Overwatch just got a significant update for Xbox Series X and S – but nothing yet for PlayStation 5.
Developer Blizzard outlined the additions in patch notes published to Battle.net. These “optimised for Xbox Series X|S enhancements” include a “preferred mode” graphics option that lets you switch between three different presets: Resolution, Balanced and Framerate.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Resolution: This mode prefers higher-resolution output at the cost of some image-quality (Series X: 4K @ 60Hz, Series S: 1440p @ 60Hz)
- Balanced: This mode prefers image-quality at the cost of resolution (Series X: 1440p @ 60Hz, Series S: 1080p @ 60Hz)
- Framerate: This mode prefers higher frame-rate at 120 frames-per-second at the cost of both image-quality and resolution (Series X: 1440p @ 120Hz, Series S: 1080p @ 120Hz)
As you’d expect, you must have a TV that supports 120Hz or VRR (variable refresh rate) to fully take advantage of the Framerate mode.
So why not add all this to the PS5 version? The situation rekindles memories of Warzone and Rocket League on Sony’s new console.
As Eurogamer reported in November last year, Infinity Ward quietly updated Call of Duty: Warzone to run at 120fps on Xbox Series X, but not on PS5.
Warzone, which comes up as a PlayStation 4 app when it’s downloaded on PS5, does not boot in 120Hz, and there are no in-game menu functions to enable it.
Activision declined to comment when contacted by Eurogamer at the time, leaving us to assume the reason for this difference had to do with the way Sony handles backwards compatibility. Back then, I speculated that Infinity Ward would have to create a full PS5 port of Warzone in order to enable 120fps on the console.