God of War Ragnarök’s four graphical options have been revealed

Sony has a number of graphical options for you to try in God of War Ragnarok, which basically boil down to four settings.

First, there are the usual two modes, which Sony calls “Favour Resolution” and “Favour Performance” here.

The former locks your frame rate and resolution to a target 30 fps at 4K. The latter aims for 60 fps and uses a dynamic resolution upscaled to 4K.

Both settings can then be further optimized by applying the separate High Frame Rate Mode. This increases the “Favour Resolution” offer to the targeted 40 fps or alternatively increases the “Favour Performance” beyond 60 fps. To do this, you need a VRR-capable television.

How much further beyond 60fps? We’ve seen Press-Start describe performance mode with HFR on as “target” at 120fps. Our Digital Foundry team is still working out the exact numbers – which may come out a little less. Stay tuned for the official verdict.

This week, the existence (or non-existence) of quality console game modes made headlines after it was revealed that the new version of Gotham Knights (out today!) would be locked to 30fps on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Of course, God of War Ragnarök is a very different game from Gotham Knights. Still, the news that the latter’s graphical settings were released just days before launch caused quite a stir – and prompted The Callisto Protocol editor, Krafton, to confirm a 60fps performance mode for his game (to be released on April 2). December).

Sony Santa Monica Director of Animation Bruno Velazquez spoke to Eurogamer’s Chris Tapsell this week about how Ragnarok was conceived as “the best PS4 game we can make” as part of an in-depth look at the animation of God of War Ragnarok – with all the extras from the PS5 version “just the icing on the cake”.

“Obviously, as an animator, I love higher framerates – I want to see smoother motion,” Velazquez said. “As for Ragnarök, we knew from the start it was going to be a PS4 game because we wanted to support the fan base – we had so many people who loved the game on PS4. So right from the start, we knew this was going to be a PS4 game. We’re going to make it the best PS4 game we can make. Our goal was to surpass God of War 2018 in every way. The PS5 version is just the icing on the cake.

“So our goal is to make the best PS4 game; pushing the fidelity and content, finishing the story we started – that was our main goal. PS5, it’s just like haptic feedback, 3D audio, higher frame rate and better graphics and textures. That’s like the icing on the cake. So obviously the PS5 version will be the best way to experience it, but the PS4 [version] will be one of those games that will push the PS4 to the limit. Embracing that philosophy and approach has helped us set the goals for ourselves that we want to have a great PS4 experience and an even better PS5 experience.”

Ragnarök was originally announced by Sony as a PlayStation 5 only game in September 2020, although it later emerged that the title would also be released for PS4. Sony’s first mention of a dual-console release came via an interview with PlayStation Studios boss Hermen Hulst in June 2021, when a PS4 version was mentioned alongside the project being delayed into this year.

“God of War Ragnarök feels like everything you’d expect – but is there more?” asked Chris Tapsell in Eurogamer’s newly released hands-on impressions of the game. “A Loki launch teases a gigantic action.”

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