- 'Dazzling array of options'
- On/off toggle for V-Sync also present
Quality vs Performance General:
- Quality modes adds extra clutter compared to Performance mode in distant terrain
- There are some 'terrain sculpting' difference between the two modes, not a 'quality' divide, but just a difference in terrain sculpting, DF noticed a similar difference in SS and SX comparisons.
- Quality mode has higher LoD for some distant objects and some texture mips
- Biggest difference is quality of reflection cube maps
- Other basic settings like shadows are a match with no visible difference
- Crowd density seems identical between the two modes (despite patch notes saying otherwise)
- Changing modes in real-time sees lighting change on the spot, lighting can look 'broken' during this transition
Resolutions:
- Visuals: 1440p reconstructed to 4K using FSR2
- Performance: 900p reconstructed to 4K using FSR2
- No DRS spotted in DF testing, both modes use VRS
- Both modes 'deliver a clear 4K like final image'
- DF are surprised FSR2 is targeting a high resolution in Performance mode
- Performance mode can show occasional shimmer in motion and some textures don't resolve as well as Quality
- DF did not notice any difference in permutations like using Quality mode at 60hz vs 30, so the above applies to different frame rate targets too.
Performance:
- Performance mode generally hits 60 FPS with minor single frame drops in most areas
- Akila and New Atlantis City run more poorly than the rest of the game with drops to 30s
- Visuals mode runs nearly the same in Akila and Atlantis which shows the game is more CPU bound
- Smaller scale interiors runs Quality at 60 but larger worlds and environments can drop to the 40s when using Quality mode
- No real issues aside from single frame drops seen when using either Performance and Quality mode at 30 FPS. Akila and Atlantis can show a single frame drop here and there
- Visuals 40hz mode similarly runs at its target in most interiors and general traversal with bigger drops in Atlantis and Akila with some small drops outside of the cities during combat
- VRR:
- Frame time issues are mostly ironed out when using VRR
- 'Wobbly 35 or 45 FPS can feel quite consistent with VRR enabled'
Uncapped:
- Only available when running 120hz with VRR
- Interiors can run the game at 90 to 100 FPS in Performance mode
- Visuals mode is largely sub-60 when uncapped
- Playing this with VRR in Performance mode seems like the most smoothest way to play
Conclusion:
- Fairly sensible visual options but the 30FPS lock option feels redundant now
- DF are disappointed that Series S didn't get any of these options