The PlayStation 5 releases in less than two weeks and with it, expectations for video games on next-generation consoles will be initially set. That’s because the PS5, unlike the Xbox Series X, features first-party launch titles exclusive to the platform. They’re built for the PS5, after all. And no game stands out for this reason more thanDemon’s Souls. The Bluepoint remake is a visual powerhouse. Yet surprisingly, it’s now confirmed thatDemon’s Soulswon’t feature one of the most widely advertised next-gen technologies: ray tracing.
In an interview with Spanish outlet LevelUp, creative director Gavin Moore explained the team’s decision not to include ray tracing inDemon’s Souls. Moore explains that ray tracing is a hardware intensive technology and that implementing it comes with a cost. “If we had implemented ray tracing in the game, that would mean that we would have had to leave something out,” is how Moore characterizes the decision, though he notes also that there’s “limited time” for game development. PerhapsDemon’s Souls' PS5 launch deadlineprevented Bluepoint from adding ray tracing, though that’s just speculation at this time.
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Ray tracing isn’t the only area thatDemon’s Soulswon’t be delivering on the promise of next-generation hardware capabilities, either. This past week, Bluepoint confirmed thatDemon’s Soulswould feature two separate visual modes. Cinematic mode will feature native 4K resolution, but only 30fps, while Performance mode features dynamic 4K resolution and 60fps.
There’s no argument thatDemon’s Soulsis a visually impressive game, judging from its early trailers. Even without ray tracing or a combinednative 4K and 60fps,Demon’s Soulscould be one of the most visually impressive console games yet. Bluepoint is simply focusing on other aspects of the experience instead.Demon’s Soulswill hopefully have a deeper, more detailed world with more rich detail due to its decision.
Nevertheless, the decision does raise questions regarding what next-gen gamers, and specificallyPS5 players, should expect from next-gen games. 4K seems to be the new standard for video games going forward, whether it’s native or not. But frames-per-second is still in flux. Most of the past generation’s games have targeted 30fps and there’s no reason to expect that to change on PS5. That could change, however, depending on gamers' reactions to these initial launch games.
PS5 gamers will nevertheless have remaining questions even after launch, it seems. The widespread adoption of ray tracing is clearly not a certainty. And neither is the adoption of native 4K at 60fps. That could be dependent on what developers think fans want, or it could be aPS5 hardware limitation. Final details regarding all launch titles will help fill in the blanks.
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