FIFA 15: the Digital Foundry verdict
On balance, this year's FIFA makes a satisfying march forward on technical grounds, for both PS4 and Xbox One alike. From the new bokeh depth-of-field effect, to the new player animations and revamped lighting model, both versions offer practically like-for-like returns on EA's investment into its Ignite engine. A slew of other subtle extras make it one of the series' more progressive entries overall, and crucially, both perfectly hold at the 60fps mark where it counts.
But with all the additions being made, there are already signs that the thin end of the wedge is dividing the PS4 and Xbox One versions. The omission of motion blur from the Microsoft release, for example, plus a few occasional frame-rate dips during cut-scenes, suggests the weight of these engine advances is starting to take its toll. It's rare to see a break in parity between the modern entries in this series, but FIFA 15 marks the first time a more obvious distinction can be made.
It's not a deal-breaker of course. To the Xbox One version's credit, it receives 14 exclusive Legends players for FIFA's Ultimate Team mode, joining an existing roster of 41 Microsoft-exclusive players from last year. From a content perspective this is a boon, but in the face of the PS4 version's technical advantage perhaps a trivial one - give or take your commitment to this mode. The PC version also makes a sturdy first use of the Ignite engine; a frills-free offering outside of its 4x MSAA, but - for better or worse - a match for the PS4 version in visuals and frame-rate locks.
The PS5 Exists.
