Call of the Sea: which platform plays it best?
What changes between PS5, Xbox: resolution, FPS per mode, what each official store publishes and the FPS we measured on PC.
Quick verdict
Call of the Sea looks best on PS5, though the lead comes from the Xbox builds being behind.
Why PS5 wins
It is the sharpest version: a dynamic 2160p that usually lands on 1800p, against 1440p on Series X. It also has slightly better shadows, improved lighting in places, marginally faster loading and a steadier frame rate.
On Xbox
Series X and Series S share textures, draw distance and pop-in with PS5, so the game looks the same where it counts. Series S drops the shadow setting hard and runs at a dynamic 1080p, but in exchange it shows no frame rate drops. The Xbox listing marks it as optimised for the current generation, with 4K and 60 FPS.
The caveat that matters
The analysis dates from May 2021, when the Xbox version had gone months without an update and the PS5 build had just shipped. The author himself does not rule out a later patch closing the gap.
The comparison used an un-updated Xbox build with a patch already announced, so the gap may well have narrowed since.
Price on each platform
The best live offer for each version, every price with its format.
Final prices with fees
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Call of the Sea on PS5 versus Xbox Series X: graphics comparison
- PS5 runs at a dynamic 2160p and most often sits at 1800p; Series X stays at 1440p and Series S at a dynamic 1080p, typically 900p.
- Shadows are slightly better on PS5, and Series S uses a very low shadow setting.
- Draw distance, pop-in and textures are identical on all three consoles.
- The frame rate is somewhat steadier on PS5 than on Series X, and Series S does not appear to drop at all.
- Loading times are slightly faster on PS5, and the lighting seems improved in some respects.
- The PS5 version launched five months later, and he puts the gap down to the Xbox builds being out of date: the studio had already confirmed a patch was on the way.
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 | PS5 | Xbox |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum resolution | Dynamic 2160p, with 1800p the most common figure | 1440p on Series X · dynamic 1080p (900p typical) on Series S |
| Shadows | Slightly better than Series X | Series S runs a very low shadow setting |
| Lighting | Improved in some respects over Xbox | — |
| Textures | Identical across all three versions | Identical across all three versions |
| Draw distance and pop-in | Identical across all three versions | Identical across all three versions |
| Frame rate stability | Slightly steadier than Series X | Series S shows no drops |
| Loading times | Slightly faster | — |
| 60 FPS | — | Yes |
| 4K | — | Yes |
| Optimised for the current generation | — | Yes |
| Available on both generations | — | 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 Call of the Sea
Which console does Call of the Sea look best on?
PS5. It runs at a dynamic 2160p, most often landing on 1800p, while Xbox Series X stays at 1440p. It also has slightly better shadows and somewhat more refined lighting.
Is the gap between PS5 and Series X noticeable?
In sharpness yes, because the resolution difference is sizeable, but textures, draw distance and pop-in are identical. The frame rate is a little steadier on PS5.
How does it run on Xbox Series S?
At a dynamic 1080p, typically 900p, with a very low shadow setting. In return it is the version that shows no frame rate drops at all, so it plays perfectly smoothly.
Is there any data for the PC or PS4 versions?
No. The technical analysis we work from only covers PS5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, so we have no resolution or performance figures for PC or PS4.
Is it optimised for the current generation?
Yes. The Xbox listing marks it as optimised for the current generation, with 4K and 60 FPS support, and it is available on the previous generation too.
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.
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