Fallout 4 Next-Gen Patch Issues and Latest Tech Analysis

Fallout 4 Next-Gen Update

In this episode, the team examines the release of the Fallout 4 next-generation upgrade.

Critical Performance Issues

• The Xbox Series X version has severe problems where the quality/performance mode toggle fails to function, locking the game into performance mode regardless of user selection.
• In contrast, the PlayStation 5 version correctly switches between modes, providing a clearer image with improved LODs and foliage when the quality mode is active.
• Both consoles see improvements in volumetric effects, which now look better than ever without requiring mods.

PC Version Shortcomings

• Several long-standing bugs on PC remain unaddressed, such as the crash caused by PhysX debris on modern RTX cards.
• The new ultra-wide support features a poorly stretched HUD that appears to be a step backward from user-created mods.

Advanced Rendering and Optimization

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

• The game has been updated to include a 40 FPS mode, which provides a massive increase in fluidity while maintaining high-quality graphical settings.
• This mode highlights the importance of the industry moving away from basic 30/60 FPS splits in favor of more flexible frame rate targets.

Lords of the Fallen (Patch 1.5)

• While the game has seen massive improvements in stability and performance, it still suffers from intrusive stutters during intense combat, which severely hampers the experience.

GDC and GTC Presentations

• The panel discusses the future of path tracing, highlighting how modern NVIDIA technologies like ReStir GI and Spatially Hashed Radiance Caching (SHRC) are shaping the future of real-time lighting in engines like Unreal Engine 5.

"I think people will always buy games at launch regardless unless they are sort of game-breakingly bad, and then that basically sets a precedent where it's really difficult for a game to come back from that."

Handheld Performance and Future Tech

ASUS ROG Ally and Frame Generation

• The introduction of AMD Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF) on the device is discussed, though its tendency to disable itself during fast movement creates jarring visual discontinuities.

The Future of Switch 2

• The panel speculates that the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 will likely leverage DLSS to overcome hardware limitations, potentially providing a significant image quality advantage over other current handheld devices.