A new technical comparison by Digital Foundry of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 has revealed nuanced differences between the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions, along with insights into the game’s performance on PS5 Pro and Steam Deck. While both consoles deliver a strong visual experience, certain metrics and stability factors set them apart.
On Xbox Series X, the Quality Mode runs at a dynamic resolution ranging from 1080p to 1600p, averaging around 1593p, before using Temporal Super Resolution (TSR) to upscale directly to 4K. The mode is locked at 30 frames per second. In Performance Mode, resolution drops to a range of 720p to 1080p, averaging about 1069p, and is upscaled to 1440p via TSR before being spatially upscaled to 4K. The frame rate targets 60fps, though occasional dips and more noticeable hitches occur compared to PlayStation. Graphically, Series X shows slightly reduced clarity in dense foliage, rock formations, and hair strands, although core features like Lumen and VSM remain active with adjusted parameters.
On PlayStation 5, Quality Mode operates at a similar resolution range of 1080p to 1600p, averaging around 1432p with TSR upscaling to 4K at 30fps. Performance Mode runs between 720p and 1080p, averaging 989p, also upscaled to 1440p and then to 4K. Here, the 60fps target is achieved 99 percent of the time with fewer hitches than on Xbox Series X. Visual trade-offs, such as reduced clarity in environmental detail, are similar to Microsoft’s flagship console.
The PS5 Pro offers the highest resolution averages in this comparison, with Quality Mode ranging from 1080p to 1700p (averaging 1696p) and Performance Mode averaging 1166p. Both modes allow players to choose between TSR and PlayStation Super Resolution (PSSR), though TSR is recommended due to fewer motion artifacts. Frame rates are stable, with the 60fps target dropping by only a single frame in rare circumstances.
While the Xbox Series S’ performance was not detailed, the Steam Deck sees notable improvements following a recent update. At 800p with low settings and TSR-enabled dynamic resolution targeting 30fps, the game maintains its target most of the time, dipping only slightly during demanding scenes. The update boosts like-for-like performance by up to 20 percent and reduces stuttering, though traversal stutter remains an issue.
Overall, while both PS5 and Xbox Series X offer strong renditions of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, the PS5 version—particularly on PS5 Pro—demonstrates marginally steadier performance in high frame rate modes. The choice between platforms may ultimately come down to ecosystem preference rather than major technical advantages.
