Milestone confirmed that there won't be meaningful differences between Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro while running Gravel, except for the fact that Microsoft's console will lack HDR support unlike Sony's (and PC).
It also sounds like they don't want to take the time (now) to use all of the Xbox One X resources.
"After working on Xbox One X we can say that there have definitely been effective improvements in quality and performance, Xbox One X is surely a very powerful and carefully engineered console. Developing on the Xbox One X is phenomenal, the kits and the tools provided by Microsoft are excellent and, for our developers, it feels like targeting a high-end PC without crazy hardware configurations and OS overhead."
I think you're right but I can't find the article expanding a bit more on this.
If I recall HDR needs to be manually implemented on the Xbox One X where as on the pro it's done automatically. Adding 4k support though is a cake walk.
I hope they add it though even though I don't own an Xbox x to me personally I like the jump in HDR than I do in 4k
To top it off, it's not even running with DX12 support which means it's poorly optimized for Xbox in general. Probably because it's such an old version of UE4 like Kai Pow says.
Makes me wonder though; If it's because it's running on an old version of UE4 shouldn't that mean the PS4 wouldn't support it either? They run on the same engine, right? Eh, maybe Nitrowolf is right and they'll add it in but the interview seemed pretty adamant that it wasn't supported (not even a, "we're looking into it").
It's not exactly automatic on PS4. The dev still has to set up the HDR profiles, as they aren't standard things you get from textures or shaders and it's handled on a rendering level. This is the case on both consoles. However, both system can use the same HDR profiles, as the profiles themselves are based off the HDR10 spec.
The automatic implementation as you mention it, is that no extra work is necessary on the PS4 once the profile has been set up, whereas, there are a couple extra steps on Xbox to tie in the HDR profile to the API code which handles it. It's not overly taxing to do, and mostly just means a few changes to ini type files, and of course the testing which is still done on both consoles regardless.
But I 100% agree with you that HDR has more effect on image quality on these systems than any of the snazzy power stuff that the systems allow. Plus, it's a great improvement which has practically no overhead in terms of system resources.
@TheCommentator
Assuming they did the low level code, it wouldn't matter if they used DX11 or DX12 on the system. Outside of the rendering pipeline having some changes, there is no significant difference between the two versions on the X1 or X1X, although X1X does do some of the DX12 specific code better, but no games out right now actually use any of those specific pieces of code yet that I'm aware of.
HDR implementation on UE4 has been available for PS4/PS4P since before the PS4P released. It wasn't released for UE4 until I think 2-3 months before the X1X released. This was more because the hardware specs and more importantly the API implementations for it weren't made available until then. Nothing Epic could have done until they had that. The update would be easy enough to implement in older versions of UE4, but depending on when code lock happened with the game, they may not have been able to implement it for the games release. That means it might be released a bit later.
The only problem is that the price of GPUs and Ram is really out of hand, personally I'd wait till at least the price of GPUs became reasonable otherwise you just blow the budget too easily at the moment. Unless you already have an equivalent card or better hanging about somewhere.
I don't think they're a joke, they're just limited in resources. I just think that people expect them to be able to do everything that the bigger devs can do with much more money, and many more people, typically with tons of experience backing them up.
I just see sites like Gamingbolt and wcctech, like to use these devs to generate their clickbait, which makes them look lazy because they can't spend the time to do certain things for certain platforms. These sites build an expectation that the devs should be able to do everything the big devs do, and the community likes to do the same thing in the interest of the console war.
Looks to me like a another lazy developer, not taking advantage of what the XbO.X can do, Witcher 3 is in 4k and HDR, close to 60fps and if they're saying there's no difference between the 2 consoles, then I think i'll pass on this one.
I never heard of gravel until now so it's not like the xb1-x is doomed because of it. Not to mention that people talk like no hdr makes the game unplayable. Whereas there are plenty of games on the psPro without it and they seem to do just fine.... It's not that serious folks.
This just re-iterates what was said at the launch of the Pro and One X.'It's up to the developer's to use the power of these mid-gen console upgrades as they see fit'.I think people have to high expectations and just assume ever enhanced game will run at 4k 60fps.
I think the difference is on the x hdr has to be added, regardless of difficulty, and on PlayStation... it's already there. But I'm sure how accurate this is.
that's not true, countless 3rd party games run in higher resolutions on the One X vs the Pro. Just go have a look at any Digital Foundry comparison lately. I mean, let's at least be honest here.
Look at the switch's exclusives for example,Mario Odyssey and BOTW look phenomenal compared to other titles.Same can be said for Sony with Horizon and GT Sport.It's optimisation and developer knowledge of their respective system and engines that produces great looking games.
I'd rather not watch a 'Digital Foundry' analysis of how one version is dropping 2 frames in certain areas of a game by someone with a speach impediment.
Suffice to say the 'number' of xb1x's in the market demotivates the devs to go the further mile... I was right back then (since 4 months)... what does more power worth, if there is no market for it... Sony's stark to-the-point decision not only ensured 4K stuff, but the lower price point ensured super strong market as well hehehe, bravo to them, and hey! did I read HDR is only on PS4??? AWESOME!
It sounds like a strange omission, but I guess that's the limitation of an old version of UE4.
Good thing I'll buy it on PC and have the best version.
There are no differences... well except for this one thing
love when people say that lol
Kinda disappointed with no hdr on xbox
I keep telling people indie development is mostly a joke. Exclusives on the other hand demonstrate true raw power.