We’ve already given our opinions about whether or not 60 frames-per-second in a video game really matters, and at gamescom this week, Xbox Boss Phil Spencer told CVG that he believes frame rate is more important than resolution:
We have done a lot of work with our partners and we constantly evolve our development tools. We announced that Destiny will have the same resolution and frame rate on Xbox One as PS4.
There are a long list of games. Reaching parity with our partners has been important. But in the end I don’t want it to be about a number, because 1080p isn’t some mythical, perfect resolution. Frame rate, to me, is significantly more important to gameplay than resolution, and the mix of those two which brings the right art style and freedom, whether it’s on PlayStation or our platform.
Spencer continued by discussing how a lower frame rate makes sense for certain games, while other genres benefit from the full 1080p/60fps:
I look at games like The Order on Sony’s platform and they picked a different resolution – I like the resolution that they picked, I think it’s interesting. I want to put the tools in the hands of the artists and not try to math it that there’s some sort of math answer for the what the right resolution and frame rate is for a game – because there isn’t.
Clearly some genres like with racing sims like Forza, hitting 1080p/60fps is important. So there are certain genres where there’s an expectation, but there are also other genres where I’d rather use the cycles to put more effects on screen or better lighting.
He finished this point by adding, “I’ve got to put the tools in the hands of developers.”
