Summary
Patch:
- Patch 'promises solid 60 FPS' at the cost of stripping RT in Performance mode
- RTGI and RT Reflections removed, even in cut-scenes which still rendered at 30 FPS.
- At worse it effects lighting, occlusion, neon signs etc. Old RT light looked more 'convincing'
- One additional benefit of stripping RT is that lighting doesn't 'pop' anymore, which was seen in the original setup sometimes.
- Removal doesn't hurt the game as much as you'd think.
- RT Reflections are replaced with SSR. Looks "alright". Can show messy artifacts. SSR 'completely fail' when it comes to water surfaces.
- DF thinks just removing SSR completely would have been a better choice
Visuals:
- New patch has foliage draw distance increased, noticeable in long shots
- Launch version had IQ issue with low resolution upscaling to FSR with visual artifacting
- Post-patch, some artifacting but resolves a better image overall with less artifacting
- Resolution has increased across the board.
- Areas which were 720p before are near 1080p now. Significant improvement in IQ
- PS5 and SX have identical improvements with similar cut-backs in RTGI and reflections
- Performance:
- Pre-patch was pretty rough, avg between 40~60 in opening mission with lows of 30s.
- Post-patch "straight 60 FPS". With minor one-off traversal drops here and there
- Quality mode:
- Retains 30 FPS and original RT. No real change in any visual features
- Frame drops are also mostly still present in the same areas.
- One stress area in Kobo on PS5 which ran at 20s before now runs even worse in the 10s. This is an oddity.
- PS5 has native VRR option added but it doesn't really change much, but it looks like LFC has been added. Now it operates much the same as Series X with VRR
- Any time it falls below LFC range (24fps) tearing and judder returns.
- Series S is more or less the same as launch.
- Performance is consistent, 30 FPS only, no drops seen in testing.
- DF would have liked to see them attempt a 60 FPS mode, with lower visual quality if needed.