[Digital Foundry] Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 - DF Tech Review - PS5/Xbox Series X|S Tested

Red Kong XIX · Nov 22, 2023

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u587zFz0J3Q

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 runs well on PS5 and Series X - but Series S has issues

As the 20th mainline instalment in the Call of Duty series, Modern Warfare 3 defies the odds this year in the wake of r…

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PerrierChaud · Nov 22, 2023

Kromis · Nov 22, 2023

Will the next DF Deet Master please stand up?

Been waiting for this one to see what kind of a rush job this was

Kalentan · Nov 22, 2023

Kromis said:
Will the next DF Deet Master please stand up?

Been waiting for this one to see what kind of a rush job this was

While I don't have the specifics like the others do that make good summaries, just from my own watch of the video:

It looks very similar to MWII obviously, but there is a few standout graphical features in the campaign in particular. For example character model rendering is very very good, same with the motion capture.

Performance on PS5 and Xbox Series X is very solid, basically can't go wrong with either the 60 FPS or the 120 FPS mode, both run very well with only in the most intense moments generally where you see drops. Say for example, going into Zombies and doing a particular contract that spawns an absolute fuckton of them. But even then it's not a drop that is ever really that noticeable and never interrupts gameplay.

The Series S is more a mixed bag, on the Campaign it on the regular drops and even if you enable the 120 FPS mode, it will generally hover around the 60 FPS mark. Multiplayer continues this, some maps on Series S run very well, while others have more noticeable frame drops. Overall they said the Series S generally struggles to maintain a locked 60 FPS.

Theecliff · Nov 22, 2023

anyone else notice the obvious ghosting in both the Xbox consoles that's weirdly missing on the PS5? the side by side shots of that grassy field mission demonstrated it best, there was some obvious smearing on the grass on both Xbox consoles but not (or at least a lot less obviously) on the PS5. i'm surprised that Tom didn't make mention of it - some of the other Xbox footage makes it obvious and kinda egregious at times, especially with the first person gun model swaying and when things move across the screen quickly. weirdly, during the side by side of the shot of Cap Price skydiving, it kinda looks like the character's hair is resolving slightly differently on both consoles, looking more aliased on the PS5. perhaps the different consoles are using slightly different reconstruction/TAA techniques, the PS5 one less clean on edges but less ghosty in motion?

Kromis said:
Will the next DF Deet Master please stand up?

from off the top of my head:
-XSX/PS5 target 4K, use form of reconstruction to get there that can scale down to 50%
-some camera cuts take a while for reconstruction to reapply, can see visible edges occasionally
-campaign is mostly solid 60fps on both big consoles, but XSX can see more common drops and loading stutters not seen on PS5

-XSS targets 1440p using reconstruction
-framerate a lot more unstable, drops to mid 30s in some heavier scenes of campaign
-SSR reduced in quality, some geometry in the distance cut back a bit

-120fps mode unlocks framerate, mostly hovers between 80-100 during campaign but can see drops to mid 50s for some heavier set pieces - VRR screen recommended
-lesser framerate gains in 120fps mode on XSS, some set pieces still hovering around 60

-online is mostly solid on both big consoles
-120fps mode recommended here
-XSS runs fine on most modes like TDM but there are some maps and scenarios where framerate can drop to 40s in the worst case with explosions happening

-reimagined maps from MW2 (2009) use the same dimensions and layout, but the geometry has been worked from the ground up, they utilise new PBR materials, have SSR on surfaces and use some volumetric lights in places
-colour grading going for more saturation in these maps can make them look quite different than the originals

PLASTICA-MAN · Nov 22, 2023

COD performed well on consoles most of the times. Sadly they dropped RT and the engine seems to get outdated and not offering stuff that current engines keep pushing even if they keep updating it.

Faces of Death · Nov 22, 2023

It's nice he mentioned the color grading. That's been a problem post MW19.

I don't want games to bring the old brown filter back, but MW19 had great balance in it's grading.

Dictator · Nov 22, 2023

PLASTICA-MAN said:
COD performed well on consoles most of the times. Sadly they dropped RT and the engine seems to get outdated and not offering stuff that current engines keep pushing even if they keep updating it.

Yeah it is a real shame that the IW engine these days is the way it is - it just does not impress me at all since 2019.
BLOPS CW was more impressive.

Kromis · Nov 22, 2023

Kalentan said:
While I don't have the specifics like the others do that make good summaries, just from my own watch of the video:

It looks very similar to MWII obviously, but there is a few standout graphical features in the campaign in particular. For example character model rendering is very very good, same with the motion capture.

Performance on PS5 and Xbox Series X is very solid, basically can't go wrong with either the 60 FPS or the 120 FPS mode, both run very well with only in the most intense moments generally where you see drops. Say for example, going into Zombies and doing a particular contract that spawns an absolute fuckton of them. But even then it's not a drop that is ever really that noticeable and never interrupts gameplay.

The Series S is more a mixed bag, on the Campaign it on the regular drops and even if you enable the 120 FPS mode, it will generally hover around the 60 FPS mark. Multiplayer continues this, some maps on Series S run very well, while others have more noticeable frame drops. Overall they said the Series S generally struggles to maintain a locked 60 FPS.

Theecliff said:
anyone else notice the obvious ghosting in both the Xbox consoles that's weirdly missing on the PS5? the side by side shots of that grassy field mission demonstrated it best, there was some obvious smearing on the grass on both Xbox consoles but not (or at least a lot less obviously) on the PS5. i'm surprised that Tom didn't make mention of it - some of the other Xbox footage makes it obvious and kinda egregious at times, especially with the first person gun model swaying and when things move across the screen quickly. weirdly, during the side by side of the shot of Cap Price skydiving, it kinda looks like the character's hair is resolving slightly differently on both consoles, looking more aliased on the PS5. perhaps the different consoles are using slightly different reconstruction/TAA techniques, the PS5 one less clean on edges but less ghosty in motion?

from off the top of my head:
-XSX/PS5 target 4K, use form of reconstruction to get there that can scale down to 50%
-some camera cuts take a while for reconstruction to reapply, can see visible edges occasionally
-campaign is mostly solid 60fps on both big consoles, but XSX can see more common drops and loading stutters not seen on PS5

-XSS targets 1440p using reconstruction
-framerate a lot more unstable, drops to mid 30s in some heavier scenes of campaign
-SSR reduced in quality, some geometry in the distance cut back a bit

-120fps mode unlocks framerate, mostly hovers between 80-100 during campaign but can see drops to mid 50s for some heavier set pieces - VRR screen recommended
-lesser framerate gains in 120fps mode on XSS, some set pieces still hovering around 60

-online is mostly solid on both big consoles
-120fps mode recommended here
-XSS runs fine on most modes like TDM but there are some maps and scenarios where framerate can drop to 40s in the worst case with explosions happening

-reimagined maps from MW2 (2009) use the same dimensions and layout, but the geometry has been worked from the ground up, they utilise new PBR materials, have SSR on surfaces and use some volumetric lights in places
-colour grading going for more saturation in these maps can make them look quite different than the originals

Bless you both!

BSherrod · Nov 22, 2023

Wish DF did a video on the PC version to get the lack of AA options out there in front of more eyes. Being stuck with Filmic SMAA isn't ideal for many.

Faces of Death · Nov 22, 2023

BSherrod said:
Wish DF did a video on the PC version to get the lack of AA options out there in front of more eyes. Being stuck with Filmic SMAA isn't ideal for many.

The game also has DLSS, FSR and XeSS though. Most people should be using those anyway.

I use DLAA and it looks great.

BSherrod · Nov 22, 2023

Faces of Death said:
The game also has DLSS, FSR and XeSS though. Most people should be using those anyway.

I use DLAA and it looks great.

If you play at competitive settings most people want AA off or at least the option to do so. There's also some issues with how upscaler tech makes the grainy shadows grainier.

Vashetti · Nov 22, 2023

Can we please make it an era rule that if you post a DF video thread, it must come with a summary?

Twister · Nov 22, 2023

PLASTICA-MAN said:
COD performed well on consoles most of the times. Sadly they dropped RT and the engine seems to get outdated and not offering stuff that current engines keep pushing even if they keep updating it.

Crazy how Cold War, which ran on the old engine, was able to push RT yet this fancy new IW engine can't do it. Yet another reason to ditch this stupid reboot/rebrand and let Treyarch use the old engine for their game

PLASTICA-MAN · Nov 22, 2023

Twister said:
Crazy how Cold War, which ran on the old engine, was able to push RT yet this fancy new IW engine can't do it. Yet another reason to ditch this stupid reboot/rebrand and let Treyarch use the old engine for their game

The funnier thing is that old CODs used advanced techs like HairWorks and now they are ditching more and more advanced stuff. That dog fur looked insane back then.