Baldur's Gate 3 on PlayStation 5
Baldur’s Gate 3 became available on PlayStation 5 in early September 2023, following a successful run on PC. The game has been highly anticipated among Sony enthusiasts, leading to a successful launch on PlayStation 5.
Despite the initial hype, it is evident that the game’s optimisation was not up to the mark, particularly for its PC version which ran quite poorly. However, the performance on PS5 has been notably smoother and the operational issues have been reduced significantly.
Performance Analysis by Digital Foundry
The PS5 version of Baldur's Gate 3 underwent analysis and testing by Digital Foundry. They found that the game is capped at 1440p and operates similarly in both Performance and Quality settings. The game’s visuals on the PS5 version were found to be akin to the ultra settings on PC.
One significant factor in the game's smooth performance on PlayStation 5 has been the success of FSR 2 on the console. The technology has yet to be made available on PC, but it is expected to be implemented soon.
Notes on Frame Rate Stability
The frame rate stability on PlayStation 5 has also been a marked improvement over the PC version. Digital Foundry reports that in Performance mode, the game maintains a stable 60 FPS for the majority of the time. Still, there are frame rate drops when entering the main city, thus highlighting an optimisation issue.
Meanwhile, Quality mode locks the game at a steady 30 FPS with few exceptions. It has been observed that despite a lower frame rate, the Quality mode offers more stability compared to the Performance mode.
Despite the improved performance, it should be noted that Baldur’s Gate 3 may still present some challenges for users navigating with a controller on PS5. The game was primarily designed for keyboard and mouse control, making some features and combat maneuvers more complex with a controller.