Bethesda reveals that the Fallout 4 next-gen update works a bit differently on the Xbox Series X than its official patch notes suggest.
Highlights
- The Xbox Series X version of Fallout 4 targets 60 FPS in both Quality and Performance modes.
- Many Series X owners have previously reported that the Quality mode was broken because it went above 30 FPS.
- The two modes were introduced as part of the Fallout 4 next-gen update on April 25.
The next-gen update for Fallout 4 works a bit differently on the Xbox Series X than its official changelog suggests. That's according to Bethesda itself, who just offered a clarification on how the new Fallout 4 update handles frame rate targets on Microsoft's most powerful console to date.
According to the official patch notes accompanying the Fallout 4 next-gen update, the latest version of the game targets 30 frames per second in its newly introduced Quality mode, while aiming for 60 FPS in Performance mode. The RPG renders at a 4K resolution on all current-generation consoles irrespective of the graphics mode selected.
Fallout 4 Targets 60 FPS in All Modes on Xbox Series X
But it turns out that the Xbox Series X version of Fallout 4 targets 60 FPS in both modes. Bethesda said as much in a recent tweet, which was shared two days after the next-gen update rolled out. According to the developer, the main difference between the two modes on the Xbox Series X is that choosing Performance will see the game lower its graphics settings in a "more aggressive" manner in order to hit 60 frames per second.
Bethesda has thus effectively dismissed the widespread player reports that the Fallout 4 Quality mode doesn't work on the Xbox Series X. The mode's ability to go above 30 FPS has previously confused some Xbox players, not least because most console games that support multiple graphics modes pair those with different frame rate caps. The studio's decision to go against the norm was possibly motivated by a belief that the Xbox Series X can handle targeting 60 frames per second in a 9-year-old game made for the previous console generation.
That confidence wouldn't have been unfounded, as underlined by the fact that many Xbox Series X owners are reporting that Fallout 4 runs much better than it did following the late April patch. The new update did introduce some new issues, though the vast majority of them are predominantly affecting PC gamers. E.g., some Steam Deck users aren't happy with how Fallout 4 works on Valve's handheld following the new update, largely because Bethesda removed the game's launcher without offering an alternative for accessing some of its settings.
Likewise, the patch broke a wide variety of PC mods. While that's normal for game updates to do, some fans still voiced their grievances with this turn of events because Bethesda had previously offered assurances that it worked to minimize the update's impact on Fallout 4 mods.
Franchise Fallout Platform(s) PS4 , Xbox One , PC Released November 10, 2015 Developer(s) Bethesda Publisher(s) Bethesda Genre(s) RPG , Action Engine Creation ESRB M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS How Long To Beat 27 Hours X|S Enhanced No File Size Xbox Series 51 GB (December 2023) Metascore 87 PS Plus Availability Extra & Premium See at Official SiteSee at Xbox Games StoreSee at Playstation StoreSee at SteamSee at AmazonSee at Best BuySee at Walmart