Console Performance Guide — PS5 vs PS5 Pro vs Xbox Series X|S

AC Black Flag Resynced performance modes on PS5 and Xbox

One of the first questions we hear from everyone planning to set sail on July 9 is: which platform gives the best experience? The answer isn't a simple one-liner — each platform has its own strengths, and the mode you choose matters just as much as the hardware you're playing on. We've gathered every confirmed performance detail into one place so you can make the right call.

PlayStation 5 — Three Graphics Modes

Sony's console offers the most flexibility with three distinct graphics modes. The key decision is whether you value fluidity or visual fidelity.

Mode	Target FPS	Resolution	Ray Tracing	Requirements
Performance	60 FPS	Upscaled 2160p	RTGI	—
Balanced	40 FPS	Upscaled 2160p	RTGI	120Hz display
Fidelity	30 FPS	Upscaled 2160p	RTGI + RT reflections	—

All three modes run at upscaled 2160p (4K) via Ubisoft's temporal upscaler. The real separator is ray tracing. Every mode includes RTGI (ray-traced global illumination), which transforms the Caribbean's lighting — sunlight filtering through palm leaves, lanterns flickering below deck, the way moonlight catches the ocean — all reacting naturally. Fidelity mode adds ray-traced specular reflections, so water, polished wood, and wet stone all bounce light with physical accuracy. It's stunning, but the 30 FPS cap makes it a trade-off we'd only recommend for players who prioritize visuals above everything.

The Balanced mode at 40 FPS is a clever middle ground — perceptibly smoother than 30, but you'll need a 120Hz-capable display for it to work. With a compatible TV or monitor, we think Balanced is the sweet spot on the base PS5.

PS5-exclusive features round out the package: DualSense haptic feedback puts the creak of the Jackdaw's hull and the kick of a pistol directly in your hands, adaptive triggers add resistance when drawing a bow or firing a broadside, the custom SSD eliminates load screens between islands, and Tempest 3D Audio lets you pinpoint cannon fire by ear. Both HDR and Dolby Atmos are supported.

PlayStation 5 Pro — The Definitive Console Experience

If you're playing on a PS5 Pro, the whole equation shifts. Every mode targets 60 FPS, and Sony's PSSR 2.0 (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) upscaler delivers cleaner image quality across the board — sharper fine details, less shimmer on distant rigging, and more stable hair and foliage.

Ray tracing also gets a meaningful upgrade on Pro. While the base PS5 only gets RT reflections in Fidelity mode at 30 FPS, the PS5 Pro runs RT specular reflections and RTGI across all three modes at 60 FPS. That means you don't have to choose between frame rate and the best lighting — you get both. For a game built around water and the tropical sun, that's a transformative difference.

Xbox Series X — Three Modes, Familiar Profile

The Series X lineup mirrors the base PS5 closely:

Mode	Target FPS	Resolution	Notes
Performance	60 FPS	Upscaled 4K	RTGI
Balanced	40 FPS	Upscaled 4K	Requires 120Hz display
Quality	30 FPS	Upscaled 4K	RTGI + RT reflections

Dolby Atmos is supported, and the console's VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) can smooth out frame dips if your display supports it. You won't find DualSense features here, but the Xbox wireless controller's impulse triggers provide a more subtle form of haptic feedback.

Xbox Series S — Two Modes, Solid Value

The Series S keeps things simple with two modes tuned for its lighter hardware:

Mode	Target FPS	Resolution
Performance	60 FPS	1080p
Quality	30 FPS	1440p

Ray tracing on Series S is limited to RTGI in Quality mode. If you're playing at a desk on a 1080p monitor, Performance mode at a locked 60 FPS is a perfectly solid way to experience the Caribbean — just don't expect the visual richness of its bigger siblings.

PC — Uncapped Potential

PC is where Resynced truly stretches its legs. The headline features:

Uncapped frame rate on capable hardware — 120, 144, or beyond
4K Ultra at 60 FPS as the recommended high-end target
DLSS, FSR, and XeSS upscaling supported — pick whichever your GPU handles best
Ultrawide support at both 21:9 and 32:9 — the Caribbean in panoramic is something else
RT Extended mode — pushes ray tracing beyond the console ceiling with higher sample counts and longer ray bounces

The recommended specs for 4K Ultra with max ray tracing call for an NVIDIA RTX 4090 or AMD RX 7900 XTX. That's the absolute ceiling — you can scale down dramatically and still get a great experience at 1440p or 1080p with more modest GPUs.

Which Platform Should You Choose?

If you own a PS5 Pro, it's the definitive console version — 60 FPS with full RT across all modes and PSSR 2.0 image quality. The base PS5 gives you DualSense immersion that Xbox can't match. Series X is a strong alternative, especially with VRR. And if you have a high-end PC, uncapped frame rates and ultrawide support make it the no-compromise pick.