Xbox Launch Brings Excitement and Surprises
Last week, fans of Black Myth: Wukong finally got the game on Xbox, marking an important milestone. Early reviews suggested the port performed well on both Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. However, a deeper dive into the visuals shows a surprising departure from the PS5 version, as highlighted by Digital Foundry.
Digital Foundry Analysis: PS5 vs Xbox
Digital Foundry compared the Xbox versions directly with the PS5. The results reveal that Black Myth: Wukong does not simply mirror the PS5 visuals. Certain Xbox modes deliver a noticeably different experience due to Unreal Engine 5’s ‘Lumen’ lighting technology being disabled in some modes.
“Most games on Xbox Series X|S mirror their PS5 counterparts, but Black Myth: Wukong is a stunning exception. Series X in Performance mode displays a glowy, specular-rich look, suggesting Lumen lighting is disabled.” – Digital Foundry
Visual Differences Across Xbox Modes
The differences are most pronounced on the Xbox Series X in Performance mode. Balanced and Quality modes on Series X maintain visuals closer to PS5, but Performance mode looks dramatically different. On Series S, all modes omit Lumen entirely, resulting in visuals similar to Series X Performance mode.
Lumen affects lighting, reflections, and global illumination, so its absence alters how environments and characters appear. Scenes that look rich and immersive on PS5 can appear flatter on Xbox in certain modes.
Choosing the Right Mode on Xbox
For players, the choice of mode matters more than usual. On Series X:
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Performance Mode: Smoother framerate but lacks Lumen lighting.
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Balanced & Quality Modes: Better visuals but with potential performance trade-offs.
On Series S, all modes resemble Series X Performance mode, so visual fidelity is lower than PS5. Digital Foundry recommends experimenting with modes to find the right balance of performance and visuals.
Why This Situation Is Unique
Most next-gen titles aim for visual consistency between PS5 and Xbox. Black Myth: Wukong is an exception, showing that even high-profile games can deliver different experiences across platforms. Digital Foundry’s side-by-side comparisons highlight these differences, particularly in Performance mode on Series X.
Conclusion
Black Myth: Wukong on Xbox delivers solid performance, but visuals vary dramatically from PS5. Players should experiment with different modes to decide whether smooth framerate or visual fidelity is more important. This unusual lighting behavior adds a unique twist to the game’s Xbox launch and reminds us that next-gen ports can still surprise.
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