Unreal 5 PlayStation 5 demo is showing the true caliber of the next-gen graphics. It’s not just about PS5 but Xbox Series X as well. This was the first time that we witnessed the true footage of next-gen graphics. Many are claiming that this could not be the quality of next-gen graphics. Well if you compare it with the graphical representation of Unreal Engine 4 then this video is legit. The graphics could be even better as we have seen with 8th gen graphics representation. Inside Xbox, gameplay footage was the representation of the next-gen console. Unreal 5 PlayStation 5 demo is showing the caliber of the 9th gen consoles. Even though the demo was running on 1440p 30 FPS most of the time. There is still some legit skepticism regarding the demo but the graphical improvement of next-gen consoles cannot be denied.
How was Unreal 5 PlayStation 5 Demo Achieved?
One of the main hardware parts that are holding back 8th gen consoles and graphics, in general, is the lack of fast storage devices. I mean SSD is around for quite some time but they are not generally used in consoles. All games are developed while keeping hard drives in mind, not SSDs. Such development strategies will always hold back gaming. Now that SSD will be common in next-gen consoles, games will improve a lot. Developers won’t have to worry about loading screens anymore. They can put many layers in the same sequence making bigger and better words. It’s like putting pixels of the entire map in an area without having to worry about loading.
I won’t get into the technical aspect of the engine but I will tell you about the new technology of Unreal 5 PlayStation 5 demo. Unreal 5 would automatically use gestures in a specific sequence to make it more realistic. There are lots of improvements in the engine thanks to the powerful hardware of next-gen consoles. However, the two additions that making more difference than anything are Nanite and Lumen technology.
Nanite technology would make the system more automated so that developers don’t have to work extra for more clarity. Developers can directly import film quality art to the game. The new input method avoids compression which leads to realistic graphics. The Lumen system would make lighting more realistic. The reflection and lighting would change dynamically which makes illumination more detailed. Change in lighting such as sudden exposure of light, the transition from dim to bright or vice versa will be more natural. The day and night and night cycle would shift with the sun as the source of light.
What Unreal 5 PlayStation 5 Demo Failed to Represent?
Unreal 5 PlayStation 5 demo was running at 1440p and 30 FPS. That’s not 4K and it’s even lower than what Xbox One X and PS4 Pro is offering. Both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X is promising 60 FPS at 4K. Assassin Creed Valhalla will run on 4K 30 FPS which is possible with even 8th gen consoles. According to the official statement of Microsoft Series X can run games at 4K 60 FPS. However, it’s up to developers whether they want to utilize it or not. So it could mean that we might only be getting first-party titles at 4K 60 FPS. Cross generation can indeed hold back video games but the frame rate is not part of it. There is no video of any next-gen console running games at 4K 60 FPS.
Ray Tracing was Not In the Equation
Theoretically, 4K 60 FPS is possible with the hardware of the next-gen console. Even PC with the same or less power can achieve this feat right now. However, there is a huge difference between the graphics of the present and next-gen consoles. More power would be required to run the 1080p game of the next-gen console compares to present gen-consoles. The demo was running without ray tracing. Ray tracing would further affect the FPS of a game. It takes more graphical power which can impact the performance of a game. Adding ray tracing to the equation would further complicate the process.
In the Unreal 5 PlayStation 5 demo, the textures were cinematic 8k. So even though the game was running at 1440p textures were a lot higher. The footage was running at 1440p 30 FPS most of the time but not all of the time. Unreal Engine 5 will drop the resolution to maintain constant FPS. All this leads to a question “how will next-gen console run games at constant 4K 60 FPS if it can’t even do 1440p 30 FPS?” Keep in mind that Series X is yet to show its caliber which is a more powerful console in terms of raw power.
Verdict
Unreal Engine 5 was running on a PS5 but it is the representation of next-gen graphics not just the caliber of PS5. SSD is one of the main addition that is making the achievement of such graphics a possibility. This was the first true representation of next-gen graphics. Such graphics would need powerful hardware. SSD is helping a lot in that regard but Unreal 5 PlayStation 5 demo failed to showcase the promise of both Sony and Microsoft. The demo was running at 1440p 30 FPS most of the time. Until we see games running at 4K 60 FPS, the promises would just remain hallow claims.
