Digital Foundry: Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order: Every Console Tested, Tech Problems Analysed

[PlanetSmasher]

Kinda how I feel. I'm on the Xbox One X with a external SSD. The stutters and hitches are getting worse.

Click to shrink...

I'm going to try completely shutting the game and my PS4 off and playing it from a fresh boot and see if that clears up any of the stickiness, because trying to parry shit on Dathomir is impossible when the console seems to be skipping every couple of frames.

 

[Fastidioso]

the game unfortunately also performs poorly on the Pro, stuttering and hitching is prevalent throughout the whole game with a few areas better than others



SSD doesn´t help with this

Click to shrink...

The game has definitely I/O issues but it doesn't seems perform poorly in the quality mode on the pro. Or at least it's what it has been reported from different sources on youtube. VGtech is another one who provides many statistics to prove it.

 

[Theorry]

Hmm i might move to internal then. I have some stutters sometimes. Nothing crazy yet.

 

[Fastidioso]

I doubt the stalls are just File I/O related btw. Obviously a weak HDD compounds the problem but the troubles here likely go deeper.

I'll just say there is a recent thread on tech-artist.org that touches on what I would expect to be the actual cause.

Click to shrink...

What means 'just'? It's quite evident the stalls are I/O issues (as Control). That's the final 'effect' not the initial cause. Which is another story and more complicate (I guess) to find out.

 

[XxLeonV]

So glad I figured out my PC issues as I almost was about to pick this up on X. After disabling cloud saves and the Origin overlay it's been a buttery smooth experience (with only slight stutters entering new areas).

 

[Bjones]

The note about external drives are a bit off-putting.

However, my Pro is connected with an external USB SSD .. so guessing (hoping ?) it bodes better for me.

Click to shrink...

I'm running off an external ssd on Xbox x and I have yet to see that issue.

 

[hey it's that dog]

I doubt the stalls are just File I/O related btw. Obviously a weak HDD compounds the problem but the troubles here likely go deeper.

I'll just say there is a recent thread on tech-artist.org that touches on what I would expect to be the actual cause.

Click to shrink...

What's the point of this if you won't elaborate or give a link to what you're talking about?

 

[Duderino]

What means 'just'? It's quite evident is an I/O issues (as Control). That's the final 'effect' not the cause. Which is another story.

Click to shrink...

There is much more than HDD read/write speeds that can factor into how quickly content loads.

 

[Fastidioso]

There is much more than HDD read/write speeds that can factor into how quickly content loads.

Click to shrink...

I/O it's not just relative to HDD.

 

[burgerdog]

Hmmm, I shall install the game on the X's internal drive then. Definitely noticing stutters a bit too often.

Click to shrink...

I've been playing on an external SSD on my X and it only stutters when it's loading a new area.

 

[SnatcherHunter]

A show with no Jedi in it is selling a lot of copies of a Jedi action game? I don't see it.

Click to shrink...

It's true though. I know a few who are picking FO because they are into the SW hype train thanks to the show.

 

[Detective Pidgey]

I've been playing on an external SSD on my X and it only stutters when it's loading a new area.

Click to shrink...

Hmmm, I see. Maybe it's just this area then, because it really stutters quite a bit here. I'm moving the game to internal hdd now. Let's see if it helps, can never hurt.

 

[Duderino]

I/O it's not just relative to HDD.

Click to shrink...

File I/O speed refers to the rate of accessing (and manipulating) data from storage. That is no doubt a contributing factor here, but I would question it being the primary bottleneck.

 

[burgerdog]

Hmmm, I see. Maybe it's just this area then, because it really stutters quite a bit here. I'm moving the game to internal hdd now. Let's see if it helps, can never hurt.

Click to shrink...

Let us know how it goes after the switch.

 

[BeeDog]

I must have massive I/O issues on my PS4 Pro then, since it stutters like crazy for some time before stabilizing. :(

 

[giancarlo123x]

I'm loving the game but on the third planet with lots of vegetation it is running like shit on my pro. It just soft locked for the first time in a hard encounter. I hope a patch comes soon

 

[Duderino]

What's the point of this if you won't elaborate or give a link to what you're talking about?

Click to shrink...

To give DF a breadcrumb trail to another possible explanation here without calling too much attention to one dev's remarks.

 

[Apathy]

This game is a mess for performance

 

[moerser]

anybody here with at least similar specs as me?
i7 6700k, 1080, 16gb ddr4.
will i be able to get 1080p/60 without sacrificing too much iq?

 

[Fastidioso]

File I/O speed refers to the rate of accessing (and manipulating) data from storage. That is no doubt a contributing factor here, but I would question it being the primary bottleneck.

Click to shrink...

Again I/O issues are not solely relative to the HDD data and it's a more wide argument with multiple hardware parts involved (of course, HDD storage it's a relevant part). Why repeat vague stuff without provide deeper informations if you really think there is something of more to add?

 

[Zekes]

I just played Control on a base PS4. Is it worse than that?

 

[Fastidioso]

I just played Control on a base PS4. Is it worse than that?

Click to shrink...

No absolutely.And it's far better than the most of the later multiplat on ps360. But of course it could be subjective. Maybe there are area where is really stressed but for the most should me be fine.

 

[EJS]

So if you have an X, use the internal drive?

 

[Fastidioso]

I'm loving the game but on the third planet with lots of vegetation it is running like shit on my pro. It just soft locked for the first time in a hard encounter. I hope a patch comes soon

Click to shrink...

Soft locked?

 

[Rizific]

anybody here with at least similar specs as me?
i7 6700k, 1080, 16gb ddr4.
will i be able to get 1080p/60 without sacrificing too much iq?

Click to shrink...

You're in the wrong thread.

 

[Gero]

Performance patch when?

 

[RingRang]

Absolutely. What is a hard 5-10 second pause on the consoles is a couple frame stutter on PC. You should be able to get 1080p 60 with that card too.

Click to shrink...

I'm going to try completely shutting the game and my PS4 off and playing it from a fresh boot and see if that clears up any of the stickiness, because trying to parry shit on Dathomir is impossible when the console seems to be skipping every couple of frames.

Click to shrink...

I must have massive I/O issues on my PS4 Pro then, since it stutters like crazy for some time before stabilizing. :(

Click to shrink...

I'm loving the game but on the third planet with lots of vegetation it is running like shit on my pro. It just soft locked for the first time in a hard encounter. I hope a patch comes soon

Click to shrink...

Are all of you using the sleep or suspend mode on your console? I never use either because there have been a number of example over the years where using those features exacerbated issues like this.

 

[Mars People]

This is the very definition of a rushed game.
Needed way more time in the oven.

 

[Mindfreak191]

anybody here with at least similar specs as me?
i7 6700k, 1080, 16gb ddr4.
will i be able to get 1080p/60 without sacrificing too much iq?

Click to shrink...

Even though you're in the wrong thread you'll be able to run it on epic no problem.

 

[PlanetSmasher]

Are all of you using the sleep or suspend mode on your console? I never use either because there have been a number of example over the years where using those features exacerbated issues like this.

Click to shrink...

I did yesterday, yeah. It seemed entirely stable during my first play, and then after I came back after a break was when it got a lot worse.

 

[Gravemind IV]

I turned off HDR though, lightsabers looked way better with it off.

 

[Son of Liberty]

It's true though. I know a few who are picking FO because they are into the SW hype train thanks to the show.

Click to shrink...

I agree, I was going to wait for Fallen Order to go down in price but I decided to buy the game sooner because I'm really loving the new show plus I'm hyped for Episode IX coming out next month.

 

[Bruceleeroy]

Eesh is that really how bad the animation is in the game? The blending between movement to attacks looks pretty bad and he looks like he is floating a good inch above the ground at all times.

 

[DriftingSpirit]

PS5 it is.

At a pretty steep discount.

 

[PlanetSmasher]

Eesh is that really how bad the animation is in the game? The blending between movement to attacks looks pretty bad and he looks like he is floating a good inch above the ground at all times.

Click to shrink...

Cal's running animations feel very, very weird most of the time. He kind of looks like he's midway between a canned run and a procedurally altered run animation at all times.

 

[giancarlo123x]

Soft locked?

Click to shrink...

Maybe not the correct term, screen froze but i could access ps4 menu stuff no problem. Had to close the game and launch it again.

 

[Lump]

Occasional stutters are happening on my decent PC, and I'm running this thing off an NVMe 970 Pro with (2080ti, 9900k, 16GB of 3200 RAM). It doesn't look like hitching is a hardware issue - I'm throwing a high tier computer at this thing and there's no stopping the hitching.

 

[Witness]

If any game next year will needs a upgrade patch for the new consoles, its this game. Would be bananas at 4k60, jealous of PC folks with monster systems.

 

[Bruceleeroy]

Cal's running animations feel very, very weird most of the time. He kind of looks like he's midway between a canned run and a procedurally altered run animation at all times.

Click to shrink...

What an odd issue to have in a game like this. Just looks so weird

 

[PlanetSmasher]

What an odd issue to have in a game like this. Just looks so weird

Click to shrink...

Yeah, the game VISUALLY looks very nice but the running animations feel very bizarre to me. I don't know why they chose to do them that way.

 

[VFX_Veteran]

If any game next year will needs a upgrade patch for the new consoles, its this game. Would be bananas at 4k60, jealous of PC folks with monster systems.

Click to shrink...

It is epic. I can't stop thinking about it. The slowdowns are noticeable but infrequent. The game looks incredible at full 4k on EPIC settings. Animation is top notch too. Next-gen hopefuls are going to shit their pants!

 

[Elfotografoalocado]

Yeah, the game VISUALLY looks very nice but the running animations feel very bizarre to me. I don't know why they chose to do them that way.

Click to shrink...

Yeah... It's like his form is completely off. He's hunched forward, and bobs his head side to side so much. People don't run like that. Uncharted 2 and 3 had a similar problem, which they corrected in 4 for a more natural way of running.

 

[Duderino]

Again I/O are not solely relative to the HDD. Why you continue to repeat this stuff and your information are very vague about this matter.

Click to shrink...

Ask yourself, if another bottleneck is taking resources away from I/O operations is File I/O realistically the root cause? No, staggered i/o would be just one possible symptom.

Yet for whatever reason whenever stalls like this happen the common assumption is, welp, must be the file I/O not keeping up. In reality these stutters may not even be a result of accessing data. Could be the cost of clearing memory before the next expected load, or asset spawning overhead, or memory leaks, or dependency tracking. etc. Even if I/O is the root cause it could have more to do with how the data is packaged. There are many, many other possible explanations.

The recommendation to not play from sleep is a telling sign that there is more at play here.

 

[AlexFlame116]

Oof I was planning on getting the game by the end of the month but from these problems I'll probably just take a "wait and see" approach to the game.

 

[Xbudz]

i'm curious, for people playing in HDR on Xbox One X, which brightness setting did you settle on?

 

[Garlador]

This and Control are showing those older launch systems are barely handling the newest games without hitches and hang-ups. As much mileage as I've gotten out of them, I think next-gen is going to be a godsend.

 

[Anthony Hopkins]

Oof I was planning on getting the game by the end of the month but from these problems I'll probably just take a "wait and see" approach to the game.

Click to shrink...

Which platform do u plan to play it on?

 

[Dark1x]

Ask yourself, if another bottleneck is taking resources away from I/O operations is File I/O realistically the root cause? No, staggered i/o would be just one possible symptom.

Yet for whatever reason whenever stalls like this happen the common assumption is, welp, must be the file I/O not keeping up. In reality these stutters may not even be a result of accessing data. Could be the cost of clearing memory before the next expected load, or asset spawning overhead, or memory leaks, or dependency tracking. etc. Even if I/O is the root cause it could have more to do with how the data is packaged. There are many, many other possible explanations.

The recommendation to not play from sleep is a telling sign that there is more at play here.

Click to shrink...

This is why I kept it so generic. It's obviously not just related to drive speed, though it's part of it. The problem runs deeper clearly as you say.

 

[MilesQ]

First game on base PS4 to drop to 720p?

Kinda wild, I thought it would perform much better on base PS4.

 

[Deleted member 13101]

Very informative video!

Base PS4, external base-spec HDD:

Planet Z was pretty much fine, only one small piece of ground where rock texture didn't load in. Which is remarkable because that first visit goes on and on and up and down and across and everywhere across landscapes and natural and man-made materials, for hours.

Can confirm that the game overall appears to be higher-res, almost no shimmer and images maintain clarity. I know it's a different engine but with Titanfall 2 you could very visibly notice the resolution drops. I guess people don't remember this.

Then I went back to the first planet for some stuff, and that first half of it starting at the ship is still kinda rough in the stutter area. Nothing like the hard pauses in the video, but something's still off there. It's weird because this area of the game is not more special environment-wise, or larger, or more expansive than Planet Z is, at all.

On to the next planet, we'll see what happens.