Alan Wake 2 Confirmed To Include Performance Mode On Xbox Series X

I have gotten used to 30fps again. So, if their creative vision was built around a 30fps experience, I am going to go with the 30fps Mode.

Honestly, I'm done fiddling with the Options Menu before I start a game on a console. I am just going with the Default option unless it's found that the default option is a total mess of an experience (looking at your Ghostwire Tokyo). I want to experience the game the way the developer intended - whether it be 30fps or 60fps.

That being said, I am glad that the team was able to inject a Performance Mode for those who prefer 60fps.

What about a performance mode on series s though? I'm guessing not then but if the series s is going be 30 fps and the series x 60 moving forward what is the point of a series s?

@Dan1283 are you seriously suggesting that the Series S is pointless because games don't release in 60fps? Really?

The point of the Series S is to create a cheaper way for the public to access Xbox gaming if they don't care about having the highest specs. Considering how many Series S consoles have been sold, this decision by Xbox has been very popular.

@Dan1283 "What about a performance mode on series s though? I'm guessing not then but if the series s is going be 30 fps and the series x 60 moving forward what is the point of a series s?"

the point of the series s is to provide a way for people to play the game at a lower price point. What a weird comment lol

@Sakai what do you mean weird comment just wondering that's all I probably actually typed it wrong using my phone lol but the series s is definitely holding the series x back in my opinion the series s is more for the average gamer than the hardcore gamer that being said remedy are great and make great games so I expect Alan wake 2 be great I loved the 1st game

I'd much prefer a performance mode, so that's good news if its solid.
I trust remedy to make a good game, so this is an anticipated title - though I'll play it elsewhere unless its on GP, which is very unlikely.

Then I’ll be playing in performance mode. This game is pushing graphics hard so will be fun to see the compromises to hit 60.

Looking forward to this one, love the original.

I really need to try the first game.

That's great. Can we get a physical release now?

@Dan1283 if the series S was holding back the X, there would be no 60fps mode on the X, right?

@Dan1283 its not holding them back. The architecture is similar to PC so its the same as having a low to mid spec PC vs buying a higher spec. Games are scaled and optimised for both.

@Burnfeeling in my opinion it is because of starfield being capped at 30 fps the series x can handle a performance mode without question qnd I'm guessing Microsoft and bethesda didn't want annoy xbox series s fans by having a performance mode on the series x but not s

@Dan1283 That is because you have NO understanding of Hardware or Game development. A game like Starfield has a LOT more physics and persistent items than I expect Alan Wake 2 (or many other games). The fact that you can move hundreds,even thousands of items and those items will persist in that place, all still have physics etc that really push the CPU hard.

It doesn't matter if a 'potato' for example is at 1080p or 4k, the Physics for it will still be the 'same' workload on a CPU. The GPU may save a few ms by not having to render and process so many pixels. Same with AI - 100 enemies for example will still have the same Physics and AI at 1080p or 4k, so reducing resolution won't reduce the CPU workload to hit a stable 60fps.

Games don't run 'just' on a GPU so not everything can be as simple as drop the Resolution so that the GPU can render a frame in 16.6ms (60fps) instead of 33.3ms (30fps) if the CPU takes 16ms to Calculate all the Physics, AI etc, tell the GPU what to draw and where, process you controller inputs, call up and decompress all the assets etc etc, dropping to 540p won't make it possible to hit 60fps. Some games are very CPU intensive!

As the Series S and X both share the SAME CPU with only a slight difference in 'speed', It doesn't need to scale back Physics, AI etc and its 'designed' to offer Series X games, games that won't be on Last Gen hardware at a much lower cost.

Most people don't have 4k HDR TV's to game with and couldn't care less about the difference between 4k or 1080p because on their TV, they won't benefit from higher resolution. Coming from Consoles too, they are likely to be content with and very used to 30fps as the vast majority of games - inc the majority of GotY winners/nominees are 30fps, certainly never saw the point in throwing their XB1 or PS4 away to upgrade to a XB1X or PS4 Pro which not only offered better visual quality, but also much more likely to offer 'performance' modes (even if they rarely hit 60fps consistently).

The point of the Series S is that its the 'entry' hardware tier for Xbox, much like the XB1S was last gen that also didn't offer Performance modes and often had lower visual settings too - not just resolution, but lower quality Shadows, textures, LoDs etc etc.

Not everyone wants or 'needs' a Series X, won't really benefit from the extra cost as they only have a 1080p TV and can't go above 60fps anyway. Its 'good enough' and means they can still play games like AW2, Starfield, Forza etc.

60fps is what I like about this gen of consoles. Previous gens had very few games that performed at 60fps. I hope that it becomes the norm and expectation of the average consumer. The cost of a gaming pc that can run the newest and upcoming games at 60fps 1080p is more expensive than the XSX or PS5.

@BAMozzy I have no wish at all to offend, but may I ask where your game development knowledge comes from? Are you prehaps s an ex dev, or a programmer in another field with a healthy interest in games tech?
I wont argue all points with you (especially as I agree with most), this thread would soon become tiresome, but I do think you underestimate the market penetration of 4k tv prehaps? It varies by region of course, but the last figures I saw for the US suggested that 44% of households with a tv had 4k, and that was march 2021. I doubt that asia and many european countries are far behind, and its not a stretch to sugest that households with gamers are more likely than others to adopt that tech earlier.
In short, in many regions I suspect 4k telly owners are a small majority these days and may therefore prefer high res output when available, is that not a reasonable assumption given the figures?
With regards to how the cpu is utilised, your quite right that the way starfield computes everything is expensive. If you were a software designer allocating your resources, you would plan how best to use them. There has to be a conversation about whether remembering the position of 100 potatoes is better than having stronger enemy AI, or indeed any other of the systems that could use a tweek.!😁
I hope this post comes across as constructive, as I'm not challenging your viewpoint, but trying to stimulate conversation...and being nosey about where you got your good knowledge of the game dev issues. 👍

@Titntin I was trying to make a point that its not just about dropping resolution and suddenly a game can do 60fps. There are certain aspects that don't scale at all if you want to keep the games the 'SAME' on all platforms - such as Physics or AI. Unless you dumb down those - which you do see in some games where they reduce the AI/physics of crowd/traffic...

I was trying to find something relevant to Starfield vs AW2 as to why they might be able to hit 60fps, but Starfield is much more likely CPU limited to the point that dropping the Resolution and Visual settings to the lowest possible still wouldn't enable 60fps - the bottleneck is CPU.

The Series S is not CPU limited and was designed around enabling gamers to play games at a lower entry cost - a similar price point to most entry tier consoles these days - Switch, PS4, XB1S and had a Premium 4k XB1X, PS4 Pro around the 'Premium' Console price.

As for 4k, yes I know that many 'homes' may have a 4k TV in their Living Room, but how many Gamers - especially those younger gamers or Student gamers with a bedroom TV there are. How many parents will buy a Series S for their kids. As a Parent, I'd have the Series X in the main room for me, but Series S for the kids in their room - yes they could play on the 'main' TV at times. Also a Series S is affordable and small enough to take with you on holiday for example if you want something cheap but can still play your games on it...

It is much closer in Spec in reality to the Series X is than the One S was to the One X and a bigger difference in Visual quality and performance too...

@Titntin My thinking is that if you have a 4K TV you read the S and X box and decided which way you wanted to go. Price vs 4K.
So I am going to say 98.5% of S owners do not have a 4K TV or opted for a cheaper option… Either way they are happy 😃

@BAMozzy Thanks for your reply. I should clarify I have no issue with the series s, its been a successful concept and its real cute too 😊
History has taught us that split skus comes with difficulties, and thats apparent, but overall its been a huge sucess and clearly the right call for MS. As you point out, the perfect gp machine for the kids who may not have access to the main tv 👍

@BAMozzy not going to argue with that you obviously know your stuff thanks for clarifying that its spot on I Aren't bashing the series s because i have one and its a great little machine but I still think the series x can hit 60 fps with starfield nothing will change my opinion on that anyway this is about Alan wake 2 and that game will no doubt be amazing

If the trade off is a drop in resolution, fine by me. But if 60fps sacrifices the visual effects in any way, 30fps no brainer.

@NintendoByNature It's a good game, but it does have some "product of its time" gameplay decisions that probably stretch things out a little longer than they need to.

The game is checkpoint based and sometimes the amount of stuff to do from one checkpoint to the next can seem excruciatingly long. That's mostly in the late game, though.

Thank goodness Quick Resume exists to allow for breaks when you need!

The story is worth it though. I really need to play the DLC Chapters before I jump into this as they are pertinent to understanding what's going on (well, unless Remedy has a really good "recap" video as part of the games introduction).

@GamingFan4Lyf that's good to know. Love checkpoint systems for horror games to avoid replaying areas. And quick resume might be my favorite system feature of all time.

Once Alan Wake 1 goes on sale, I'll grab it. Hopefully this month before 2 releases. I might even skip 1 and go right to 2 since I have xbox credit

@NintendoByNature You could always watch a Longplay on YouTube or something instead just to get caught up (rather than simply reading the plot on Wikipedia).