Rockstar Games’ upcoming title, GTA VI has generated significant buzz since its reveal. While the developer has yet to disclose precise technical specifications, industry experts at Digital Foundry have conducted an in-depth analysis of the game’s performance based on the recently released Extended Look footage.
The analysis suggests that GTA VI will run at a fixed 30 FPS on both PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles. This decision appears to be a strategic choice by Rockstar to maximize the game’s visual detail, rather than pursuing a higher frame rate. The game’s rendering, simulation, and presentation have all been optimized around this constraint, resulting in an unprecedented level of density, material quality, and world coherence.
Prioritizing Visual Detail Over Frame Rate
Digital Foundry’s analysis highlights that the game’s character rendering is particularly impressive. The skin shading makes sweat and makeup look convincing, and there are significant improvements in hair simulation. For instance, the character Lucia’s hair exhibits realistic snap-back motions, delayed follow-through, and impressive base-to-tip motion.
The internal rendering resolution on the PS5 is suspected to be 1440p without Dynamic Resolution Scaling (DRS). There is no strong evidence of FSR 2 or TAA upscaling being used, which can lead to some softness and geometric aliasing. However, there are no signs of frame-rate drops that have plagued previous entries in the series at launch.
The Challenge of Achieving 60 FPS on Consoles
Digital Foundry’s report suggests that achieving a 60 FPS version of GTA VI on current consoles is extremely unlikely. The game maintains a 33.3ms cadence with care, and Rockstar has spent immense effort balancing CPU and GPU workloads to fully saturate the hardware. The report states, “That makes a 60fps version extremely unlikely on console hardware – there’s no way to regain enough GPU and particularly CPU time to make a 16.7ms update rate work without compromising the world.”
This careful balance means that there is likely little room for a 60 FPS mode on the current generation of consoles. However, the situation might be different for the PC version. Digital Foundry notes that the PC platform could allow for higher resolutions, especially with the benefit of modern temporal upscalers like DLSS. However, the CPU demands of a world this complex, tuned around console Zen 2 cores at 30 FPS, could make hitting 60 FPS genuinely challenging.
Looking Ahead to PC and Future Console Versions
While the console versions of GTA VI are set to launch in November, the PC release is still on the horizon. Digital Foundry advises some level of caution when considering the PC version’s performance. The PC platform ought to allow for higher resolutions and increased RT sample counts, alongside longer draw distances. However, the CPU demands of a world this complex could make hitting 60 FPS genuinely challenging, likely requiring a high-end CPU like a recent Ryzen X3D to avoid bottlenecks.
As the gaming community eagerly awaits the release of GTA VI, the technical analysis by Digital Foundry provides valuable insights into the game’s performance and the choices made by Rockstar Games. Whether you’re a fan of high frame rates or prioritize visual fidelity, understanding these technical details can enhance your appreciation of the game’s development and what to expect when it hits the shelves.
