Digital Foundry: Oblivion Remaster - Xbox Series X|S Review - New Patch Boosts Perf But Doesn't Fix Stutter

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Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?



We're looking at Xbox first, with a small PS5 preview - the Microsoft console has received a perf-boosting patch that has yet to arrive on the Sony machine. Still, the Oblivion Remaster is a delight to look at compared to the 2006 original - with Unreal Engine 5's features getting a great workout through lumen GI and reflections. However, it's also clear that Xbox Series X and S each struggle with the game's open world nature, with hitches affecting play. A new patch version 0.411.141.0 (233550) released on Friday 25th April to improve matters, and it salvages some performance for Series X's 60fps mode - but it's still not good enough.


00:00 Introduction
02:24 Xbox Series X: Performance vs Quality Comparison
04:15 Xbox Series X 60FPS Performance Mode Tested
06:49 Xbox Series X Launch Build vs New Patch Tested
08:35 PS5 Performance Mode Quick Look
10:01 Xbox Series X 60FPS Quality Mode Tested
11:07 Xbox Series S Tested
09:14 Conclusion
 
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- "Surprised" by the sheer visual overhaul, using UE5
- Uses full suite of UE5 features (Lumen GI etc)
- Other modern QoL improvements also noted
- Latest hotfix is only on Xbox consoles so far and improves Performance mode
- PS5 will be covered when it gets the hotfix as well.

- Series X:
- Software Lumen present in both Quality and Performance with Quality having a higher grade of it
- Shadow filtering, tree and grass LoD also pushed up in Quality mode.
- Shadow resolution and world geometry quality is same across both
- Perf: ~990p - Quality: ~1440p (with lows of 1290p)

- Performance mode is DF's recommended pick despite some visual feature reduction.
- Indoor areas reach 60fps often enough but hitching and frame time spikes present
- The biggest issues arise in the open world with traversal stutters a near constant problem
- Hitches often coincide with geometry pop-in and frame rate drops between 40 to 50 fps
- Not all areas are effected similarly
- Rapid movement (horseback etc) makes hitches more obvious while slower movement makes them less-so.

- Above is with the latest patch which is an improvement over launh code.
- Hotfix improves performance up to 16fps in open world areas
- General performance profile is viable for VRR displays, between 40 to 60fps
- Traversal stutter still present and any above 25ms are not covered by VRR
- DF did not notice any visual downgrades between patches

- Series X Quality:
- 30fps cap, hitching still remains and stick out like a sore thumb even though the performance is almost locked at 30 in DF's testing.
- A future patch which fixes hitching can make this mode more viable since performance seems to be solid otherwise.

Series S:
- A single 30fps mode, runs similar to SX's Quality mode
- No GPU limiting drops, seems to run constant 30 and only shows single digit drops for traversal stuttering
- DRS 900p to 810p resolution with drops in other visual settings
- LoD, foliage density, GI lighting etc all see reduction compared to Series X's Performance mode

Brief Look at Base PS5:
- Does not have the hotfix and the performance profile is similar to Series before the hotfix
- Quality: DRS 1440p, Perf: 900p, a bit lower than SX's resution
- Base PS5 runs 35~55fps average, sometimes higher, sometimes lower than SX's original perf.
- DF will cover more and also PS5 Pro when it gets its hotfix patch
 
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Performance mode image is noisy, grainy, and the shadows are pixelated and ugly. It also stutters and has massive performance drops.

Quality mode's frame pacing is awful, and somehow it can't even maintain 30fps consistently.

PS5 needs that latest patch.

This game runs terribly, but it's Oblivion, so it's still a lot of fun, but that performance mars the experience.
 
If you're on Series S, it might be better to just stick with the 360 release, since that retains the original color palette, while running at 60fps. It is, after all, the same game underneath.
I suppose it comes down to whether you think the changes by Virtuos to the gameplay are so important that it's worth a juddery 30fps experience.
 
Funnily enough, I've been playing in Quality Mode on Series X, and haven't really had an issue with the unevenness. Though, my personal threshold or sensitivity might be different than others. It's definitely a lot more noticeable in the video than it has been during typical play for me.
 
- Hotfix improves performance up to 16fps in open world areas

A simple hotfix the day after release managed to improve performance by Up to 16fps without making graphical cuts... it's not something very common to see on consoles 😅😅
 
You can run goldeneye in that 16 fps boost :messenger_beaming:

tenor.gif
 
I'm not someone who cares too much about performance on most games but quality mode on the Series X is unplayable it's that bad.

Shocking it released in this state. No wonder there are so many quick patches coming in.
 
the performance improvement is pointless unless they fix the constant stutters.
you could already go above 60fps on a beefy pc with dlss and framegen, and it still feels like shit to play.
and not too optimistic for a stutter fix either, that shit is usually there to stay, once in.
 
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Why make Xbox video first? Is the smallest playerbase of all platforms.
> Complains about thing
> Thing is answered within first two minutes of the video

The PS5 hasn't got the latest patch yet so they want to wait for that to compare it fairly, they do look at the base PS5 but strictly keep mentioning that it's on the old patch where it's tripping up in similar areas as the Xbox version did pre-patch.
 
So, we're basically repeating the usual UE5 story at this point.
  1. Game releases suffering from extremely high overheads.
  2. Players complain about stuttering, wildly inconsistent performance, and engine bugs (lighting, textures, loading, and shader comp)
  3. Developer releases a rapid fire set of patches to address each issue.
  4. At least one patch breaks or disables engine-level features requiring additional patches. (<-- YOU ARE HERE)
    1. Players use nearly identical Engine.ini work arounds from other games.
  5. A major performance patch is released months after launch that addresses the wild performance swings.
  6. Epic does nothing.
 
Downloaded yesterday on GP. Is performance mode smooth enough to play on Series X? Or should I wait for another patch?
 
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Downloaded yesterday on GP. Is performance mode smooth enough to play on Series X? Or should I wait for another patch?

I've been playing in Perf. mode and having a blast. Hitches are noticeable but the game is good enough to not be a problem for me.

If you're a performance purist then it might not be the same experience for you.
 
This looks really good on PS5 Pro, but I highly doubt they will ever fix this terrible stuttering on any platform.
The CPUs are the bottleneck, therefore not a lot more the Pro can do, unfortunately.

Hopefully they continue to patch performance.

I'm surprised it runs this well on the Series S.
 
I've been playing in Perf. mode and having a blast. Hitches are noticeable but the game is good enough to not be a problem for me.

If you're a performance purist then it might not be the same experience for you.
Nah, don't mind dips every now and again, just not launch Starfield state of affairs would be good.
 
If you're on Series S, it might be better to just stick with the 360 release, since that retains the original color palette, while running at 60fps. It is, after all, the same game underneath.
I suppose it comes down to whether you think the changes by Virtuos to the gameplay are so important that it's worth a juddery 30fps experience.
Why? Did you watch the video? Surprisingly good on Series S so long as you're OK with reduced draw distance, lower resolution and 30fps. Still far better than the OG game.
 
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Why? Did you watch the video? Surprisingly good on Series S so long as you're OK with reduced draw distance, lower resolution and 30fps. Still far better than the OG game.

Not for people who can't tolerate 30fps.
And plenty of Gaffers claim that particular sensitivity.
 
Not for people who can't tolerate 30fps.
And plenty of Gaffers claim that particular sensitivity.
I would guess most who have a Series S don't mind the 30FPS, right? Either that or they're strapped for cash so I'd say it would better to just wait to play the game until they can afford a XSX or PS5 Pro, or hold off until next gen.

It's also worth noting that if you have really good internet and are near a server, GeForce Now is also a good option.
 
> Complains about thing
> Thing is answered within first two minutes of the video

The PS5 hasn't got the latest patch yet so they want to wait for that to compare it fairly, they do look at the base PS5 but strictly keep mentioning that it's on the old patch where it's tripping up in similar areas as the Xbox version did pre-patch.
I am not watching the video lol. Why would I. I dont care about Xbox
 
They are aware this is base Oblivion with UE5 overlay on top? This is literally running the old game at the same time. You cannot fix shit base code.
 
> Complains about thing
> Thing is answered within first two minutes of the video

The PS5 hasn't got the latest patch yet so they want to wait for that to compare it fairly, they do look at the base PS5 but strictly keep mentioning that it's on the old patch where it's tripping up in similar areas as the Xbox version did pre-patch.
Not to mention they can make extra video for the PS5 alone = $$$$$$.
 
If you're on Series S, it might be better to just stick with the 360 release, since that retains the original color palette, while running at 60fps. It is, after all, the same game underneath.
I suppose it comes down to whether you think the changes by Virtuos to the gameplay are so important that it's worth a juddery 30fps experience.
Yikes! Just seen the video now.

Considering Series S was designed and marketed to deliver the same experience as the X, this game (at the moment) is some way off.
 
Ive put like 30h on ps5 pro alreayd and in general its good, but there are some of those traversal stutters and similiar drops like u patched xbox version in hevay forest areas or near oblivion gate, especially at nightime. Hopefully patch adresses performance at least.
 
Why to make the comparison, when the important patch for the PS5 is right around the corner?
 
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Classic Bethesda experience

If it's 900p on PS5, can't imagine the Switch version
that's being the base resolution of UE5 games when the target is 60fps on base consoles. In fact, it is perhaps a little above normal or average (sometimes we talk about 720p base resolution).

TSR in UE5 produces very good results and definitely the IQ in the performance mode of this Oblivion Remaster, in my opinion, is resolved very, very decently.
The problem here isn't so much IQ, it's the stutter problems. If these are resolved (I doubt it is possible in their entirety) it would be a well-resolved game in terms of performance/graphics.

Regarding Switch 2, thinking that DLSS will be used, it would simply be to look at the XSS version with lower resolution and add graphic cuts here and there and always at 30fps on docked mode. In Handheld mode??It's still a big unknown how Switch 2 performs in handheld mode.
 
Gonna hold off playing this again till the PS5 patch drops, I had to switch over to Performance mode to get that nice smooth gameplay and I'm normally a GFX heur but the difference was stark frame rate wise and very minimal visually, hopefully they introduce a 40fps mode with all the visual fidelity
 
So, we're basically repeating the usual UE5 story at this point.
  1. Game releases suffering from extremely high overheads.
  2. Players complain about stuttering, wildly inconsistent performance, and engine bugs (lighting, textures, loading, and shader comp)
  3. Developer releases a rapid fire set of patches to address each issue.
  4. At least one patch breaks or disables engine-level features requiring additional patches. (<-- YOU ARE HERE)
    1. Players use nearly identical Engine.ini work arounds from other games.
  5. A major performance patch is released months after launch that addresses the wild performance swings.
  6. Epic does nothing.
Unreal Engine singlehandedly destroying the industry and ensuring unstable games for years to come!

(obviously the devs themselves are to blame as well)
 
I still dont get this generations of consoles. With 10x the Power, we get worse IQ.


You're not exactly getting the same fidelity though. Oblivion, the original, runs at 2x the performance and 4x the resolution via BC.

This is not the same game.
 
I am playing it on a Series S and it seems to run really well. Is it because my TV has vrr? I always wonder if that makes a difference as it is new to me.
 
Stutter is a feature of any Bethesda RPG. You have to enable some setting in a menu that releases later and/or unofficially: Mod menu.
 
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