Digital Foundry: Red Dead 60FPS, Forza & FSR 3

Red Dead Redemption 60 FPS Patch

The long-anticipated 60 FPS update for Red Dead Redemption on PlayStation 5 has finally arrived. The Digital Foundry team analysis confirms it functions as expected, maintaining a locked frame rate without visual changes. While welcome, the team remains surprised it was not available at launch, noting it could have significantly bolstered the initial marketing impact.

Impact on Platforms

"I'm very confused why this wasn't there at release. It's like you would have made such a bigger splash... if it's not just like, oh, it's higher res."

PlayStation 5: Now offers the definitive console experience with both image quality improvements and fluid motion.
Xbox: There is no dedicated Series X remaster, as the platform relies on backwards compatibility. While the existing version is good, there is a discussion on whether a targeted patch should still be considered.
PC: The lack of a PC port continues to be a point of frustration for the tech community, leaving substantial potential revenue on the table.

Forza Motorsport: Tech and Marketing

The team discusses the Forza Motorsport PC port, praising the core racing experience while highlighting significant technical and marketing concerns.

Ray Tracing Discrepancies: Pre-release marketing materials showcased ray tracing effects that do not appear in the final, released game, leading to accusations of misleading promotion.
Technical Issues: The PC version suffers from single-threaded inefficiencies and a gamma/contrast bug that caused widespread confusion and negative press.
UI Concerns: The menu system is criticized for being overly complex and difficult for users to intuitively navigate.

FSR 3 and Console Speculation

AMD has released FSR 3 with support for Forspoken and Immortals of Aveum. The team investigates its viability on console hardware.

High Refresh Rate Challenges: Achieving a stable 120 FPS experience is difficult due to frame generation needing a solid base frame rate to function effectively.
Artifacts: There is a trade-off between FSR 2 upscaling artifacts and FSR 3 frame generation artifacts that developers must balance.
Input Latency: Future console implementations will require rigorous documentation to ensure users can manage latency effectively.

Industry Trends

Digital vs. Physical: Discussions touched upon the potential shift toward digital-only consoles and the risks this poses to ownership and long-term game preservation.
Denuvo Controversies: Adding Denuvo anti-tamper software to Assassin's Creed post-launch is condemned as a "vile move" that invalidates initial reviewer performance data.