Platform comparison

The Ascent: which platform plays it best?

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

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Quick verdict

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The Ascent looks best on PC thanks to ray tracing, and Xbox Series X is the console benchmark.

Best graphics experience PC the only version with ray-traced shadows, AO and reflections
Best console experience Xbox Series X 3200x1800 at 60 FPS with very fast loading
Best for the money Xbox Series S 60 FPS plus the current-gen lighting improvements

Why PC wins

Ray tracing is exclusive to PC and covers shadows, ambient occlusion and some reflections. The analysis itself notes the differences are not very noticeable, so the advantage is real but smaller than usual in a top-down game.

On console

Xbox Series X matches the One X resolution (3200x1800) and doubles its frame rate to 60 FPS. Both Series consoles also show more shadow-casting light points and more NPCs on screen, and loading times drop dramatically.

Series S and last gen

Series S drops to 2112x1188 and some of its shadows lose resolution, but it holds 60 FPS and the rest of the current-gen improvements. Xbox One and One X stay at 30 FPS, with results the analysis calls admirable for the hardware.

There is no technical analysis of the PS4 and PS5 versions, which arrived after this comparison was made.

Updated 29 Jul 2021

Price on each platform

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

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Final prices with fees

The Ascent
The Ascent
€9.59 Key
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The Ascent
The Ascent
€15.56
€13.16 Account
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The Ascent
The Ascent
€19.90 -34% Key
Save €10 vs Microsoft View dealGaming Dragons
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The Ascent
The Ascent
€29.99 Key
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The Ascent on Xbox Series, Xbox One and PC: graphics comparison

  • Xbox Series X and Xbox One X both render at 3200x1800, but Series X runs at 60 FPS while One X stays at 30.
  • Xbox Series S targets 2112x1188 at 60 FPS, and Xbox One 1728x972 at 30 FPS.
  • The PC version was tested at maximum settings on an RTX 3080.
  • Xbox Series and PC show more shadow-casting light points, though some Series S shadows carry lower resolution.
  • Ray tracing is exclusive to PC and covers shadows, ambient occlusion and some reflections, but the differences are not very noticeable.
  • Texturing is similar on every version, with a slight edge on One X, Series X and PC.
  • NPC counts appear higher on Xbox Series and PC, although it is hard to draw firm conclusions.
  • Loading times are much faster on Xbox Series, and he rates the last-gen results as admirable.

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 Xbox
Maximum resolution Max settings on an RTX 30803200x1800 on Series X and Xbox One X · 2112x1188 on Series S · 1728x972 on Xbox One
Frame rate —60 on Series S and Series X · 30 on Xbox One and One X
Ray tracing Yes: shadows, ambient occlusion and some reflectionsNo
Shadow-casting lights More light pointsMore light points on Series S and Series X · some shadows at lower resolution on Series S
Texturing Slight edgeSimilar across the board, with a slight edge on Series X and One X
NPC count Apparently higherApparently higher on Series S and Series X
Loading times —Much faster on Series S and Series X

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 The Ascent

Which platform does The Ascent look best on?

PC, the only version with ray tracing, applied to shadows, ambient occlusion and some reflections. That said, the analysis warns the differences are not very noticeable. On console, the best version is Xbox Series X.

What is the difference between Xbox Series X and Xbox One X?

The resolution is the same, 3200x1800, but Series X runs at 60 FPS while One X stays at 30. Series X also wins on lighting, with more shadow-casting light points, and its loading times are much faster.

Is it worth playing on Xbox Series S?

Yes. It drops to 2112x1188 and some shadows lose resolution, but it keeps 60 FPS, the improved current-gen lighting and the fast loading times.

How does it run on Xbox One?

At 1728x972 and 30 FPS. The analysis rates what the last-gen consoles achieve as admirable, even though they halve the frame rate and lose some shadow-casting lights.

Is there any data on the PlayStation versions?

No. The available comparison was made with the Xbox and PC versions in 2021, before the PS4 and PS5 builds launched, so we have no measured resolutions or frame rates on PlayStation.

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.