Destiny 2 is out, and while the game fell short of our expectations that doesn’t mean you should completely write it off. A lot of people are going to enjoy it for the great moment-to-moment gameplay, and beautiful visuals. Our Destiny 2 review was based on the PS4 Pro version, we’ve spent some quality time playing Destiny 2 on the PS4, PS4 Pro, and Xbox One. So if you’re wondering what platform to buy it for, we have you covered.
It's no surprise that the PS4 Pro is the best looking version of the game. Much like Shadow of Mordor, and Rise of the Tomb Raider, it renders the game at 4K which is then downsampled to 1080p. This results in fewer jagged edges, sharper effects, and better image quality overall. This is especially great when there’s a lot of action on screen with smoke, flare, and rain, and the game’s opening mission looks particularly fantastic. As Bungie has stated earlier, the game runs at 30fps on the PS4 Pro, and even on the Xbox One X when that’s out on November 7.
Destiny 2 on PS4 is no slouch either. Running at a native 1080p at 30fps, Destiny 2’s sprawling locales, such as the European Dead Zone and Io are a treat to view. Certain lighting effects aren’t as vibrant as they are on the PS4 Pro, but there’s little else amiss.
As for Destiny 2 on Xbox One? For most part it holds its own. It is not running at native full HD, dropping lower than 1080p in certain scenes, but the difference is extremely subtle. In fact, the only areas where the performance drags on Microsoft’s box are some visible jagged edges, and certain elements like grass that loads up and are visible as you get closer. Granted, this happens on the PS4 and PS4 Pro as well, but it isn’t as obvious. Like Sony’s consoles, the Xbox One is limited to 30fps, which it sticks to for most part barring one or two minor drops in frame rate during hectic scenes.
Without having to worry about the PS3 and Xbox 360, Bungie has managed to create an almost uniform experience across the board. However the differences between consoles aren’t limited to subtle visual variations.
While the PS4 and PS4 Pro looked a bit better, Destiny 2 is an always online game - much like its predecessor. On this front, there were a few glaring concerns on Sony’s consoles. We were beset with multiple server connection error messages, and matchmaking for multiplayer took a whole lot longer than expected. This could be due to teething problems during Destiny 2’s launch, but we didn’t face any such issues on the Xbox One.
You’d think that after hiking the price of PS+ subscriptions, which are necessary for playing online, Sony would improve the quality of service, but apparently not. We tried playing Destiny 2 tethered to a 4G/LTE connection on our smartphones, and a 50Mbps broadband connection, and the result was the same, with sluggish matchmaking, and server connection errors. Although your mileage may vary and this could better with time, it’s something to keep in mind before choosing which platform to go with.
Destiny 2 exclusives PS4 vs Xbox One
Thanks to Destiny 2 publisher Activision’s exclusive marketing deal with Sony, PS4 and PS4 Pro owners get the following exclusive content: Lake of Shadows Strike Borealis Exotic Sniper Rifle Competitive multiplayer map Retribution Apex Ship Exclusive gear
These items will be for PS4 and PS4 Pro Destiny 2 players only, until Fall 2018. Are they worth shifting over to Sony’s camp for Destiny 2? Frankly we don’t think so. Much like the Xbox 360’s run of timed exclusivity on downloadable content (DLC) for the Call of Duty franchise, there isn’t any content that’s core to the Destiny 2 experience or story that Xbox One owners are being locked out of. So if you’re playing Destiny 2 on the Xbox One, rest easy, because you aren’t missing much.
From a graphics standpoint, the PS4 Pro version is the best looking version of the game at the moment. This will change with Destiny 2 PC and Xbox One X versions on the way. Considering the online-only nature of the game, the overall stability of Xbox Live and a possibly prettier Xbox One X version on the way (if you plan to buy that console) gives Microsoft’s box a slight edge. Nonetheless, regardless what platform you plan to play on, you’ll be treated to a solid experience.
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