In this respect, the X version of Nier Automata feels similar to the Pro game, dropping frames in the most effects-heavy scenes. The answer there - based on the demo code, at least - is in the negative, but the overall experience is still pleasingly smooth. The question is really whether Xbox One X can hold onto its enhancements while still delivering smooth 60fps performance. Dynamic shadow quality seems a touch blurrier on X, but it's hardly noticeable in the heat of the action. Whether it's from a higher base resolution or via an increase in sample count, texture filtering shows an improvement, while per-object motion blur is retained with the addition of a camera movement blur too. It's tough to figure out exactly what's going on here, but it's certainly one of the least consistent reconstruction techniques we've seen and compared to the PC version running at 3840x2160, it doesn't really pass as a 4K experience, just a sharper one when stacked up against the Pro.īeyond a cleaner image over PlayStation 4 Pro, there are other upgrades. In motion, it holds together in many areas, but high contrast scenes still show harsh jaggies and sub-pixel break-up is commonplace. Quite what is happening here is difficult to fathom though, as there's a lot of noise in there, a touch of stippling suggesting a technique similar to the MSAA 'hack' used by Rainbow Six Siege, as well as some vertical interlacing on certain effects suggesting that at some point in the pipeline, Nier Automata is rendering at half-res 1920x2160.
The FAR mod can dial back its quality levels with only limited impact on visual quality, and right now this is the only way to get Platinum's brilliant game operating at anything approaching a sustained 60 frames per second at 4K on GTX 1080 Ti-class hardware.īy extension, this makes the idea of a full 4K Xbox One X game seem unlikely, and looking closely at our footage, the evidence points to some form of reconstruction algorithm, with extra detail extrapolated out from a lower resolution base image.
Over a year on, this release still has issues - most of them thankfully resolved by the FAR mod - but the big takeaway is that the global illumination system used in Nier Automata is remarkably demanding on GPU resources.
We know this not just from the PlayStation 4 Pro version's relatively low 1080p resolution but also because of how difficult it is to extract decent performance from the PC build. But native 4K? That's quite a push bearing in mind that Nier Automata is actually a really demanding game. And it's clear straight from the off that there is a resolution advantage on Xbox One X, delivering a significantly crisper image. It's a decent enough workout for the engine, featuring an expansive stage to explore with a variety of scenarios, including some taxing boss encounters. The content we had to sample was effectively a mirror for the existing PlayStation 4 playable demo, delivering the entirety of the first full level beyond the prologue.
So is the upgrade as substantial as Microsoft suggests? Indeed, Microsoft's list of X-enhanced titles suggests that we'll be receiving a 4K ultra HD experience (with HDR, no less) - a substantial boost over the PS4 Pro's 1080p showing. Better yet, the game is due for release next week and our E3 hands-on suggests that Xbox One X is set to deliver the best version of the game yet. At least with Steam's refund policy, you can test it and then put your $60/£40 toward another game if it doesn't run to your liking.īo Moore contributed testing to this article.A welcome announcement at Microsoft's E3 2018 media briefing, Nier Automata is receiving a long-overdue port onto Xbox One. I'm willing to play Nier: Automata under these conditions (only because I really want to play it) but performance sticklers beware.
Those who are experiencing regular crashing, however, may find the issue especially frustrating in Nier, because it does not use autosaving-I foresee great sadness in someone's future.Īll combined, these issues make for a playable but somewhat disappointing port-at least until a hypothetical patch comes out.
I haven't had any crashes when I leave ShadowPlay, FRAPs, and MSI Afterburner out of it. Other Steam users have also reported frequent crashes, but I've only had two, and both occurred directly after grabbing a screenshot. Our own test with a GTX 1080 earned us a stable 60 fps even at 1440p, so it's unclear what the bottleneck is. But regardless of GPU, holding a steady 60 fps at high settings is apparently an issue, as players on Steam are reporting sub-60 framerates even with better cards. The official minimum specs call for a GeForce GTX 770, and that should run it. We also tested Nier at the 'high' preset on a GTX 1060, and had about the same result: 45-55 fps on the ground, and 55-60 during the opening SHMUP section. Nier: Automata on the 'high' graphics preset.