Anthem, BioWare’s next big action role-playing game, looked stunning in its Xbox One X gameplay demo from Microsoft’s E3 press briefing. But how does it hold up to scrutiny?
The team at Digital Foundry examined the Anthem gameplay footage that was said to be running on Xbox One X, which Microsoft is billing as the most powerful gaming console ever. Digital Foundry confirmed a 3840x2160 resolution, but with a slight catch: The 4K output is paired with artifacting, which indicates checkerboard rendering, a technique that refers to only rendering 50 percent of a scene and interpolating the rest. This is a method used to great effect in titles like Guerrilla Games’ Horizon Zero Dawn to achieve 4K resolution.
Despite that, motion blurring helps to smoothen the image out and, as Digital Foundry notes, “The feed still comes out looking pin-sharp.” The video ends with Digital Foundry pointing out that while the demo isn’t necessarily a clear example of how the final game will run, it does look promising for what Microsoft wants to accomplish when it comes to 4K gaming on the Xbox One X.
Anthem is set in a post-apocalyptic world where giant monsters run rampant. The game features lush worlds and beautiful environments that players will have the option to explore. You can watch extended gameplay footage, which features a more in-depth look at characters’ exosuits, called Javelins.
The full video, including Digital Foundry’s analysis, can be seen above. Anthem will be released in 2018 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC.
