Evolve Head To Head Initial Analysis: PS4 Vs. Xbox One [60fps]

Turtle Rock Studios’ Evolve is a highly ambitious asymmetrical, cooperative and competitive shooter that was released on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC earlier today. Turtle Rock Studios has an impressive pedigree, having developed the critically acclaimed Left 4 Dead. So it goes without saying that there is a lot riding on the studio to deliver with Evolve, after all it’s one of the few games available that is exclusive to current gen consoles.

Due to the scope of this analysis, we have analyzed only the offline custom mode. We are pleased to report that both versions run at a rock solid 30 frames per second with minimal frame rate drops in between. However, it seems that Turtle Rock Studios have failed to reach their sixty frames per second target on consoles. 30 frames per second does not drag down the experience but given that Evolve is a fast paced shooter, I would have preferred it to run at 60 frames per second.

A head to head video comparison between the PS4 and Xbox One versions. Please select 1080p and 60 frames per second for best video quality. 

Regarding rendering resolutions, we are still calculating the final numbers but we think that the PlayStation 4 version runs at full 1080p resolution compared to 900p on Xbox One, which immediately gives a better image quality on Sony’s console. However that is not the only advantage the PS4 version has over its counterpart, as it seems that the Xbox One suffers from shadow dithering at some places. We also came across minor texture streaming issues across both versions wherein character facial details and armor will take a few seconds to load up correctly. However we are not sure how consistent the shadow dithering and texture streaming issues are throughout the several maps but you can be rest assured that this is something which we will be revisiting again in our final verdict.

Both versions utilize SMAA solutions for anti-aliasing which results into a clean image quality, free of jaggies. Unlike Dying Light, whose SMAA implementation seems to be bugged on consoles, it was pleasant to see it in full force in Evolve. All assets seem to be similar across both versions including alpha effects, water physics and foliage density.

A selection of screenshots from the Xbox One [left] and PS4 [right] versions. Our final verdict will have even more screenshots comparisons including the PC version. For uncompressed images, please click here to download.

From what we have played, Evolve seems to be a graphically amazing game, something which I expected from the 4th generation of CryEngine. Gameplay wise, it’s fast paced and highly enjoyable but whether it’s worth your money is something that GamingBolt’s review team will analyze in the coming days. Check back early next week [or maybe earlier] for our final technical verdict on Evolve which will include a full blown performance analysis of the PC build along with the console versions.