Skip to main content

Dark Souls Remastered's network test puts the spotlight on Xbox One X

And the leap over PS4 Pro isn't quite what we thought it would be.

Dark Souls Remastered's network test was conducted last weekend, giving our firs look at how the game operates across all consoles. We've already had a sizeable chunk of PS4 Pro preview footage to look at, of course. Running at a native 1800p and with something very close to a locked 60fps, first impressions are of a conservative, but satisfying remaster. What the network test finally gives us is a sense of perspective: how does the more powerful Xbox One X compare to the PS4 Pro? And equally, where does that leave the two base consoles?

Well, first things first - the code offered to users really is an early and unique build, put together just to test the PvP invasions and using a restricted segment of Lordran. Even though the client weighs in at 3GB - almost the size of the full game on last-gen systems - we were blocked off from a lot of the best bits. So there was no opportunity for a trip to wyvern on the bridge, or to explore Sen's Fortress, for example. All those were hidden by impassable fog doors, or untouchable levers.

Instead, the network test build honed purely on the Undead Parish area, leading up to two Bell Gargoyles on the rooftop. Short as it is, there is enough here to prove that the new netcode is generally holding up; I struggled to summon Solaire a couple of times, but in terms of the online invasion mechanic it doesn't seem like there's much to complain about. It clicks together, and for the online play at least, it's in a good place.

And yes, Xbox One X does seem to offer the highest spec release for this remastered release, but to my surprise it's not blowing the doors off the hinges in comparison to PS4 Pro. What you get is a native 3200x1800 image, just like Sony's enhanced machine - and visually speaking, the feature-set is identical. Textures, effects, ambient occlusion quality and motion blur are exactly like-for-like between the two. The only difference is in performance, where we could not budge the frame-rate from the target 60fps no matter how hard we pushed. It's true that the available content was limited, but small hits to performance were present on every other platform.

Missed the Dark Souls Remastered network test last weekend? Don't worry, here's a look at how it played out across all four consoles.Watch on YouTube

But the lack of native 4K support is puzzling bearing in mind some of the resolution differentials we've seen between Xbox One X and PS4 Pro. Additionally, the X has proven itself as more than capable of delivering a 4x resolution boost over the base console. Dark Souls Remastered operates at full HD pixel-counts on both the standard Xbox One and PlayStation consoles - meaning X's improvement here is in the order of 2.7x instead. Again, this is a special build designed for testing network play, and things could change. But if this stands for the full release, the sense that is this is a situation made out of convenience, rather than to cater to each system's power profile. 1080p on base hardware, 1800p on enhanced machines - and that's your lot.

Any tweaks or additions beyond additional pixels are limited, to say the least. Past the 1800p upgrade, these machines are pushing identical settings to the base models. It doesn't do the presentation much harm; surprisingly these ageing textures hold up quite nicely on a 4K TV. And combined with the refreshed alpha work for bloodstains, smoke and fire, the overall presentation still looks crisp. The only exception is the rather messy haze transparency that kicks in when activating a bonfire - it doesn't hold up well close-up, but otherwise, the game looks fine.

There is one catch for PS4 Pro and Xbox One X - a small discrepancy, if you like. It may be a glitch, but curiously, lens flare is missing on both enhanced consoles. Meanwhile, the two base machine most certainly have it. It's odd, and the obvious suspicion is it has something to do with running at a higher 1800p resolution - causing a conflict with the way that effect renders. However, on the flipside, bloom is running at a higher resolution on X and Pro, giving it a more precise blend around objects. During the action, it's barely noticeable but the absent lens flare will need some attention for the final game - as things stand, the base machines are getting a neat little extra.

PlayStation 4
PlayStation 4 Pro
Xbox One
Xbox One X
Dark Souls Remastered runs at 1920x1080 on the base machines, and 3200x1800 on PS4 Pro and Xbox One X. But could a native 4K have been doable on Microsoft's top-end machine?
PlayStation 4
PlayStation 4 Pro
Xbox One
Xbox One X
Textures, effects and draw distances are a match for all four methods of play - and native resolution is the main difference.
PlayStation 4
PlayStation 4 Pro
Xbox One
Xbox One X
Lens flare is missing on Xbox One X and PS4 Pro, an present on the standard models. It's possible this is to do with running at a higher resolution - where bloom accuracy is also increased on the enhanced machines too.
PlayStation 4
PlayStation 4 Pro
Xbox One
Xbox One X
Even texture filtering and shadows appear matched in cut-scenes. Beyond frame-rates, don't expect any big visual extras on Pro or X.

That's the visual side of things ticked off in terms of the comparisons, then. Even back in 2011 on PS3 and 360, Dark Souls was slightly undervalued at the time for its visuals. From the shader-work to world complexity, the game represented a big leap up over Demon's Souls before it. Of course, all of that ambition came at a serious cost to performance - notoriously landing single-digit numbers in some areas.

With that in mind, it's a relief to get this game in full flow at 60Hz on consoles, and while we don't have the absolute extreme stress tests here, there are signs we'll see some variation here between the systems in final code. On the limited sample we have, the base Xbox One drops the most frames, followed by PS4, then Pro and then at the top-end, Xbox One X is essentially flawless. How this translates to the final game and notorious areas like Blight Town remains to be seen, but we hope to have the answers on this one sooner rather than later.

Looking ahead, we'll be interested to see how Dark Souls Remastered is received. Based on the outlook offered by the network test, it seems that Xbox One and PS4 are evenly matched in terms of resolution and feature set, suggesting that more could have been on the Sony console. And by extension, with both enhanced machines delivering the same 1800p, there is the argument Xbox One X is perhaps being underutilised. Any overhead available seems to be dedicated to marginal gains only, and it'll be down to the PC build to scale any higher. We'll report back with more details once final code is available.

Read this next

seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com