Review of Baldur’s Gate 3 performance after patches on Xbox Series X|S and PS5 by Digital Foundry.

Baldur's Gate 3 on Xbox is a close match to the PS5 version visually, with a few differences in shadow quality and performance. The game has seen improvements since launch, with better frame rates and stability. The Series S version takes a hit in resolution and shadows, but still provides a playable experience. Overall, it's a solid port with some minor issues, and worth checking out if you're a fan of RPGs. 👾🎮

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🌟 Visual and Performance Updates

Baldur's Gate 3 has seen significant updates and improvements since its PS5 release, with changes to shadow filtering, water appearance, and dynamic resolutions. The game exhibits more stable performance and improved frame rates, addressing one of the major issues experienced at launch.

🎮 Console Comparison

The PS5 and Xbox series are fairly evenly matched in terms of visual quality, with subtle differences in ground surfaces and water appearance. Both consoles deliver a good-looking image on 4K TVs, but the Series X shows slightly lower resolution in HUD elements.

🕹️ Performance Variations

Both consoles struggle to maintain frame rate targets in certain areas, particularly when in town settings, experiencing occasional dips below 30 FPS. However, the performance improvements in the updated PS5 code and enhanced visual quality make for a much better gaming experience overall.

🎮 Xbox Series S Review

The Series S version of Baldur's Gate 3 displays lower shadow quality and reduced level of detail at a distance compared to the Series X. However, it still delivers a visually satisfying experience, albeit with some noticeable differences.

🎮 Split-Screen Co-op Exclusion

Unfortunately, split-screen co-op functionality was omitted entirely from the launch release on the Series S, due to development difficulties and RAM limitations. This feature was perceived as especially challenging to implement on the weaker console.

🎮 Overall Evaluation

Despite some issues such as visual discrepancies and the disappearance of saved games on Xbox versions, Baldur's Gate 3 still offers a playable and reasonably performant RPG experience on both the Xbox Series X|S and PS5.

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Key Takeaways
- Baldur's Gate 3 exhibits significant visual and performance updates on PS5.
- Both PS5 and Xbox Series consoles show fairly even visual quality with subtle differences.
- The Series S version delivers a visually satisfying experience but lacks split-screen co-op functionality.
- Despite some issues, Baldur's Gate 3 offers a playable and reasonably performant RPG experience.

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