Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 - Every Console Tested - Is Last Gen Still Viable?
Gaming
Introduction
The much-anticipated release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 marks the return of developers Raven and Treyarch, with a development period spanning four years since Black Ops Cold War. This new installment witnesses a significant technical evolution as it transitions to the iw9 engine, moving away from Treyarch's customized engine previously applied in the Black Ops series. This change aligns the game’s technologies with recent Call of Duty titles such as Modern Warfare 2 & 3 and the forthcoming Warzone component set to be unveiled on November 14th. Notably, the campaign introduces an exciting gameplay system dubbed Omni movement, allowing players to sprint and dive in multiple directions.
The aim of this article is to delve into the single-player experience of Black Ops 6 across all consoles, including last-gen systems. The campaign stands out as one of the series' most adventurous offerings, featuring branching dialogue trees, expansive open-world sandbox levels, and mission styles reminiscent of Hitman that allow players varied approaches. While elements of this structure appeared in Cold War and Modern Warfare 3, Black Ops 6 expands and enhances these concepts with a more dynamic and bombastic tone.
Performance Analysis
Let's examine the performance of Black Ops 6 on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Being built on the iw9 engine, both consoles target a dynamic resolution of 3840x2160, which can adjust down to 1920x2160. This setup typically allows for a consistent 60 frames per second, but some graphical limitations are evident. Players may notice low-resolution textures, blocky shadows, and the absence of shadow casting from significant light sources, such as explosions. The lack of ray tracing support is also disappointing, especially following its elevation in Cold War.
While both PS5 and Series X maintain an average of 60 FPS, issues such as checkpoint hitches occur during gameplay, occasionally resulting in frame drops. For example, igniting C4 during specific missions might trigger drops to 50 FPS. The Series X tends to be more susceptible to frame drops during intensive combat sequences compared to the PS5, which generally offers smoother gameplay for those without VRR capabilities.
When evaluating the Xbox Series S, the performance becomes less compelling with frame rates ranging from 50 to 60 FPS and even dipping into the mid-40s during intense scenes. The resolution mirrors that of Modern Warfare 3 with a 1440p target, but the experience lacks consistency seen in the more powerful consoles.
Moving to the 120Hz mode across consoles reveals fluctuating performance. While the PS5 and Series X can occasionally spike to 120 FPS, they both see drops to around 70 to 90 FPS during demanding sequences. Again, the Series S draws back, typically delivering 15 to 30 FPS lower, plus occasional drops below 60 FPS.
Last-Gen Console Performance
Considering last-gen consoles, such as the PS4 and Xbox One, performance expectations drastically change. The PS4, for instance, targets a resolution of 1080p, often falling to 960x1080 during intensive gameplay. The visuals suffer as key settings like environmental textures and shadow quality are diminished, leading to issues like noticeable pop-ins and extended loading times.
Framerate analysis of the base PS4 shows a range of 45 to 60 FPS, but intensive combat results in further drops, particularly in open-world scenarios filled with action. The PS4 Pro performs better overall, maintaining a target resolution of 1440p, yet still experiences occasional frames dropping below 60 FPS during heavy combat.
The Xbox One X and base Xbox One yield the least favorable outcomes across the board, with the Xbox One consistently performing at 40 to 45 FPS throughout various missions and experiencing significant drops in cutscenes.
Conclusion
The performance on last-gen consoles indicates a clear prioritization of the developers towards current-gen systems. Recommending the single-player campaigns for the PS4, PS4 Pro, or Xbox One X becomes more challenging, with the base Xbox One falling short of acceptable performance thresholds. Black Ops 6 is better enjoyed on modern consoles, ensuring a richer gameplay experience.
Keywords
- Call of Duty
- Black Ops 6
- Last Gen Consoles
- PS5
- Xbox Series X
- Performance Analysis
- Omni Movement
- Frame Rate
- Resolution
- Dynamic Settings
FAQ
Q: What engine does Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 use?
A: Black Ops 6 uses the iw9 engine.
Q: How does Black Ops 6 perform on PS5 and Xbox Series X?
A: Both consoles generally maintain 60 FPS but can experience occasional frame drops during intense gameplay.
Q: Is ray tracing supported in Black Ops 6?
A: No, ray tracing support has been omitted in Black Ops 6.
Q: What is the performance like on last-gen consoles?
A: Last-gen consoles experience significant performance issues, including frame drops and lower graphical fidelity, making them less viable for this title.
Q: Can I expect a smooth experience on Xbox Series S?
A: Performance on Xbox Series S is less consistent, with frame rates often dropping below 60 FPS in combat scenarios.