The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S each offer 120fps gaming, but what is that and what do you need to make the most of it?
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(Pocket-lint) – One of the big advancements the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S bring to console gaming is 120fps.
While each is primarily designed for stable 4K 60fps playback (1440p60 in the case of the Series S), they are capable of upping the frame rate further. But, what caveats come with that and what do you even need to play games at their smoothest?
We explain all right here.
Xbox Series X vs PS5: Which should you choose? What is 120Hz gaming?
Faster frame rates have always been the holy grail for game developers, with certain types of games – shooters, racers, etc – benefitting greatly from the smoothest action possible. More frames per second on screen equates to much smoother presentation and a more responsive gameplay experience.
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PlayStation
PC gamers are already au fait with extreme frame rates, with many games having unlocked fps so they can run as well as the hardware allows, but consoles have traditionally attempted to hit 60fps maximum. And, before this generation arrived, most were happy to sit at 30fps. How things have changed.
The latest-gen consoles don’t only offer 60fps as standard on most games, they have the extra graphical grunt to go a step further – up to 120fps. This effectively means that, for every frame you see on a standard Xbox One or PS4 game, you will see at least four on the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S. That results in action, such as a bullet fired from a gun or rival car coming across your bonnet, being shown more accurately and can be reacted to faster.
