Platform comparison

Alan Wake 2: which platform plays it best?

What changes between PC, PS5, Xbox: resolution, FPS per mode, what each official store publishes and the FPS we measured on PC.

  • 3platforms compared
  • 19,15 €cheapest key, on PC
  • 1video comparisons

Quick verdict

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PS5 and Xbox Series X ship the exact same Alan Wake 2; Series S is the one that falls behind.

Best graphics experience PS5 4K reconstructed from 2259x1270, level with Series X
Best console experience PS5 same modes and same resolutions as Series X
Best for the money Xbox Series X the same version as PS5 with the widest choice of offers

PS5 and Series X are level

Both render quality mode at around 2259x1270 and reconstruct 4K with FSR 2. In performance they drop to 1506x847 targeting 1440p, again identically. There is no better console here, just two identical versions.

What Series S gives up

Series S renders at 1280x720 and reconstructs to 1440p, and it does not let you pick a graphics mode. Its settings match performance mode on the other two, so you play the same game with the softest image of the three.

Which mode to pick

Quality mode raises foliage, shadows, environmental detail, volumetric lighting and LOD. This is a slow, atmosphere-led game, and that list matters more here than the extra frames.

Series S gives you no say: no graphics modes at all, and it sits at 1280x720 reconstructed to 1440p.

Updated 9 Dec 2023

Price on each platform

The best live offer for each version, every price with its format.

See every price for Alan Wake 2 on all platforms →

Alan Wake 2 on PS5 versus Xbox Series X and S: frame rate test

  • PS5 and Series X render quality mode at approximately 2259x1270 and use FSR 2 to reconstruct 4K.
  • In performance mode both drop to approximately 1506x847 and reconstruct 1440p, again with FSR 2.
  • Series S renders at 1280x720 and reconstructs to 1440p.
  • Series S has no selectable graphics modes: its settings are similar to performance mode on the other two consoles.
  • Quality mode improves foliage, shadows, environmental detail, volumetric lighting and LOD.
  • The versions tested were 1.000.012 on PS5 and 1.0.0.12 on Xbox.

Full platform comparison

Resolution, modes and FPS come from the video analyses above. The rest is published by each platform's official store and by the game's technical sheet on PC. Where nobody publishes the figure we put a dash, not a guess.

Feature PC PS5 Xbox
Graphics modes Free settingsTwo: quality and performanceTwo on Series X · no choice on Series S
Resolution in quality mode —2259x1270 reconstructed to 4K with FSR 2Same on Series X
Resolution in performance mode —1506x847 reconstructed to 1440p with FSR 2Same on Series X · Series S renders at 1280x720 and reconstructs to 1440p
What quality mode raises —Foliage, shadows, environmental detail, volumetric lighting and LODSame on Series X
Series S settings ——Similar to performance mode on PS5 and Series X
Upscaling —FSR 2FSR 2
Optimised for the current generation ——Yes
Cloud saves ——Yes

Xbox is the Series X column unless Series S is stated. Resolution, modes, FPS, VRR and download size come from the videos; HDR, ray tracing and PC features from the technical sheet and the official Xbox catalogue.

Frequently asked questions about Alan Wake 2

Which console does Alan Wake 2 look best on?

PS5 and Xbox Series X are level: both render quality mode at around 2259x1270 and reconstruct 4K with FSR 2. Series S sits below them, at 1280x720 reconstructed to 1440p.

Is there any difference between PS5 and Xbox Series X?

Nothing measurable in image quality. They share the same two graphics modes and the same rendering resolutions in quality and performance.

Which graphics mode should I use?

Quality raises foliage, shadows, environmental detail, volumetric lighting and LOD. Performance cuts those settings and the rendering resolution.

Is it worth playing on Xbox Series S?

You get the full game, but no choice: there are no graphics modes and the settings match performance mode on the bigger consoles. It renders at 1280x720 and reconstructs to 1440p.

What upscaling does it use on console?

FSR 2 on all three machines. It reconstructs 4K in quality mode and 1440p in performance.

Video analysis by El Analista de Bits. The videos play from their own channel. PC data according to PCGamingWiki and our own FPS measurements; Xbox features according to the official Microsoft catalogue.