolution and the absence of screen-space reflections. Resolution is also lower, around or below 1080p, and it seemingly lacks FSR upscaling, resulting in a softer image. The Series S may frequently drop below 30fps during intense monster hunts despite these compromises. This presents a less than ideal situation for a fast-paced action title.
