A new technical analysis by Digital Foundry concludes that Resident Evil Requiem delivers its strongest console performance on PlayStation 5 Pro, outperforming both the base PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X in image clarity and lighting quality. While all three platforms share the same core assets and rendering foundation, the distinctions lie in ray tracing implementation, reconstruction techniques, and overall presentation sharpness.
Across PS5 Pro, PS5, and Xbox Series X, the game maintains identical geometry, animation systems, character models, and material quality. However, the PS5 Pro distinguishes itself in ray tracing mode. Internally rendering at slightly above 1080p, the Pro uses high-quality temporal upsampling that significantly enhances perceived resolution. According to the analysis, the reconstructed image appears close to 4K in clarity, with sharp environmental signage, distant geometry, and fine object detail remaining stable and well defined.
Ray-traced reflections and ray-traced lighting are fully enabled in the Pro’s ray tracing mode. Reflections on wet surfaces and glass avoid the occlusion artifacts associated with screen space techniques, while ambient shading benefits from more natural light diffusion in complex scenes. Performance in this mode largely holds at 60 frames per second, with minor dips in demanding sequences. VRR support helps smooth out these fluctuations.
The PS5 Pro also offers a 120 Hz mode with ray tracing disabled. While frame rates can approach 120 frames per second, image reconstruction relies on a more basic spatial upscaling method, resulting in a softer and less stable image. In practical terms, the ray tracing mode is considered the optimal balance between fidelity and performance.
On base PS5 and Xbox Series X, the experience is nearly identical. Both versions render at a similar internal resolution above 1080p and rely on spatial upscaling. Ray-traced reflections and global illumination are absent, replaced with cube maps and screen space reflections. Lighting is pre-baked rather than dynamically ray-traced. Despite this, asset quality remains intact, including strand-based hair, subsurface scattering, and high detail character models.
Performance on both systems is described as mostly stable at 60 frames per second, with minor drops in heavier scenes. VRR support is present on PS5. The main limitation compared to PS5 Pro is reduced image clarity and less advanced lighting.
Overall, Digital Foundry’s assessment positions PS5 Pro in ray tracing mode as the premium console option. Base PS5 and Xbox Series X deliver a technically solid and visually consistent experience, but without the additional refinement in reconstruction and lighting that sets the Pro apart.
