Eurogamer: Skyrim triple-format comparison

Eurogamer: Check out the game on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on max settings.

[NukaCola]

Well I will say it. The PC screens look like crap, and the PS3 screens look 2x worse.

I have seen this game in action on PS3 and it doesn't look like this. How is it that nothing has texture and everything is so blurry? Fallout New Vegas isn't even this bad looking.

And my God, all the articles of issues of textures on 360 and those pics look better than the washed out PC ones? What is going on here?

I am really confused here. Someone please explain.

[fluffydelusions]

I've only played on 360 but have no texture issues. I think it's only when you install to HD? Looks great here.

[Foxgod]

Yeah, beth send out a statement not to install the game to hd, until the texture issues are patched on the 360.

[Perjoss]

I have to say it looks amazing on 360 considering how old the hardware is, I've got it on both PC and 360. Yes the PC version does look best (at least on my setup) but they have done an amazing job on 360, just remember to not install for now.

[ProjectVulcan]

Pc looks fine to me although its not had too much attention on it. The usual higher resolutions, speedy framerates and vsync make a big difference.

As for consoles what did you expect? Much like Fallout 3 and New Vegas the game was built on 360 and ported to PS3. So again just like those games you can see it has meant the PS3 version is compromised with textures, memory management and AA solutions.

PS3 looks like it has slightly lower res assets and most likely some sort of post process AA, full screen, not MLAA, one which would blur the textures a little more and just magnify the differences visible seen here.

You can have FXAA on the PC version with or without MSAA and it does suffer the texture blur issue typical of the technique, but cleans up the alpha textures of foliage very well. Frankly i just prefer to retain the crispness of MSAA alone. This costs a lot more performance but it is worth it if you have the grunt. PS3 could never do a bunch of MSAA on this game, so the choice was either jaggies and crisper textures, or lot less jaggies and slightly blurrier textures. Someone chose the latter it seems.

On the other hand however i have seen videos where the PS3 version appears to suffer a lot less from screen tearing compared to the 360 version.

Anyone interested will have to wait a little longer maybe for a proper in depth performance comparison from digital foundry or LOT.

Everyone else should just enjoy one of the best games this gen....

[bozebo]

OK, first of all the PC version clearly has a larger detail distance.

And secondly, the 360 applies a contrast enhancement to it's output image designed to make it look appealing on typical TV setups; apart from the detail distance that is the only difference between 360 and PC (you could open up either in photoshop and tweak the contrast to make them appear extremely similar).

The ps3 also has that adjustment but it is off by default and sites never turn it on before posting comparisons.

I am not sure what their excuse is for the horrible textures and/or AF on the PS3 version, the hardware is certainly capable of pumping out superior graphics to what they have managed.

But anyway, it's elder scrolls - graphics don't matter. Which is why I will be reinstalling morrowind once I am done with skyrim because it makes me want to play it again :P

edit: actually, the PC texture are also higher quality (good example, image 20). I went into the game files and turned on tree self-shadowing (there was an option for this in Oblivion lol),
before: http://media.pcgamer.com/fi...
after: http://media.pcgamer.com/fi...
Why that couldn't be in the options I have no idea, maybe they weren't able to fully test it on different hardware :/

Also lol at disagrees, disagrees to facts...

[Blackdeath_663]

really? i mean im playing it on ps3 and it looks just fine i was actually happy that it didt look worse than the xbox version and that it didnt have the texture issu that the installed xbox version has. i also havent experienced any lag. i really dont know why theres so much negetivity towards the ps3 version theres nothing wrong with it.

[Redlogic]

I agree, I have been playing it on ps3 and it seems fine to me. I've had zero issues with the game. It looks great to me, the game has me totally captured in it's world.

[Blackdeath_663]

@Redlogic
well i guess its a good thing that im satisfied with the game i think maybe people complain too much about pathetic things i would never have found out about a glitch or have even cared about graphics if no one told me or i didnt look for it my self. maybe ppl just expect too much or look for faults in their's or other ppls games.

[arnyftw]

@Fluffy, the graphical glitches on the 360 arent on everything, its just that sometime you look at something its just a bunch of pixels, but its only happened to me once.

[Karum]

Just as you've said you've seen it on PS3 and it lokos nothing like this, the PC version I've been playing on my own PC this weekend looks so much better than that.

I don't know if it's the quality of the images they use or the PC they are using but mine looks so much better than that on Ultra settings.

For me it looks great but even more importantly the gameplay is superb, I've been hooked on it all weekend!

[MasterCornholio]

I hate that there's a big difference between the 360 and PS3 versions of the game. I almost feel terrible for ordering it from amazon. But since the game is extremely good I can't afford to miss out on the experience.

I thought that Bethesda would do a better job with the PS3 version but I was wrong.

XperiaRay

[Zynga]

Oh so now you finally open your eyes see. I told you way before that the ps3 version looked sub HD. I was pissed and still am, watch when they release the digital foundary and the game not being 720p just like RDR.

[MasterCornholio]

Yeah and the 360 version is sub HD as well. Current generation of consoles are starting to show their age so most games are going to be sub HD. They honestly could have done a better job with the 360 and PS3 versions if this game.

Not tying to attack you or anything but when you said that the PS3 version was a crappy almost unplayable port I didn't believe you because I didn't even see any comparisons between the different versions. If I don't like the way it looks on my console I could always sell it and buy something else.

XperiaRay

[bozebo]

Not sure what troll coward disagreed with you.

The PS3 version is obviously upscaled (or moreso than the 360 version is).

[Zynga]

@MasterCornholio

Actually I never said the ps3 was unplayable ( it actually ran very well and loaded very fast) but that it only looked inferior that's all. Im just glad I rented it before buying it and got myself the 360 version.

Edit @bozebo

No its not and thats how it exactly looked liked on my 46 in. Stop trolling!

[bozebo]

I am just going by the article. It could be bias for all I know.

And I am not trolling, at all. (I was actually replying to you but the other guy posted before I did... Sub HD i.e. Upscaled to display on a 720 or 1080 screen... I was defending YOU)

...

And another disagree ninja disagreeing to something that is undisagreeable I see.

[ilovemyps3]

i love my ps3 (just read all my comments), but i'm really disappointed when i see those VGA graphics on the ps3 version.

folliage look awful, it looks like they used 128x128 textures, to fit 512x512 areas.

i hate xbox brand. oh man, i really hate it. after crysis 2 (which i bought and played only 30 minutes, textures were so awful i couldn't see the enemies, so i stopped playing it), and a few other games that look great on xbox, but are awful on ps3, and now, i see those screenshots of the ps3 version, i guess it's time to buy a 360, next Christmas. i will still buy games for my ps3, but for games like skyrim, sorry, dear Sony, i won't be paying for the worst version. really, look at skyrim on 360, and then, on ps3. it's not the same game. it CAN'T be the same game.

[Christopher]

I've been playing the PS3 version, it looks good. Not a graphical powerhouse on either machine but better than previous games from Bethesda and I haven't had a single freeze or noticeable glitch after about 12 hours of playing it.

[news4geeks]

It's quite ironic when people like yourself won't buy a game because it is a 'poor' port from the 360, and the reason it is ported in the first place is because more people play the game on the 360.

Maybe if you started supporting their games, the ps3 would be lead console or at least have equal attention.

[Blacktric]

Oblivion sold 3.3 million copies on the Xbox 360 and 2.29 million on the PS3. Fallout sold 3.5 million copies on Xbox 360 and 2.5 million on the PS3. And you're telling him that he should support the PS3 versions more? Bethesda is in bed with Microsoft since the first Xbox. Morrowind was going to be a launch title for the system but released a year after Xbox's release yet still sold sh*t ton of copies and they decided to play it safe and kept cutting deals with Bethesda for Oblivion, Fallout 3, New Vegas and Skyrim. The issue is money Microsoft's been paying to Bethesda here not the sales. Look at Call Of Duty 3 and 4 on both systems. Both look very identical and then look at Modern Warfare 2, Black Ops and Modern Warfare 3. All of them are better on the Xbox 360 on every front.

[moegooner88]

i Agree with NukaCola, i have the game on PS3 and it doesn't look anything like this.Xbox 360 version looks the best though!

[Chuk5]

I love how people used that one flawed video to compare the clearly gimped 360 and PS3.

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

All the other comparison (including my own experience with the 360 version) say other wise.

[bozebo]

:O

Looks almost like that vid has the sides the other around from what the screenshots in this article are labelled :S (or er... the other way around)

[Soul Train]

Wow can people please stop posting that one bull$hit video of the burned 360 version?

The Digital Foundry gallery proves otherwise, as does Lens of Truth's screenshot comparison. So two sites whos main focus are comparisons are showing the exact same thing. Yet all anyone can say in defense is "I saw the AllGamesAlpha video and these screens are BS".

http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

http://www.lensoftruth.com/...

Right.....

[Chuk5]

agreed.

[THC CELL]

I think.u should all get back to gaming cause deep down nd showed all you blind fanboys up the ps3 power is amazing and developers Mp developers really need to get there act together

[Captain Tuttle]

keep up the good fight console warrior

[SephirothX21]

I've played both 360 and pc versions. I've a beast of a pc and it kills the 360 in graphics but especially in loading times. The loading times are so fast that there may as well be none and that's with everything turned to max. I think the draw distance could still be better and things from afar can looked washed out at timed but the game is just so awesome regardless that I don't care.

[Captain Tuttle]

Yeah, the loading times on the 360 version are pretty bad.

[Captain Tuttle]

The worst images I've seen in this game is snow on the ground or on steps at night. It looks laughably bad. 360 version btw.

Edit: Great game though, no regrets buying it day 1

[Bigpappy]

Yep! Night time looks ugly. Well lit areas look great. Makes me want to walk around with a torch, but that would affect my fighting.

[_LarZen_]

I knew this would happen to the PS3 version... :(

[Yukicore]

It's clearly that Microsoft once again has paid a company to make their consoles version look better.
X360 clearly looks sharper AND ROUGHER, which can get you a headache, PS3 has smooth edges, Microsoft wanted to get their game sharper by lowering Anti-Aliasing and putting higher texture setting.
look at these images to see what i mean.

http://images.eurogamer.net...

http://images.eurogamer.net...

Or look at image 15 on the comparison site.

I personally can't handle looking at the comparison, seeing that version i will be getting of the game looks less sharp and more blurry, but if i imagine playing the game with each setting, i rather prefer playing the game on PS3. Of course unless PS3 version is too washed out, but i don't really have a choice, i won't buy new Xbox 360 every 6 months and online subscription every year.

[lategamer]

Lol, do people think Microsoft really paid people to make the 360 version look better?

Maybe if Sony didn't design a shit architecture, and made the Ps3 easier to develop for games would look even better than now.

http://news.cnet.com/sony-p...

[XDF]

@yukicore
Congratulation, You'd just won the hardcore "Fanboy of the day" with your comment. Shaking head in disbelieve.

[Yukicore]

Maybe not paid, but just asked, but it is clearly visible that Xbox version looks much different than PS3 version, it has less motion blur and higher resolution textures, but rougher texture edges.

[Pyscho_Mantis]

WTF this cant be true....if it is then someone needs to complain to bethesda that is just not acceptable.

[Denethor_II]

I'm playing Skyrim on PC, my brother 360. I'm amazed at the difference. The 360 looks awful compared to the PC. I know it's to be expected but still.

[_LarZen_]

Take away the sharper textures and the tessellation for the mountains in the background and the X360 holds up realy good.

Especially when you think how old the hardware in todays consoles are.

[pyramid]

i bet 100 dollars that xbox 360 has better framerates than ps3 version.And the textures looks awful on ps3 compared to 360.And of course pc chrushes both.

[jmmurillo86]

I've ordered the PS3 version and now I feel betrayed. That version looks awful compared to X360's, I thought Bethesda had learnt something when they ported Oblivion, but looking Fallout3 and now this port it is ME who have learnt the lesson. Shame on you Bethesda...

[shoestring]

Oh Eurogamer, the infamous anti-sony site strikes again. Even worse, somehow they made some of the 360 screenshots look slightly better then the PC version which we all know is complete bullshit.

And then there is this http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[GribbleGrunger]

yes, and that truth is what set all of the BS off that has followed. it's a long time since i've seen the full RBG trick used, but by Christ i'm looking at it now and it doesn't look washed out like that even though i've actually turned the brightness up in the game.

360 fanboy sites just can't handle the fact that for once the PS3 version looks better and obviously they're reeling from the ignominy of having to watch UC3 videos

[humbleopinion]

What does your "installing glitch" video have to do with anything? It's a known bug which this video abuses and Bethesda is already working on a fix:
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk...
In the meantime just play from the disc and you wan't have this issue.

But way to go on trying derail the discussion from the actual facts we have from the DF article and clearly shows which version looks best and which version looks worst. Still arguing which version is better after we have all this factual information is deluded at best.

[jmmurillo86]

OMG my PS3 copy finally arrived. I can't say it loud enough: DON'T BUY THE PS3 VERSION, Bethesda didn't give a sh*t about us. Awful shadows, low-res foliage, framerate drops to 10FPS, corrupted saved data, compressed audio and freezes. Please, this is unacceptable.