Deciding whether to play Anthem on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One is a tough decision for anyone that happens to own both consoles. Regardless of which is chosen, consumers will be forced to download a massive day one update for Anthem in order to address several issues that have been present throughout the game’s prelaunch period.
While both consoles share that patch in common, there are a number of differences that gamers will want to be aware of before committing to a platform. As for those playing Anthem on PC with a substantially more powerful rig, they’ll have the clear advantage. When talking about Xbox or PlayStation, however, it’s important to note that there are really four current options between the two: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X.
The Xbox One S and PlayStation 4 at this point are easy to eliminate from contention, which just leaves the more powerful X and Pro. When comparing the second demo of Anthem across Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro, the latest title from BioWare actually had a better frame rate on the latter. This was determined by DigitalFoundry, as the outlet determined that the game manages to run at over 35fps when players turn down the output to 1080p on the Pro, while the Xbox One X (following the Day One patch) maintains a solid 30fps.
The tradeoff here is that Microsoft’s more powerful console can natively render Anthem in 4K, while the PS4 Pro is limited to its 4K output mode and generally higher FPS output – albeit rendering at 1800p. It may be surprising since Anthem has been so heavily marketed as an Xbox title, but ultimately it’s the PlayStation 4 Pro players that have a few more options when it comes down to how they are best able to alter the frames per second to best enjoy Anthem. Still, there are several additional variables to consider when looking at the versions.
As for the lesser-powered versions of PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, they have their own quirks. Xbox One S clocks in at a resolution of 900p and features a glitch that reduces its frames per second to 10-15 at times. This error can be fixed by resetting the game, but maintains 30fps when things are running alright. Meanwhile, the standard PS4 maintains 30fps, occasionally dipping below, with an average of 1632x918 pixels and a high of 1920x1080 pixels.
Overall, Anthem has a lot going on that can take a toll on any hardware. As of this writing, however, it’s clear that the Xbox One X version of the game is the best option when it comes to home console versions of BioWare’s latest. Truthfully, players should be able to enjoy the game across all platforms, so ultimately this multiplayer game should be enjoyed with friends – and since cross-play isn’t yet supported for Anthem then choosing between Xbox or PlayStation should be a relatively easy decision.
More: Anthem Guide: Tips & Tricks We Wish We Knew Before Playing
Anthem arrived for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on February 22, 2019.
