Armored Core 6 PS4 Port Reportedly Runs More Smoothly on PS5 Than Native Version

Console Games, Reviews

The PS4 Port of Armored Core 6 on PS5: A FromSoftware Tradition

It seems that the tradition continues with FromSoftware’s latest title, Armored Core 6. When played on the PS5 through backward compatibility, the PS4 port of the game actually runs more smoothly and has better stability compared to the native PS5 version. This discovery was made by hacker and modder Lance McDonald, who pointed out on Twitter that the PS4 version on a PS5 runs at a locked 60 frames per second, which is “much smoother than the native PS5 build.” This is contrary to Bandai Namco Entertainment’s statement that the PS4 Pro version would run at a maximum of 30 frames per second at 1800p. The frame rate seems to be unlocked, similar to Elden Ring on PS4 Pro. It’s worth noting that Bandai’s information regarding the game’s supported features also has some inconsistencies, with only the PS4 and Xbox One X listed as having HDR support.

On the other hand, the PS5 version of Armored Core 6 is advertised as supporting up to 60 frames per second and running at 4K resolution. However, McDonald observed that the PS5 version experiences frame drops. IGN’s performance analysis of the native PS5 port also confirmed occasional frame rate drops.

This situation is reminiscent of FromSoftware’s previous game, Elden Ring. McDonald mentioned in his Twitter thread about Armored Core that he recently reverse engineered Elden Ring on PS5 to investigate why it performs worse compared to the PS4 port played through backward compatibility. He concluded that the PS5 build of Elden Ring lacks compiler optimizations. For digital buyers, this issue doesn’t affect them since both versions of the game are bundled together. However, PlayStation players who prefer physical formats and want the smoothest experience should opt for the PS4 disc, as it includes both ports, unlike the PS5 disc, which only unlocks the PS5 version.

Technical analysts at Digital Foundry conducted an analysis of Elden Ring’s performance near the game’s launch in 2022. They found that playing the PS4 port on the PS5 was the best way to experience the game on PlayStation for those who prioritize 60 frames per second. However, this comes with some visual trade-offs, such as checkerboarded 1800p, inferior shadows, and reduced floral density. Digital Foundry has yet to evaluate the performance of Armored Core 6 on the PS5.