Hitman 3 looks best on Xbox Series X, as Microsoft’s console finally trumps PS5
The game runs great on all consoles, though
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Xbox Series Xowners will be pleased to hear thatHitman 3looks best onMicrosoft’s console. The game has a slight advantage overPS5when it comes to the game’s resolution and shadow quality, meaning it’s a rare win for Microsoft’s console in what’s likely to be a long list of inevitable head-to-head comparisons between the two systems over the next few years.
Graphic expertsDigital Foundryrevealed that Hitman 3 runs at a native4Kresolution on Xbox Series X, with ultra texture quality and an almost rock solid 60fps throughout. The PS5, meanwhile, tops out at 1800p, and features lower quality shadows compared to Xbox Series X, but does not exhibit any frame rate dips.
This might seem insignificant to some – and unless you have both versions up side-by-side, it arguably is – but if you care about having the very best version of Hitman 3 on consoles, Xbox Series X just pips the PS5 this time around.
But what about Microsoft’s more affordable Xbox? Well, theXbox Series Sruns at 1080p, with high texture quality and lower quality shadows. You’ll still enjoy an almost flawless 60fps experience, though, so it’s a decent result for the lower-specced machine.
Playing catch up
As mentioned above, the Xbox Series X hasn’t fared too well in previous comparisons with the PS5 in multiplatform titles.
Even though the Xbox Series X trumps the PS5 when it comes to raw technical specs (the PS5 does have a faster SSD), it’s generally underperformed when it’s come to multiplatform releases. Launch games likeAssassin’s Creed Valhallaand Dirt 5 were much more stable onSony’s platform, while the Xbox Series X versions were susceptible to screen tearing, weird graphical bugs and sudden frame-rate drops.
According toThe Verge, Microsoft only let developers submit games for Xbox Series X certification in June, after delivering an update to its Game Developers Kit (GDK). This led to many developers having access to PS5 dev kits before they got their hands on Xbox versions, which might explain why the Xbox Series X hasn’t hit the heights many expected. Sony’s development tools have also been praised in the past for being easier to work on.
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But that’s not all. Microsoft also revealed that it was late to manufacturing its console as it waited for full RDNA 2 support fromAMDin the Xbox Series X. Xbox head Phil Spencer toldThe VergeDecoder podcast: “We were a little bit later than the competition, because we were waiting for some specific AMD technology in our chip.”
Rocket fuel
Despite the Xbox Series X’s slow start, the console has enjoyed more flexibility when it comes to developers adding120fps supportto older titles. Rocket League developer Psyonix pointed out that the process is seemingly much easier on Xbox due to the way backwards compatibility works, but a lot trickier on PS5.
Psyonix toldEurogamerlast year: “Enabling 120Hz on Xbox Series X|S is a minor patch, but enabling it on PS5 requires a fully native port due to how backwards compatibility is implemented on the console, and unfortunately wasn’t possible due to our focus elsewhere."
Call of Duty: Warzoneis another example of a game that runs at 120fps on Xbox Series X but not on PS5, though the latestCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold Wardoes have this option available.
Adam was formerly TRG’s Hardware Editor. A law graduate with an exceptional track record in content creation and online engagement, Adam has penned scintillating copy for various technology sites and also established his very own award-nominated video games website. He’s previously worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor and once played Halo 5: Guardians for over 51 hours for charity. He is now an editor at The Shortcut.
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