Cyberpunk 2077’s PS5 and Xbox Series X upgrade promised to deliver a 4K dynamic resolution in the game’s ray tracing and performance modes, but it reportedly doesn’t come close to hitting that target.
Technical experts Digital Foundry have discovered that Cyberpunk 2077’s next-gen patch is a clear improvement over the back-compat version we had before, but can’t meet the resolution targets promised by developer CD Projekt Red.
Cyberpunk 2077’s ray tracing mode on PS5 and Xbox Series X appears to run at a native 1440p. Digital Foundry said: “Dynamic resolution scaling may be in effect, but all results on all consoles deliver the same value in every scenario”, which doesn’t meet the proposed dynamic 4K resolution that CD Projekt Red highlighted in its consoles performance overview infographic.
Cyberpunk 2077’s performance mode thankfully fares a little better but still can’t hit 4K. PS5 now operates in a 1260p to 1729p dynamic resolution window, and Xbox Series X now runs between 1382p to 1782p after the next-gen update. That’s a significant improvement for both consoles – PS5’s resolution previously came in around 972p and 1200p, for example – but it's still a far cry from the 2160p target of 4K.
Opinion: 4K isn't the be all and end all
It’s clear that CD Projekt Red’s 4K claim was a touch ambitious, then, and it’s a trap too many developers fall into. We’ve seen plenty of other studios claim that a game is running at a 4K resolution, when really it may only hit that target in ideal scenarios, like staring up into the sky.
While it’s easier to market 4K to consumers than 1440p , we’ve seen plenty of titles deliver pristine image quality at that resolution. Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection , Death Stranding , and Ghost of Tsushima run at a lower resolution in performance mode and look extremely pleasing on higher resolution displays. The same goes for Cyberpunk 2077 on PS5 and Xbox Series X.
The problem is, Cyberpunk 2077 is a game that was previously criticized for overpromising and seriously underdelivering. The next-gen update will undoubtedly repair some of the bridges the developer burned after the release of the shocking PS4 and Xbox One versions, but it needs to avoid falling back into the same pitfalls that got it into trouble in the first place.
Cyberpunk 2077 on PS5 and Xbox Series X comes with a free five-hour trial so you can see whether Night City is worthy of your time and attention. The game has received multiple updates since its December 2020 release that have substantially changed how the game plays and performs.
However, we’d still advise avoiding the PS4 and Xbox One versions and picking the game up on next-gen consoles or PC. If you do own Cyberpunk 2077 on last-gen consoles, the game can be upgraded to the PS5 and Xbox Series X version for free.
Call of Duty will be MIA in 2023, insiders claim
Activision is apparently giving Call of Duty a break in 2023, pushing the release of Treyarch’s next entry in the series into 2024. Instead of a full-blooded release, Activision plans to support this year’s (currently unannounced) Call of duty through 2023 with additional content.
The decision to break from the annual release cycle is because last year’s Call of Duty: Vanguard failed to meet Activision’s expectations, Bloomberg reports. While Vanguard was the best-selling game of 2021 , its sales were still markedly lower than the previous year’s Black Ops Cold War.
If these reports are accurate, it will make 2023 the first year without a new Call of Duty in two decades. Apparently, Activision will fill the gap with continued support for this year’s Call of Duty and its free-to-play spinoff Warzone.
This year’s Call of Duty is allegedly bringing a second free-to-play spinoff, titled DMZ, which will also help fill the gap between mainline releases. According to Tom Henderson , a freelance writer with a strong record of reporting on Call of Duty and Battlefield 2042 leaks, DMZ is inspired by games like Escape From Tarkov, which mixes multiplayer with AI enemies and a high-pressure loot game.
Activision hasn’t confirmed Bloomberg’s reporting. Instead, saying in a statement it has “an exciting slate of premium and free-to-play Call of Duty experiences for this year, next year and beyond.”
Analysis: Call of Duty needs a breather
Activision isn’t the first publisher to step away from an annual release cycle. After releasing a new game seven years in a row, Ubisoft had to give Assassin’s Creed a break . The move paid off, too; Origins , released two years after Syndicate, was one of the best-reviewed and best-selling games in the series’ history - selling more than double the copies Syndicate did in its first ten days.
Ubisoft is taking the break from the annual release a step further and plans to turn the series into a platform with Assassin’s Creed Infinity . With the success of Warzone and the launch of DMZ on the horizon, we could see Call of Duty head the same way.
While Call of Duty has consistently been one of the top-selling games for the past two decades, it’s hard to ignore that the newer games have received cooler receptions at launch. Players have criticized the developers for re-used assets, short campaigns, and simply for not being innovative.
It will be fascinating to see what Treyarch is able to achieve with an additional year’s development time. Will this be the Assassin’s Creed: Origin’s moment for Call of Duty?
Xbox has finally fixed its Twitch streaming problem after 5 long years
Microsoft has fixed its Twitch streaming problem in a new update for Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, as you can now stream straight from your Xbox dashboard without having to open up the Twitch app. This functionality was originally available in 2014 and relied on the Xbox One's 'snap' functionality. However, Microsoft removed snap altogether in 2017 , which means the ability to stream on Twitch easily hasn’t been supported for several years.
As noted on Xbox Wire , the ability to stream straight from your Xbox dashboard is now live to all users, making it one of the easiest ways to stream to Twitch across any platform. Previously, you would have to go into the Twitch app itself to start a stream from your console, but this update makes the process much simpler.
Streaming can be a daunting task for new creators to tackle, so this simplified process helps potential content creators get started. This is all part of the Xbox dashboard update that went live on February 23. This new functionality is cross-generational too, coming to Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One consoles.
However, you may be wondering how to stream on Twitch using your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, or Xbox One consoles. Here’s what you need to know if you do plan on broadcasting your gameplay to the world.
How to go live on Twitch on your Xbox console
Streaming on your Xbox console is pretty easy to set up. Press the Xbox button on your controller to bring up the Guide and move over to the Capture and Share tab.
There you will find an option called ‘Live streaming’. Select this to open up your options. You need to register for a Twitch account and then link that new account to your Xbox by following the instructions onscreen.
Once you’ve linked things up, it's straightforward from there. You should see a ‘Go Live Now' button in the Guide that starts your Twitch stream. You can also edit your stream name, so make sure it's something enticing for viewers.
You can also plug in a webcam to your console and manage where it is placed on your feed as you broadcast. Underneath the webcam options, you should see a 'More Options' submenu. Click into this submenu to adjust both game volume, microphone volume, and toggle your party chat on or off.
The final step to perfecting your Twitch stream involves changing your bitrate. This will affect the quality of your stream, though you'll be at the mercy of your internet upload and download speeds. If you need some help figuring out what bitrate is best for you, go to Bitratecalc to get a better estimate. You can also use the Twitch Inspector to test streams on your PC to get a better understanding of how to get a smooth performance. Remember: don't use a higher bitrate unless you have a strong internet connection, and try to use a wired connection instead of wireless.
More Twitch updates are on the way for Xbox consoles, too, such as the ability to adjust the broadcast bar and change the transparency, which will arrive later in the near future.
And that’s all you need to know. It’s a very easy process, making this one of the easiest ways to start Twitch streaming if you've ever been curious to give it a try. We'd still like to see Microsoft add other streaming services such as YouTube and Facebook Gaming to the mix, but at least now streaming to Twitch isn't the hassle it once was.