Platform comparison

Kena Bridge of Spirits: which platform plays it best?

What changes between PC, PS5, Xbox, PS4: resolution, FPS per mode, what each official store publishes and the FPS we measured on PC.

  • 4platforms compared
  • 32,96 €cheapest key, on Xbox
  • 3video comparisons

Quick verdict

Check videos →

Kena: Bridge of Spirits looks best on PC, and PS5 is the console version to have.

Best graphics experience PC better shadows, ambient occlusion and antialiasing
Best console experience PS5 keeps the foliage the Xbox Series builds trim
Best for the money Xbox Series S a common 2160p and the quickest loading times

Why PC wins

The analysis gives PC the better shadows and ambient occlusion, which is the most noticeable gap against PS5, plus superior antialiasing and slightly more draw distance. Texture quality and foliage density match the PS5 4K mode exactly.

On console

PS5 and Xbox Series X share modes and resolutions, but both Xbox consoles reduce the amount of leaves on some trees compared with PS5 and PC. That leaves PS5 as the most complete console build, and the analysis recommends its performance mode: you give up little and gain 60 FPS.

Series S: trimmed but respectable

Series S is stuck with a single 30 FPS mode and cuts vegetation, particles, draw distance, water quality, shadows and ambient occlusion, that last one quite visibly. In exchange it holds a common 2160p and loads even slightly faster than the rest.

On every platform some cutscenes are not real time and play back at 24 FPS, and Series S has no 60 FPS mode at all.

Updated 9 Aug 2024

Price on each platform

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

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Kena on Xbox Series, PS5 and PC: graphics comparison

  • PS5 and Xbox Series X get two modes: quality at 2160p and 30 FPS, and performance at 1800p and 60 FPS, both with TAAU.
  • Xbox Series S has a single mode, commonly 2160p at 30 FPS.
  • Quality mode on PS5 and Series X improves draw distance, particles and the amount of vegetation.
  • Series S cuts vegetation (down to the level of the PS5/Series X performance mode), particles, draw distance, water quality, shadows and ambient occlusion, the last of which is the most noticeable.
  • On both Xbox Series consoles the amount of leaves on some trees has been reduced compared with PS5 and PC.
  • Loading times are very close on all four platforms, and slightly quicker on Series S.
  • Frame rates are satisfactory everywhere, although a 60 FPS mode is sorely missed on Series S.
  • He rates Ember Lab's Unreal Engine 4 work among the best he has seen, and is pleasantly surprised by the Series S build.

Kena on PS5 versus PC: graphics comparison

  • PS5 runs at 2160p and 30 FPS in quality mode, and at a dynamic 4K (around 1800p) and 60 FPS in performance; it takes 17.86 GB.
  • The PC version was tested at 2160p on ultra with an RTX 3080 and takes 19.10 GB.
  • PC has better shadows and ambient occlusion, and that is the most noticeable difference against PS5.
  • PS5 shows slightly softer shadows in performance mode.
  • Foliage density matches between PC and the PS5 4K mode; the performance mode carries less.
  • Texture quality is identical on both, and PC gains slightly in draw distance and antialiasing.
  • On PS5 he recommends performance mode: what you give up to reach 60 FPS is not much.
  • On both platforms some cutscenes are not real time and play back at 24 FPS.

Kena on PS5, PS4 and PS4 Pro: what changes inside PlayStation

  • PS4 runs at 1080p and 30 FPS, PS4 Pro at 1440p and 30 FPS, and both take 8.32 GB.
  • PS5 climbs to 2160p at 30 FPS or a dynamic 4K at 60 FPS, and takes 17.86 GB.
  • Shadows are better on PS5, and PS4 Pro also improves on PS4 here.
  • PS5 carries more foliage and slightly more particles; the performance mode has less foliage than the 4K mode.
  • There are texture cutbacks on PS4 and PS4 Pro, though the overall level stays close to PS5.
  • Character models are the same everywhere, but PS4 and PS4 Pro show artefacts, especially in the hair.
  • Loading times on PS5 never exceed 4 seconds, against 15 to 23 seconds on PS4 and PS4 Pro.
  • The frame rate holds steady most of the time; PS4 drops under stress and PS5 shows occasional stutter in the 4K mode.

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 PS4
Graphics modes Free settingsTwo: quality and performanceTwo on Series X · one on Series SOne
Maximum resolution 2160p on max settings with an RTX 4080 Super2160p in quality · 1800p in performance2160p in quality and 1800p in performance on Series X · commonly 2160p on Series S1080p on PS4 · 1440p on PS4 Pro
Frame rate —30 in quality · 60 in performance30 in quality and 60 in performance on Series X · 30 on Series S30
Upscaling —TAAUTAAU—
What quality mode raises —Draw distance, particles and amount of vegetationDraw distance, particles and amount of vegetation on Series X—
Shadows and ambient occlusion The best of the lotBelow PC; slightly softer in performance modeCut back on Series S, ambient occlusion above allBelow PS5; PS4 Pro improves on PS4
Vegetation Matches PS5 in its 4K modeSame amount as PC in the 4K modeFewer leaves on some trees than PS5 and PCBelow PS5
Antialiasing The best of the lot———
Loading times —Under 4 secondsVery close to PS5, slightly faster on Series SBetween 15 and 23 seconds
HDR ——Yes—
4K ——Yes—
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 Kena Bridge of Spirits

Which platform does Kena: Bridge of Spirits look best on?

PC. The clearest gap is in shadows and ambient occlusion, and it also has better antialiasing and slightly more draw distance. Texture quality and foliage match the PS5 4K mode.

Which mode should I use on PS5?

Performance. It drops to around 1800p with temporal upsampling to reach 60 FPS, and what you lose — a little foliage and slightly softer shadows — is not worth staying at 30 FPS for.

Are there differences between PS5 and Xbox Series X?

They share both modes and the same resolutions: 2160p at 30 FPS in quality and 1800p at 60 FPS in performance. The only difference found is that both Xbox consoles reduce the amount of leaves on some trees compared with PS5 and PC.

Is the Xbox Series S version worth it?

It is a surprisingly strong build for the hardware: it holds a common 2160p and loads very fast. The price is a single 30 FPS mode and cutbacks to vegetation, particles, draw distance, water, shadows and ambient occlusion.

What about PS4 and PS4 Pro?

PS4 runs at 1080p and PS4 Pro at 1440p, both at 30 FPS. There are texture cutbacks and artefacts in character hair, and loading times climb to 15-23 seconds against under 4 seconds on PS5.

How is the performance?

Satisfactory on every platform. PS4 drops under stress and PS5 shows occasional stutter in the 4K mode, but the frame rate holds steady most of the time.

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.