Skyrim: PS3 Vs Xbox 360 Screen Comparison

NowGamer stacks up the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Skyrim side by side to determine which looks better.

[Feckles]

So the Xbox textures look sharper, more detailed then.

[fluffydelusions]

Near identical to me graphics wise. Let's see some performance vids now.

[Blacktric]

Agreed but PS3 has a slight advantage over the textures and interestingly, the colors look more vibrant/gamma levels are correct out of the box which is not the case for PS3 version of multiplatform games most of the time (Dead Island and Rage comes to mind first). But I wouldn't take this comparison seriously. I mean look at the captured moments. They don't match each other AT ALL. It's impossible to make a %100 viable comparison using these pictures. It's best to wait for slider comparisons of Lens Of Truth and in depth performance review of Digital Foundry.

[AngryTypingGuy]

It's really hard to spot the differences in this one. I'd say get it for whichever one you prefer to play it on.

[ShoryukenII]

I'm not getting this at release because as a PS3 owner, I have to wait a month to give Bethesda my money. I'm going to take it a step further and wait a year or so for the GotY edition or for it to be $30 with all DLC if I can't wait (which is likely). I was also very worried about getting a crap port on PS3.

I haven't looked at this game in a while but I am very impressed with how it looks. The PS3 version looks fantastic and I think it looks better. The lighting looks great too. I'm just worried about framerates, screen tearing, stress on hardware and general performance.

[nveenio]

Why do you have to wait a month to give Bethesda your money because you're a PS3 owner? That doesn't make sense at all.

[ScubbaSteve]

@inveni0

He's referring to how Bethesda frequently screws PS3 owners with their DLC. Fallout3 iirc correctly made users wait longer for DLC for no real reason. Might have been paid by MS for exclusivity but that doesn't really make any sense if you take into account that most ppl wanting DLC already bought the game and at that point you're just hurting loyal customers. Still I wouldn't put it past Microsoft to do something like that so they could say they have a better "Service". That said, get it on PC if you have the option because the modding community for this type of game is pretty large.

[slayorofgods]

The graphics do look identical.

I'm not sure if I want to be the one that says Witcher 2 has Skyrim's graphics beat because Skyrim has the fun factor that will cause me to get some dissagree's. But... Witcher 2 has better graphics.

[xPhearR3dx]

They look the same to me :/

[Eamon]

Agreed they look the same. But the comparison pics are crappy. Wish nowgamer did a better job .

[Bimkoblerutso]

Yeah. Here's hoping Lens of Truth gets their Skyrim comparison up today.

The pics here are too small and aren't even close to the same image most of the time.

[NEW-AGE]

Lens of truth , is biased towards the 360.... they are unreliable , they dont use the deep Color option on the ps3 or the ultra bright... And i think they didnt use the HDMI at one point and just used component cables ' wish there was a site that was Fair

[european_cannon]

Wait for DF or Lens of Truth. Nowgamer comparisons are the worst.

[NukaCola]

NowGamer sucks. They will review this game by two differnt reviewwers too. So the two scores will be different regardless of the quality cause one reviewer will like sound over texture and the other will like story over replayability. Their site is flat out a tard and a half.

[morganfell]

Lens of Truth is certainly no better. And they are the ones that were caught lying, not Nowgamer.

If such comparisons really matter to you then you should avoid them.

[ShoryukenII]

When did Lens of Truth lie? I'm not doubting you or anything (it may come off like that when you read it). I'm curious because I trusted them... Is Digital Foundry any better?

[evilunklebud]

When did they lie?

[Blackdeath_663]

no the shading on xbox was done slightly better but most time you could barely tell different and there were some pics where ps3 looked better. but as someone said below we have to see video preformance te tell. all in all though its a job well done bethesda

[Ser]

Maybe my eyes are bad, but they look pretty friggin' identical to me.

[zeddy]

i dunno what you folks are looking at but they look pretty even to me and maybe the ps3 just takes it.

[DonaldBeck]

@frekles, your joking right? seriously...

[tosh61]

Straight trolling kid.

[RufustheKing]

these pictures are spoliers so becarful

[hotskys]

116 disagrees! lol you just got fanboyed.

[TheXgamerLive]

Xbox 360 has a bit better details yet some things look good on ps3, yet still 96% is the same, love it in all it's glory, it's SKYRIM:)

p.s. F'tards didn't even post the same pics to even really compare to begin with, so it's all a wash anyways really, however again, it's SKYRIM:) woo hoo

[mittwaffen]

Ok

ive seen 5 compairsons

I play on pc, and own both consoles I view things with the least amount of biased.

The PS3 has way lower texture quality vs 360, while the 360 textures = PC

Why do 360=PC? Game was made for the 360 console, then optimized to work with the PS3, and then ported textures to PC (no giving us upgraded textures).

While the PC version should look better (textures) the consoles have the least to worry about. End of the day the resolution limitations are the biggest issue, when you work with 720p (360/ps3) textures and 'slightly' smaller sized textures (PS3) are barely noticeable due to lack of resolution clarity.

Textures have traditionally been slightly lower on most mplat games for PS3, this isnt anything new or shocking. PS3's power is displayed when the game/engine itself is built for the PS3. Give or take a few circumstances with the PS3 having installs to the HDD that improve textures.

End of the day,

If you own both consoles, ideally you'd want the 360 version. If you own one or another, you can play the game without a care. This is one of the main reasons i own my 360; because mplat titles 8/10 times end up having a small edge (IE - 360 with RDR, Skyrim). Other then this, the gameplay ends up being the same.

But if you own a PC, and the consoles..the choice should be simple.

That is my honnest view across many comparisons with high quality screenshot.

[TimmyShire]

I'm confused. I thought the PS3 version was better according to that video? This suggests the 360 version is sharper...

[fluffydelusions]

Bug was being exploited in the other video more than likely. Regardless, both look similar anyway

[TimmyShire]

True enough. Neither look awful, so everyone's a winner! :D

[skyward]

360 seems better. Same as other Bethesda games.

[GamersRulz]

are you kidding ?

[tosh61]

@skyward

Stop trolling. You are the kids that ruin N4G.

[Brownghost]

Seriously I want a good place to talk about games equally. Your really making this site a waste

[MariaHelFutura]

Who cares? The differences will be minimal....like they always are.

[Disccordia]

Agreed. Finally some sensibility. This is a great game on all formats just enjoy it people and stop getting a boner about the console you own having one frame per second better.

[A-Glorious-Dawn]

LOL yeah, like all differences between multiplatform games, who cares?

downloading the PC version right now.
I heard it might melt my face...

[Focus]

That one didn't have the texture pack installed. They were trying to apease those we do not speak of

[Silly gameAr]

Those we do not speak of? What? PS3 owners? You take this console war to heart don't you.

[ShoryukenII]

LOL! I don't mind being he who must not be spoken of. My brother Voldemort will help me out. >_>

[Brosy]

Who are you talking about Focus? The fanboys who rape people with disagrees even though they are almost always wrong. You know the mindless worshipers that need a good old fashioned beating. Or are you talking about the minority of the people on N4G?

[andibandit]

Those we do not speak of, are the ones who live by the hidden rules:

1. Every sentence uttered from thou teenage mouth shall praise the PS3 to the skies, or thou shall be flogged by disagrees.

2. Thou shall not say anything positive about the 360, or thou shall be flogged by disagrees.

3. Thou shall not mention "Cross Game Chat, Giant Enemy Crabs, or PSN hack" or thou shall be reduced to a single bubble.

4. Thou shall spit at the 360 at every possible opportunity, or have thy mailbox filled with deaththreats and worse.

Blessings be with you,
In the name of Kutaragi, and of Kaz Hirai, and of the Holy Howard Stringer. Playstation.

[Wizziokid]

can't really see much of a difference with these images tbh

[SDF Repellent]

I think they both look similiar. The key now is perfomance, ie. framerate, screen tearing,, etc.

[ufo8mycat]

PS3 ever so slightly sharper.

360 version a little washed out (decrease brightness couple notches and WALLA fixed)

Funny, usually it's the PS3 version that it more brighter.

[DFresh]

I really have a hard time telling the difference between both ports.
All I can say is that the lighting effects on PS3 look fantastic.
It'll be a beast on PC.
That's for sure.

[SKUD]

IGN's review has there Skyrim video in the X360 section. Clearly there using PC game play footage. They throw in menu options clips from the xbox version. LOL @ IGN trolling. Environments in the PC version really set the tone for game. It drew me in. Awesome details.

If you jump over to game trailers. All of it is from the xbox360. What a difference =/.

[news4geeks]

Why do people even pretend that there is any difference in these comparisons. Just so long as one of the versions doesn't have a really unstable framerate then it's all good.

[Simco876]

Don't matter. Skyrim goes behind the fanboy war that is old and played out.

Enjoy the game! One more day peeps!

[Shadowvic]

Both look very similar. So it shouldn't be a big thing to worry about.

[GoldenPheasant]

the excuse chart rundown for ( *1 input system of choice here)

-man, its so much better for *1
-yo bro, you can't judge something on an early build, that's like an old e3 build
-see, the problem, its the streaming issues...obviously they don't know how to code for *1
-I heard there's going to be a full install option to make it look better, I wouldn't worry
-wait until you install the HD texture pack
-theres a bug
-theres a glitch
-theres a patch
...then when all else fails after its proven that one version is better than another...

-but but but, as a true gamerz you shouldn't carez. there's basically almost no difference.

In regards to my other post in the video article, I take a step back on my point. The reason being is this game apparently has dynamic weather of sorts, hence something like fog effects will be different at different times.

[Faztkiller]

Some PS3 looks better and others 360 looks better really hard to tell when the screens are not taken exactly the same because the lighting and stuff is changing constantly

[TheBlackMask]

In my opinion the PS3 version looks a little too bright in some places but to be honest they look the same

It would of been better to try and get the same exact screen from each game, guess you have to leave it up to Lensoftruth to do that

[fragnificent]

looks like he has the brightness up to much for the ps3 screens, both look similar apart from the brightness,noting i cant fix

[Vip3r]

Both look the same to me. But then again I'll be playing the superior PC version. :D

[MariaHelFutura]

Somehow over the last 6 months PC gamers have became the most annoying fanboys on the internet.

[Vip3r]

Over the past 6 years, console fanboys have been the most annoying fanboys on the internet.

I'm not a fanboy, just stating the truth.

[Richdad]

Oh! PC gamers,They are not annoying but just telling the truth. PC version is definitely better infact much better. If anyone has a good gaming PC. For him the PC version is straight away recommended.

Here we are finding hard see difference between the 360 and PS3 version but just keep the Maxed out PC version side by side and you have will admit it looks better. Of course it looks good on console too, but most gaming enthusiasts will go for the best only.

[Tsar4ever01]

They both look pretty decient, But As I expected the ps3 still suffers the big 4.

1)Weak Black level shading
2)Weak texture res(*especially at drawn distances)
3)Weak color dept
4)Weaker frame rates, usually from 5 to 12 behind the 360.

I blame this solely on the the ps3's outdated 7th gen custom nvidia GPU, it's splitted RAM and with it's inferior vertex shader tech, and nvidia themselves admitted they trashed and stop using and went "unified shader" with it's 8th gen GPU's up to the latest, greatest gpu's to date. Go to nvidia Geforce gpu's on wikipedia and check the versions history chart and view the shader tech chart and see what gen GPU's made the change.

For any of you want to trash my comments about the PS3's gpu, might want to view the great, accurate & stellar 12 rd, "x360 vs ps3 console war" videos from the techno geek, I'm sure a lot of you probably seen this GREAT review, it's pretty old, at least 2, maybe 3yrs old. But I believe nobody explains the in's and out, positives and negatives of both consoles any better than the techno geek. For those who already see these video, just recap on rounds 4/CPU and ESPECIALLY rd5/GPU and then watch rd9/multiplats, but for those who never watched the console wars review I IMPLORE YOU TO MAKE TIME(*save to your favorites page for future references) AND WATCH ALL 12 ROUNDS. Believe me!! It's tells ALL in the most accurate details you likely to find anywhere on the web.

here's the link, Please watch and enjoy.
http://www.technobuffalo.co...

[gman_moose]

"4)Weaker frame rates, usually from 5 to 12 behind the 360."

You can tell this from screenshots? Go back to troll school. You suck at it.

[El Nino]

Trololololololololollol

[Tsar4ever01]

Trolling you say? I admit, when I was referring to frame rates, I was talking about most MULITPLATS IN GENERAL, 5 to 12 on the average,(*especially when alot of action happening on screen at once) not on THIS GAME, SKYRIM specifically, because I haven't seen enough of it in action to tell, my BUST. I should've been more clear on that point.

But I sure ps3 WILL lag behind 360 in frame rate. That's not trolling, Thats the plain truth. Just look at the video comparisons from the other sites out there on the frame comparisons in most other multiplat games from the past, it shows. And it'll show when they do this game soon too. I own both ps3 and 360(*Ps3 LOYALIST, NOT Fanboy!!!) and I experienced alot of mulitplat games on both, some I own, others rented from gamefly. So KNOW what I'm talking about. If you take my prof as trolling, then too bad. And I'll take your response as closed minded FANBOYISM, grow up a broaden your minds and climb out of your little one sided world of PS3

[gman_moose]

"But I sure ps3 WILL lag behind 360 in frame rate. That's not trolling,"

Yes it is. You are saying you are sure of something that you really have no idea about.

" I own both ps3 and 360(*Ps3 LOYALIST, NOT Fanboy!!!) and I experienced alot of mulitplat games on both, some I own, others rented from gamefly. So KNOW what I'm talking about."

So do I. I happen to be trying to decide which version to buy, which is my reason for clicking on this article.

" And I'll take your response as closed minded FANBOYISM"

And I take your response as ill-informed stupidity.

[Ch1d0r1]

Good video man. But you might want to check your vision in that comparison.

[BubloZX]

Looool!! What a troll!!!

[BubloZX]

FIFA
MADDEN
Final fantasy
LA noir
Battlefield 3
All better on ps3

Most other muliplats since 08, 09 have been nearly identical.

[Indigon]

Sorry but this is nonsense. Oblivion had better framerates on PS3 than Xbox.

[bunfighterii]

Trolls in a Skyrim thread, go figure

[XDF]

Both versions will pawn. The only difference is the X360 version has a one month DLCs timed exclusivity.

[iistuii]

All torture yourselves every time a game comes out, it's pathetic really. Get which one you feel more comfortable with the controller or online pals, that's it. I mean the PS3 version of B3 was meant to be the slightly better version, and yet the 360 outsold it, so people obviously don't mind the odd bush looking a pixel better.

[gman_moose]

Agree, but this one is offline, so what my friends play doesn't really matter. Since I own both consoles, I plan to buy whichever looks to be better. All things being equal, I will go with the ps3 version.

[Kluv]

if there's any difference, it'll hardly change the game anyway.

[MasterD919]

In the end there may be a slight difference once we start playing but I don't really see a massive one here.

You can't compare different screen shots as the lighting is bound to change and the textures in both look dark to me but that could just be the pictures.

I dont get these comparisons though...Its not like someone is going to buy a new console for mild (if there) difference in lighting or textures.

[HaHa_Ostrich]

The only difference I noticed are shadows. They are sharper on the PS3. Other than that its very hard to tell one from the other.

[MasterCornholio]

Shadows seem a bit darker on the PS3 version. Usually with multiplats the 360 has darker shadows.

[MasterCornholio]

Both versions look great however textures seem a tiny bit better in the PS3 version. I am not surprised at all because the PS3 version of the game is 1.8 GBs more than the 360.

I am happy that Bethesda didnt screw PS3 owners over like the majority of fanboys were saying in N4G. Congrats bethesda for a job well done.

Now i can sleep at night knowing that the PS3 version looks great.

[masa2009]

I'm convinced it indeed looks better on the PS3.
I've seen a vid on another website and textures are slightly sharper on the PS3, with select elements looking markedly better.
This is not necessarily a surprise since apparently it's still based on the same tech as their previous games, and New Vegas had slightly better textures on the PS3 too.

It seems there are also the same issues with load times getting longer as you play in Skyrim, as well as just being ominipresent. I've seen some videos on the 360, and load times are already pretty bad, so if it's worse on the PS3, it could be an issue.
So we'll also have to factor load times in the comparison.
The 360 version fully installed on hard drive almost always loads faster than the PS3's partial install.
But how will load times hold up on either console after extended playthrough.

I'll wait for thorough comparisons on both topics before chosing the platform I'll play it on.

[Shane Kim]

In some pics ps3 looks better, in some pics the 360 and in some they look the same.

Conclusion: Pointless article.

[SITH]

You fools act like your life depends on it. Are you all insecure about your console purchase or what!? I won't spend one second running through this game thinking about the other console or pc. I don't care what a plant or light source looks like in this game on something I won't even use.

[rexbolt]

they look the same man these ppl could use a hand with art direction this game is down right ugly

[pcz]

The images dont even match up so you can't accurately compare the two.

[IaussieGamer]

Why is it not hard enough to get the images close to the same this comparison is a joke and clearly done by a novice with no common sense.

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

The difference is far too minimal, regardless of the console you're getting a bang for your buck.

[Xenial]

To me the PS3 version looks more clear. The 360 version looks as if it has a smog layer over it or something.

[ForROME]

Xbox version has the edge - it was the Dev platform probably why

[bobrea]

Why is it so hard for people to do screenshot comparisons with the same exact screen for each version?

[Xenial]

ikr, it is annoying.

[muckton]

Either way - it is a cool way to compare the two...

[Deadman_Senji]

How can there possibly be COOL WAY to do something that really isn't cool at all?

[bloodybutcher]

ps3 version is million times better!x360 version is completely unplayable!well,it´s because i don´t have x360 so it would be stupid of me to get that version xD

[JonnyBigBoss]

PC for me. The 360 is years behind and costs yearly fees... sigh.

[_Aarix_]

A pc gamer having money troubles?

[Yomaster]

They look similar, but it's a pretty bad comparison. Hardly any of the screenshots are of identical views.

[Deadman_Senji]

We're not doing THIS again. Please tell me we're not doing THIS again...especially over a multiplat that is also on PC.

[blackblades]

PS3 vs Xbos screen comparison are getting old

[ha2e48]

another 360 win, maybe one day sony will be a winner again, but not now friends, not ever....

[C_Dub]

I originally had this ordered on 360 and then yesterday I switched it to PS3. I am so thankful it wasn't a bad decision. Something told me it was the right thing to do and although I'll have to wait a little longer for the DLC, at least it looks on par if not better than the 360 version.

I think we're all in for a hell of a time with this one, so lets game on and enjoy :)

[typeN8]

I think the xbox looks better then the ps3 but the ps3 looks better then the xbox

Its skyrim people and it looks great for both..might be a few things in there but overall what i really care about is putting a blade through a dragons neck.

[raymen2000]

as if we hadn't enough of these,i am gonna kill my self if another one of these ever popup again and wtf with the pictures their not even the same and you expect us to compare them???

[DwightOwen]

Consoles suck. Debate over.

[ha2e48]

na bro, you do... you suck... you....debate over bro.

[MoveTheGlow]

It's a Bro-Down!

"I respect you, bro!!"

[DwightOwen]

LOL!

Best episode so far this season!

[jwinkelman8]

Thanks a lot. My buddy told me that there were people on this site that would debate if a game looked better one Xbox or ps3. I didn't believe him. Lol. This is sad. And how about the guys who say "it looks better on a computer!" Lol. Wow.

[zeeman]

So do we compare the pictures and say which one is better? No thanks I choose life

[ha2e48]

na bro, you choose xbox, yeah bro, face it, youve already chosen xbox, yeah bro, thats your choice.

[mistajeff]

frankly, i don't even know why i'm on here instead of playing the game. though i guess prolonged exposure to awesomeness can cause cancer, so intermittent breaks are recommended.

[mistajeff]

PC! Mwahahaha...
Seriously though, I know this is a console comparison, but I was surprised at how good the PC graphics are. With such a small installation size (less than half of even mw3) I was worried that all the assets would be low quality, but it looks damn gorgeous. With 2 gtx 460's I'm able to max it out, but it gives my rig a run for its money at certain points. Not to mention that the art itself has way more gravity than any of the technical properties, everything is clearly hand-placed with an obsessive amount of attention to detail. Bethesda have really outdone themselves here.

[SlickShoes]

Very small install size was surprising and nice considering how good the game looks, I am playing on a 2011 macbook pro and it auto selects high settings. Juding from the pictures linked in this post the PC version is very nice again considering such a small install.

[Zephyrnix]

Seriously, I hate to be... you know "THAT GUY", but WHO THE HELL CARES!! Get the damn game, play the damn game. They both look good, and visuals are good enough and won't take away from whats really important... the GAMEPLAY.

And to be honest, with your REALLY that hung up on the Graphics, why you foolin with a PS3 or Xbox anyway.

[Brixxer600]

I haven't read this article and i don't into , i couldn't care if one looks better than the other , i'm too busy playing the game and loving it.

[SlickShoes]

All this does is make me glad I got the PC version, both of these look a bit washed out compared to what I played on PC last night.

[NateCole]

6 years in and we are still counting pixels.

[DeathAvengers]

Here we go...

[Sokol]

Pretty hard to tell much differences on this comparison, both versions look very close.

Well done Bethesda.

[Maxned]

There is absolutely no difference in the pictures.

I would seriously not be surprised if this website is trolling the N4G hivemind, by just putting the "comparison" pictures from the same console over and over again, just to get tards to make up bullshit like "WOW XBOX 360 VERSION LOOKS SO WASHED OUT!!! PS TRIPLE FOREVA!" and "PS3 VERSION HAS HORRIBLE TEXTURES HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHA!! YOU MAD FANBOYS?!?!!!"

[MoveTheGlow]

So, on PS3, the camera and game are always in slightly different places than the 360 version? That's all I picked up from this article - thanks a bunch, NowGamer.

I've got the PS3 version, and things look so good that I'd love to see how it looks on a souped-up PC. That water in the first non-prologue town I went to, man!

[Guitardr85]

The answer is...PC!!! lol. Pre-ordered my version for the PC and will pick it up first thing after work today. Moving my PC to the living room to connect it to my 50 inch 1080P!!!! I will be off the grid for several days, lol!

[Adolf]

lensoftruth.com/head2head-the- elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-screensh ot-comparison/

[shoestring]

Wow how come lens of truth head to heads ALWAYS look worse then every other comparisons on the either internet

http://www.youtube.com/watc...