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I want devs to return to prioritizing maximum graphics at 30fps again...

I've been following the "Graphical Fidelity I Expect This Generation" thread and so many people are simply disappointed at what they're seeing. Nothing looks like that true next generation jump in graphics. Everything just kinda looks the same these days. Nothing is breaking new ground.

Where's the next gen physics? Where's the next gen distruction? Where's the next gen weather and wind effects?

I really miss the days of the likes of Uncharted 2 and 3 where the game wasn't a massive open world 100 hour game, but instead a very fun, action packed, short game.

I'd rather play a really well made 9 hour game (like RE:R) than a mediocre game that has millions of things to do.

Bring back graphical showpieces!!!
 
I've been following the "Graphical Fidelity I Expect This Generation" thread and so many people are simply disappointed at what they're seeing. Nothing looks like that true next generation jump in graphics. Everything just kinda looks the same these days. Nothing is breaking new ground.

Where's the next gen physics? Where's the next gen distruction? Where's the next gen weather and wind effects?

I really miss the days of the likes of Uncharted 2 and 3 where the game wasn't a massive open world 100 hour game, but instead a very fun, action packed, short game.

I'd rather play a really well made 9 hour game (like RE:R) than a mediocre game that has millions of things to do.

Bring back graphical showpieces!!!
Sadly, framerate warriors have Completely killed off developer ambition.

Nowadays, If a developer chooses to push a console to its limits, gamers will shame them and Completely freak out/fake outrage for said game only being 30fps. Despite looking next gen as fuck.

They've choosen framerate over ambition, graphics, physics, and pushing the envelope.
 
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Alomost every game this gen has 30 fps graphic mode or 60 fps performance mode, for dev that's change setting in most case, also by official report over 70% choose performance mode over 30 fps. Every one has choice, also now on PS5 pro already a lot games has PS5 graphic mode level visual or above (since better raytracing) visuals, so you can expect next gen home console's base performance for most game will be 60 fps in graphic mode and 120fps~240fps in performance mode. The new handhled may still target 30 fps for some high cpu demanding games.

It was 30fps because these games can only target 30 (in PS4 era, that's limited mostly by CPU)
 
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I sometimes toggle back and forth between a game that offer both a 30 and 60fps option..and it never fails,the 30 option always looks worse in motion,blurry,smudgy and choppy with ever single camera turn…….its not like 30 is no longer a thing,most games still offer that as an option
 
no, this generation was a necessary emergency brake.

during the jump from gen6 to gen7, devs pushed the consoles WAY too hard.
the jump to HD as the new standard, on top of trying to do next gen visuals, was far too much for those consoles.

suddenly we went from a healthy mix of 60fps games, and some heavy hitters that pushed the gen6 systems hard and went with 30fps, to a generation where 60fps was insanely rare, and almost exclusively done in games that fell far below 720p, and where even 30fps was often not reached reliably when games targeted 720p.

this then continued into gen8, where people expected a big visual jump. but since devs absolutely overstressed gen7 consoles, they still mainly targeted 30fps in basically every big title. they had to compensate for gen7 pushing visuals and resolutions too far, by continuing to push just as hard again, and the hardware just about caught up with those ambitions.
but that lead to a generation where consoles were hilariously unbalanced, with massive GPUs to catch up with the demands of devs, and shitty CPUs cuz who cares about framerates?


Gen9 is finally a generation where 60fps is normal again. we didn't have this since gen6. and up until gen6, 60fps was the default, with gen5 being the outlier due to the paradigm shift from 2D to 3D.

and as I said in other threads before, I think this 60fps push is in part thanks to the Series S. the Series S made sure that not a single multiplatform game ever released on gen9 consoles can be GPU limited to 30fps on Series X and PS5. it's literally impossible for a GPU limited 30fps game to exist on those 2 systems (and the PS5 Pro now too of course).

so in a way, it's literally not possible for Devs to do what you want, unless it's a PS5 exclusive game. even if it's coming to PC it's not possible to do because it would mean not running well on a large part of your audience's PCs.
 
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I feel like I've only been disappointed with the graphics of this generation. Most games look barely better than PS4 games and I partially blame the shift to trying to make every game have a performance mode.

Hear me out. What if devs made a game at 1080p/30fps with INSANE graphics? I don't mean they should maximize reflection quality with ray tracing and use all of the 30fps frame budget on that. I mean actually make something that is so insanely detailed that the PS5 can ONLY do 30fps on that game.

I can't be the only one that feels like this generation has been PS4.5 right? Looking at the new God of War game, I can't even tell a visual difference from the 2018 GoW game.

I still think EARLY PS4 games were peak graphics. Stuff like DriveClub, The Order 1886, Infamous Second Son, Killzone Shadowfall BLEW ME AWAY back then. Then as the PS4 generation went on, developers seemed to start to get lazy and then into the PS5 era, nothing really changed.
I got really really bad news, cause the inevitable PS6 DRAM downgrade to 20-24GB and PS Portable mandates are 'finna make PS5 look like the biggest generational leap in history by comparison. If you think Faye of War looks like PS4 game now, wait til they roll out Faye of War 2 in 2036 that looks largely identical graphically.
 
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Alomost every game this gen has 30 fps graphic mode or 60 fps performance mode, for dev that's change setting in most case, also by official report over 70% choose performance mode over 30 fps. Every one has choice, also now on PS5 pro already a lot games has PS5 graphic mode level visual or above (since better raytracing) visuals, so you can expect next gen home console's base performance for most game will be 60 fps in graphic mode and 120fps~240fps in performance mode. The new handhled may still target 30 fps for some high cpu demanding games.
Here's the thing though. That 30fps mode doesn't really look that much different to me. It doesn't change the game enough. The devs just pump up the resolution and add some ray tracing effects and call it a day.

What if instead of just giving us the same exact game at a higher resolution, they threw EVERYTHING into 1 single mode that's 1080p/30fps. Does anyone think Blu-Ray movies look bad and low res? No. Why can't we have a game that is 1080p/30fps that looks like a Blu-ray movie?

Also, I feel like devs can change the way a game looks and feels by using a different color palette or color grading in a certain way to make it look less "gamey".

Games these days look too video gamey and arcade-like.

For example, I played Directive 8020 on quality mode on my PS5 pro and it was fantastic. Some of the best visuals I've seen this generation, but honestly, it could've looked even better if they didn't use most of that extra frame time for stupid RT effects.

You know what DIDN'T have any RT? Until Dawn Remake. That game honestly blew me away with how insanely detailed it was in quality mode, but people called me an idiot.
 
I agree that 30FPS gameplay is superior for many types of games. It just has that cinematic flair.

However, targeting 60FPS on high end consoles enables games to be played on mobile devices, lower end PCs and devices with power saving modes at 30FPS. This is how you got modern AAA titles running on a Steam Deck/Switch 2 in 2026 and beyond. Targeting 60FPS on PS5/Series X also made Series S development much less painful, as the performance mode config is often recycled.
 
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60fps becoming the standard for consoles was one of the best things that happened this generation IMO.

This generation was never meant to be anything more than better lighting (ray tracing, etc.) and fidelity/performance. Don't expect to be absolutely blown away by the next generation either as it'll likely be a very similar step up. Along with the ridiculous skyrocketing prices of development, woes of the industry, etc. There's a lot of reasons why things feel and look safer these days.
 
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60fps becoming the standard for consoles was one of the best things that happened this generation IMO.

This generation was never meant to be anything more than better lighting (ray tracing, etc.) and fidelity/performance. Don't expect to be absolutely blown away by the next generation either as it'll likely be a very similar step up. Along with the ridiculous skyrocketing prices of development, woes of the industry, etc. There's a lot of reasons why things feel and look safer these days.
It just seems to me that devs used to really try their hardest at making the prettiest looking games.

Now, it's just like... "let's use the same engine we created generations ago so that everything looks the same as before!"

Remember when devs would actually develop brand new engines and we would get a variety of different looking games? Now it's just UE5, UE5, UE5 and oh look... UE5!
 
I agree with the OP. Rare had a way of wrecking N64s at the tradeoff of beautiful visuals. Coding to the metal used to be a mark of pride for game developers. Wring every drop of visual splendor you can from the current gen. BRING THESE SYSTEMS TO THEIR KNEES!!!
Austin Powers Evil Laugh GIF
 
It just seems to me that devs used to really try their hardest at making the prettiest looking games.

Now, it's just like... "let's use the same engine we created generations ago so that everything looks the same as before!"

Remember when devs would actually develop brand new engines and we would get a variety of different looking games? Now it's just UE5, UE5, UE5 and oh look... UE5!

the only way a game like you envision it could exist on current gen consoles is if it's a PS5 exclusive game, that's only on PS5, not even on PC.

the Series S, and the nature of the current PC market, makes it 100% impossible for any non-PS5-exclusive game to push graphics in a way that makes a 60fps mode impossible.

having to accommodate the Series S and the PC market means a 60fps performance mode will always be a viable setting to include in your game.

the only 30fps games this generation are the ones that are either badly made (Starfield) or that push world simulation to the maximum (possibly GTA5). it is never because they push the GPU too hard... because they always have to also run on hardware far less capable, and if it runs on that hardware, you might as well offer those settings as a performance mode on Series X and PS5/Pro
 
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It just seems to me that devs used to really try their hardest at making the prettiest looking games.

Now, it's just like... "let's use the same engine we created generations ago so that everything looks the same as before!"

Remember when devs would actually develop brand new engines and we would get a variety of different looking games? Now it's just UE5, UE5, UE5 and oh look... UE5!
Believe me man, I know. I miss games having their own engine, or some incredible step up in physics or something that made you go ooo and ahh. I feel like we haven't had that in EONS. I miss it, honestly. Yeah, EVERYTHING is UE5, and UE5 is absolute ass.

I think the last game that really reminded me of those feelings was Demon's Souls on PS5.
 
30 FPS is just outdated nowadays. I'm already looking forward to the next generation, where 60 FPS will hopefully be the standard.

But I think the OP has a point. Often, the only choices are 30 FPS with high resolution and max effects versus 60 FPS with lower resolution and reduced or no ray tracing.
I don't understand why there isn't an option for 60 FPS, max effects/RT, AND even lower resolution.

Compared to PC, I've always found it to be an advantage of consoles that you don't have to tweak graphics settings. There is nothing more frustrating than setting all the sliders to Ultra on PC, only to step-by-step dial them back toward medium just to find a good balance.
 
I feel like OP washes his hands in syrup and fills his swimming pool with pudding.
 
Yup. Giving console gamers a choice was in fact, the wrong choice. With 30 different options available on 5 platforms, devs don't optimize anymore.
 
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How about they focus on better AI (and I mean better enemy intelligence) and physics. We are graphically at a point where it is fine. Games are boring these days because they are rinse and repeat. The cpu's in these consoles and pc's are truly underutilized.
 
I agree, as a PC gamer primarily. I think it's better for the industry as a whole if they focused on 30fps baseline on console as well.

For one, it could result in better visuals and physics with games looking better with more interesting gameplay in general. The other thing is that it would give the "Pro" mid-gen upgrade more of a reason to exist if it upgrades those games from 30 to 60fps. And mostly, it would simply benefit PC throughout because we'd get better looking games which pushed the hardware better in a general sense, making better use of the expensive hardware that we buy.

Sony was going off back in the PS3 and PS5 gens with 30fps or unlocked cinematic games. God of War 3 was crazy.. Uncharted, TLOU... If they had targeted 60fps for those games we probably wouldn't be talking about how cinematic PS games are today because they wouldn't have looked mind blowing.
 
I feel like your mind will be blown the day you discover movies, I don't think you have yet I think you don't that movies exist but when you do boy that will be the day
 
For one, it could result in better visuals and physics with games looking better with more interesting gameplay in general. The other thing is that it would give the "Pro" mid-gen upgrade more of a reason to exist if it upgrades those games from 30 to 60fps. And mostly, it would simply benefit PC throughout because we'd get better looking games which pushed the hardware better in a general sense, making better use of the expensive hardware that we buy.

See this would be fine if you ignore the utter crap we've been fed on pc with even cards like a 4090 hitting below 60fps at 4k. Next gen isn't going to be 4090 level, mind you. PC has been brute forcing the garbage ports as is.
 
The guy just wants the modern day equivalent of Crysis...and while I get that desire, I really do...30FPS just feels bad on modern games. It doesn't bother me with older games, however.
 
One of the open world games with the most fun physics systems of the last 10 years is on the fucking Switch (TotK). A mid range tablet from 2017.
Games like FEAR still have AI that feels more reactive and advanced than most stuff we have today. A game that needs a pentium 4 to run.
The sense of scale of enemies in games like Shadow of the Colossus is rarely seen today. A game you can emulate on your phone these days.
AAA games offering a level of destruction like what we had in Red Faction Guerilla are rarely seen today. It was designed for consoles with 512mb of ram and a potato CPU.

If devs actually wanted to make games with more interactive worlds, cool physics, more dynamic AI, etc then running them at 60fps on modern hardware isn't keeping them from doing so.
If anything I'd argue it's the race for ever increasing and exponentially more expensive graphics that has been the biggest limiting factor to innovation in gaming, which is why graphics heavy AAA stuff has become increasingly more boring while indies, AA games and Japanese games with limited graphical ambition are some of the most fun stuff in the industry right now.

AAA games now take hundreds of millions of dollars, hundreds of devs and half a decade to make. And we want even MORE production values?
 
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Maximizing graphics is one of the reasons we are in this mess. Chasing small incremental gains has hurt the industry because they've prioritized it over gameplay which can be iterated upon to be noticeably better.

This meant ridiculous costs for hardware and the graphics are nominally better. Now supply is scarce and costs for consumers are through the roof and triple AAA studios are downsizing because a) they don't know how to make good games anymore just gwaphix showcases b) they spend all their money on graphics instead of gameplay and how systems feel c) nobody can afford to buy their games any more because those graphics will require a $1000 console or $2000 gpu to run d) People are wising up that the haves they are outputting are largely the same and revert back to the games that were actually fun from 10 years ago.

The chase for realism has hurt the industry, but 30 fps is a race to the bottom. Thats a no from me thanks.
 
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People who willingly chooses play games at 30 over 60 has to be put in a rocket in a trajectory to the sun.

Unless, they don't see the difference. In that case, choke on it. Same thing with resolution, if you couldn't tell the difference between 1080p and 4k. Why bother.
 
Says PS4 was peak so why aren't PS4 graphics at 60+ fps good for games from here on out? It's all we can afford for the time being, mayne!
 
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