There's growing discontent among Fortnite console players, specifically those gaming on the PS5. The grumbling pertains to the perceived gaming advantage PC players have due to technical disparities such as the rendering, frame-per-second (FPS), and lighting. Console gamers feel these discrepancies are making the playing field unfair.
The debate over the difference in gaming experiences between console and PC players is not new in the gaming world. It features prominently in conversations across competitive gaming communities. Cross-platform servers, designed to balance and engage fair play between different gaming devices, have come under criticism due to perceived inequities that seem to favor the PC user base.
The Fortnite player who sparked the recent discussion, Forward_Number293, pointed out the difficulty console players face in spotting enemies. The player's experience illustrated an occurrence where a PC player was easily able to spot and defeat him, while he struggled to see the PC player through the console's software rendering of grass on the map.
According to Forward_Number293, 'Out of nowhere, bullets start coming through the grass and he melts me while I’m at full health and overshield. I couldn’t see him at all, but there was no tall grass on his screen, so I died.'
The player also indicated that certain areas of the map, such as the foggy woods by Rebels Roost, add to the disadvantages faced by console gamers. PC players, it appears, can easily spot enemies in locations where console gamers struggle, creating a distinct playing advantage.
Many players shared Forward_Number293's sentiments. One player who switched from PC to PS5 noted that the game almost resembled a different version due to the stark differences. The individual cited darker display areas and forced lighting effects as factors contributing to the divergence.
Another player noted that their 'skill level got cut in half' after transitioning from PC to PS5 due to controller differences. Posting their frustration with the disparity, the player said, 'To see what many PC players see as opposed to what I see is so frustrating. Opponents just stand out on PC with low settings. It’s ridiculous.'
Gaming on a console or PC has a vast impact on the gameplay of Fortnite, with some seeing benefits in PC gaming. Some noted that if they wished to maximize their competitiveness, dropping the graphics settings was the solution.
While most discussions surrounding the game-play differences have emanated from console players, some PC users also agree that their system provides certain competitive advantages. They admit that visibility is strongly affected by graphic settings, and lowering these settings might increase their competitiveness.
Cross-platform matches further highlighted perceived advantages possessed by PC gamers over console players. Higher performance hardware, advanced settings options, better FPS, and a higher ratio of cheaters were among the additional problems discussed.
Regarding the experience of grass not rendering on the PS5 console, console gamers lack the option to alter their maximum view distance settings. In contrast, PC gamers have the ability to change these settings, allowing them to notice smaller objects on the map like trees, bushes, and grass.
Although Fortnite users have the option to disable cross-play in the game settings, this is generally not a preferred option. Disabling cross-play often leads to longer wait times or the inability to find a match altogether, hence disadvantaging the console player further.
Despite the console and PC disparity being a long-standing issue in the gaming industry, it has gained renewed attention with the advent of next-generation consoles. Gamers continue to question whether developers are doing enough to bridge the gap and ensure that the version of the game being played does not drastically influence the competitiveness of the gameplay.
The intensifying discussion represents a broader debate on hardware equality in the world of gaming. As multiplayer, and specifically 'Battle Royale' style games continue to dominate, the need for fair conditions across all platforms becomes increasingly paramount.
While developers like the team behind Fortnite, are aware of the issue, solving it isn't that simple. Each platform has its unique capabilities and restraints, which make it challenging to completely bridge the gaming experience gap.
The discussion serves as a reminder to the gaming industry about the importance of creating a fair and balanced experience for all players, regardless of platform. As technology continues to evolve, it's more crucial than ever for game developers to explore innovative solutions to address this problem in the gaming community.