Starfield — PS5 & PS5 Pro performance
Technical analysis last updated
Starfield's PlayStation debut presents mixed technical results across hardware. Base PS5 delivers a solid 30fps in Quality mode (~1440p internal) with improved draw distances and shadows, whereas its 60fps Performance mode (~1080p internal) suffers severe drops into the 30s in major cities. PS5 Pro provides superior image density via an 1800p Enhanced mode (30fps or 40fps in 120Hz), but its 60fps mode drops internal resolution to 900p and exhibits noticeable first-gen PSSR artifacts like flickering and noise. Frequent crashes on both consoles prevent either version from offering an unblemished experience. Quality/Enhanced modes are recommended over performance options.
Graphics modes on PlayStation 5 Pro
PS5 Pro provides an upgraded 1800p Enhanced mode with better visual settings at 30fps or 40fps, alongside a 60fps Performance mode running at 900p internal resolution. However, first-gen PSSR creates flickering and noise artifacts, while frequent lock-up crashes afflict the title.
Features an exclusive Enhanced mode with 1800p internal resolution, improved cube maps, shadow resolution, foliage, and draw distances. Supports PSSR upscaling and 120Hz/40fps display modes.
Enhanced Mode
PS5 ProUnverifiedPushes internal resolution to 1800p with enhanced cube maps, shadow resolution, foliage density, and draw distances.
Enhanced Mode (40 FPS)
PS5 ProUnverifiedRuns Enhanced visual settings at 1800p internal resolution within a 120Hz display container.
Performance Mode
PS5 ProUnverifiedInternal resolution dips to ~900p. First-gen PSSR causes noticeable flickering, breakup, and noise in motion.
Graphics modes on PlayStation 5
Base PS5 offers 60fps Performance (~1080p internal) and 30fps Quality (~1440p internal) modes. Quality mode holds its 30fps target consistently, whereas Performance mode drops heavily into the 30s in major cities like New Atlantis. Recurring crashes lock up the console across modes.
Quality Mode
PS5UnverifiedRuns at ~1440p internal resolution with longer draw distances, improved shadow resolution, and higher terrain detail.
Performance Mode
PS5UnverifiedRuns at around 1080p internal resolution with variable rate shading (VRS) applied.
PS5 vs PS5 Pro
Side-by-side comparison of graphics modes, resolution and technical features.
PS5 Pro offers an upgraded 1800p Enhanced mode with higher graphical fidelity and 40fps/120Hz support. However, Performance mode lowers internal resolution to 900p, PSSR introduces motion artifacts, and frequent crashes persist across both console variants.
| Metric | PS5 | PS5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| PSFoundry Score | 76Good | 77Good |
| Recommended mode | Quality Mode | Enhanced Mode |
| Modes available | 2 | 3 |
| Highest target FPS | 60 | 60 |
| Highest verified capability | 60 fps target | 60 fps target |
| PSSR | No | Yes |
| Ray tracing | No | No |
| VRR | Yes | Yes |
| 120 Hz support | No | Yes |
| PS5 Pro Enhanced | No | Yes |
- PSFoundry Score
- 76Good
- Recommended mode
- Quality Mode
- Modes available
- 2
- Highest target FPS
- 60
- Highest verified capability
- 60 fps target
- PSSR
- No
- Ray tracing
- No
- VRR
- Yes
- 120 Hz support
- No
- PS5 Pro Enhanced
- No
- PSFoundry Score
- 77Good
- Recommended mode
- Enhanced Mode
- Modes available
- 3
- Highest target FPS
- 60
- Highest verified capability
- 60 fps target
- PSSR
- Yes
- Ray tracing
- No
- VRR
- Yes
- 120 Hz support
- Yes
- PS5 Pro Enhanced
- Yes
Known issues
The game locks up and becomes unresponsive across various modes and console models, requiring a forced restart at the OS level.
The in-game V-Sync toggle appears not to function properly in the current release build.
First-gen PSSR generates flickering, breakup, and noise in motion. Forcing second-gen PSSR via system settings causes blocky artifacts in foliage and ambient occlusion areas.
The HDR implementation presents SDR image values inside an HDR container, preventing true high dynamic range display.
Video analysis
Independent technical videos referenced in our analysis.
... Concluding thoughts. Starfield PS5/PS5 Pro Review - A Good Game... But There Are Issues. @DigitalFoundry3.2K likes111K views3 months ago more.
I just wrapped up a seven hour stream playing Starfield on the PS5 Pro, so here are my early thoughts on the game so far as I review ...
Go to channel Digital Foundry · Starfield PS5/PS5 Pro Review - A Good Game... But There Are Issues. Digital Foundry•110K views · 34:40.
Starfield PS5/PS5 Pro Review - A Good Game... But There Are Issues. Digital Foundry · 111K views ; STARFIELD IN 2026 - Review After 100 Hours on ...
Starfield will now default to a frame rate target of 40 while keeping the priority for full visuals.
Go to channel Digital Foundry · Starfield PS5/PS5 Pro Review - A Good Game... But There Are Issues. Digital Foundry•110K views · 16:21.
External links open in a new tab. PSFoundry is not affiliated with the linked publications.
Sources and verification
Every technical claim on this page is attributed. Nothing is estimated.
PSFoundry is primarily a source-based database. A game is only marked as personally tested when PSFoundry has directly tested it. All other technical information is attributed to its original source.
- UnverifiedStarfield on PS5 and PS5 Pro offers multiple graphics modes and settings configurations, but the launch build suffers from frequent system-freezing crashes, non-functional toggles, and PSSR image qualDigital Foundry2026-04-10
Starfield on PS5 and PS5 Pro offers multiple graphics modes and settings configurations, but the launch build suffers from frequent system-freezing crashes, non-functional toggles, and PSSR image quality artifacts on PS5 Pro. Base PS5 targets 60fps at 1080p internal resolution in Performance mode and 30fps at 1440p in Quality mode. PS5 Pro adds an 1800p Enhanced mode with visual upgrades and 30fps/40fps options, while its 60fps Performance mode drops internal resolution to 900p.
Open source
Frequently asked
Answers built from the verified data on this page.
What frame rate does Starfield run at on PS5 Pro?
On PS5 Pro, Starfield offers 3 graphics modes: Enhanced Mode (40 FPS) targets 40 FPS; Enhanced Mode targets 30 FPS; Performance Mode targets 60 FPS.
What frame rate does Starfield run at on PS5?
On PS5, Starfield offers 2 graphics modes: Performance Mode targets 60 FPS; Quality Mode targets 30 FPS.
Does Starfield support 120 Hz on PlayStation?
Yes. Enhanced Mode (40 FPS) on PS5 Pro runs with 120 Hz output on a compatible display. That is a 120 Hz output container with a higher frame-rate range — no mode targets a locked 120 FPS.
Does Starfield use PSSR on PS5 Pro?
Yes. At least one PS5 Pro graphics mode of Starfield uses PSSR, Sony's machine-learning upscaler, according to the sources cited in our analysis.
Is Starfield worth playing on PS5 Pro?
PS5 Pro offers an upgraded 1800p Enhanced mode with higher graphical fidelity and 40fps/120Hz support. However, Performance mode lowers internal resolution to 900p, PSSR introduces motion artifacts, and frequent crashes persist across both console variants.
What is the best graphics mode for Starfield on PS5 Pro?
Best overall balance: Enhanced Mode — Enhanced Mode targets 30 FPS. Highest frame rate: Performance Mode targets 60 FPS.
Patch history
Only updates that changed graphics modes, resolution, frame rate or visual features.
We only log updates with a documented effect on graphics modes, resolution, frame rate or visual features. None have been verified for this title yet.
The players' verdict
Recent player impressions of how the game runs on PS5 and PS5 Pro.
We publish player impressions from Reddit, ResetEra and specialist forums only when they discuss how the game actually runs. They never affect the PSFoundry Score.
Related analyses
Other analysed games close to Starfield.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Dying Light
Destiny 2
Borderlands 3
Warframe
Watch Dogs: Legion
RoboCop: Rogue City
Red Dead Redemption
Browse the full PlayStation performance database or the PS5 Pro Enhanced games list.