Cyberpunk 2077 cannot run at 4K on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X with Patch 1.5
Last week, CD Projekt Red released Patch 1.5 for Cyberpunk 2077, an update that coincided with a next-gen update for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X consoles. At the time, CD Projekt Red claimed that the next-gen update allowed the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X to reach a 4K resolution with 'dynamic framerate dependant scaling'. In other words, the game would adjust its resolution to maintain 30 FPS or 60 FPS, depending on which graphics mode you have enabled.
However, Digital Foundry has demonstrated otherwise in its latest video. Unfortunately, neither the PlayStation 5 nor the Xbox Series X can come close to bringing Cyberpunk 2077 to screens in 4K, also known as 2160p. (3,840 x 2,160). Instead, Digital Foundry demonstrates that the PlayStation 5 hits 1728p in performance mode, which targets 60 FPS. Additionally, the console downscales to 1260p with performance mode enabled when needed to keep gameplay at near to 60 FPS.
| Minimum resolution | Maximum resolution | |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5(Performance mode/60 FPS) | 2,240 x 1,260 | 3,072 x 1,728 |
| PlayStation 5(Ray-tracing mode/30 FPS) | 2,560 x 1,440 | 2,560 x 1,440 |
| Xbox Series X(Performance mode/60 FPS) | 2,458 x 1,382 | 3,168 x 1,782 |
| Xbox Series X(Ray-tracing mode/30 FPS) | 2,560 x 1,440 | 2,560 x 1,440 |
| Xbox Series S(30 FPS) | 2,304 x 1,296 | 2,560 x 1,440 |
It is a similar story with the Xbox Series X as well. For some reason, Microsoft's latest console manages slightly higher resolutions than its Sony counterpart, albeit only marginally so. Specifically, the Xbox Series X varies between 1382p and 1782p in performance mode, far short of the 2160p that CD Projekt Red suggested would be possible in Patch 1.5.
In comparison, both consoles maintain 1440p in ray-tracing mode, which CD Projekt Red keeps to 30 FPS. Similarly, the Xbox Series S targets this resolution and framerate but occasionally downscales to 1296p in demanding areas. In saying that, the Xbox Series S lacks any ray-tracing features afforded to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
Ray-tracing extends to just local shadows though, unlike the PC version of the game. Consequently, Digital Foundry determines that improvements to image quality are minimal, even if CD Projekt Red needed to cap the game at 1440p. Patch 1.5 introduces other improvements to Cyberpunk 2077 on current-generation consoles too, as we have discussed separately.
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