The Outer Worlds 2 — PS5 & PS5 Pro performance
Technical analysis last updated
The Outer Worlds 2 delivers an uneven presentation on PlayStation platforms at launch. On base PS5, image resolution is lower than Xbox Series X—dropping to roughly 1080p in Performance mode—and frame rate instability affects all modes. PlayStation 5 Pro fails to offer a substantial performance or resolution advantage, while additionally introducing noticeable noise artifacts due to PSSR interacting poorly with UE5's Lumen lighting. Quality (30 fps), Performance (60 fps), and Balanced (40 fps) modes are available on both PS5 and PS5 Pro.
Graphics modes on PlayStation 5 Pro
PS5 Pro provides roughly equivalent resolution and frame rate stability to the base PS5 across all modes. However, PSSR image reconstruction introduces noticeable visual noise in tandem with UE5's Lumen lighting.
Utilises PSSR upscaling, but suffers from image noise when combined with UE5 Lumen.
Performance Mode
PS5 ProUnverifiedPSSR introduces noticeable visual noise when interacting with UE5 Lumen implementation.
Quality Mode
PS5 ProUnverifiedNear-2160p output with visible PSSR noise artifacts over specular and lit surfaces.
Balanced Mode
PS5 ProUnverifiedPSSR upscaling causes visual noise alongside reduced visual detail settings.
Graphics modes on PlayStation 5
Base PS5 delivers lower image quality and reduced stability compared to Xbox Series X. Performance mode runs around 1080p, while Quality and Balanced modes target near-2160p output. All modes exhibit mild frame rate drops and frame time instability.
Balanced Mode
PS5UnverifiedCombines near-2160p resolution with reduced visual details from Performance mode.
Performance Mode
PS5UnverifiedDowngraded visual settings and foliage density compared to Quality mode, targeting roughly 1080p output.
Quality Mode
PS5UnverifiedClocks in close to 2160p resolution with higher visual settings and detailed Lumen lighting.
PS5 vs PS5 Pro
Side-by-side comparison of graphics modes, resolution and technical features.
PS5 Pro fails to deliver noticeable improvements in resolution or frame rate stability compared to base PS5, while introducing visible image noise due to PSSR interference with UE5 Lumen lighting.
| Metric | PS5 | PS5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| PSFoundry Score | 71Good | 75Good |
| Recommended mode | Balanced Mode | Performance Mode |
| Modes available | 3 | 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 | No |
| PS5 Pro Enhanced | No | Yes |
- PSFoundry Score
- 71Good
- Recommended mode
- Balanced Mode
- Modes available
- 3
- 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
- 75Good
- Recommended mode
- Performance Mode
- Modes available
- 3
- Highest target FPS
- 60
- Highest verified capability
- 60 fps target
- PSSR
- Yes
- Ray tracing
- No
- VRR
- Yes
- 120 Hz support
- No
- PS5 Pro Enhanced
- Yes
Known issues
Base PS5 version exhibits image breakup, lower resolution, screen tearing, and frame rate drops.
PSSR upscaling interacts poorly with Lumen and RT lighting effects, causing visual glitches and frame drops in combat.
Base PS5 exhibits visible frame rate and frame time drops across all visual modes.
PSSR upscaling introduces noticeable image noise when interacting with Unreal Engine 5's Lumen lighting.
Video analysis
Independent technical videos referenced in our analysis.
Digital Foundry is now fully independent! Join the DF Supporter Program and support the team: https://bit.ly/3jEGjvx The Outer Worlds 2 ...
The Outer Worlds 2 PS5 Pro Gameplay, Frame rate FPS performance & resolution fidelity details of this RPG where it's basically Fallout in ...
In this video we stress test my $700 PlayStation 5 Pro equivalent PC with The Outer Worlds 2. We benchmark CPU and GPU performance, ...
... review copy of this product from https://www.keymailer.co. The Outer Worlds 2 PS5 vs PS5 Pro - Graphics Comparison - Framerate - Loading Times - ...
Audio/Visual PS5 Pro now uses TSR for upscaling to address blurry grass ... The Outer Worlds 2 is a Seriously MIXED Bag (Full Game Review).
Select 2160p for Best Quality ◅◅ The Outer Worlds 2 PS5 Pro Modes Graphics & Frame Rate Comparison. Captured with VRR & 120hz ON!
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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.
- UnverifiedThe Outer Worlds 2 on PlayStation consoles exhibits performance issues at launch. On base PS5, resolutions are lower than Xbox Series X (1080p vs 1440p in Performance mode) and frame time drops occur Digital Foundry2025-10-22
Technical analysis of The Outer Worlds 2 across consoles. PlayStation 5 exhibits performance drops and lower resolutions compared to Xbox Series X, while PS5 Pro suffers from PSSR noise artifacts when combined with Unreal Engine 5's Lumen.
Open source - UnverifiedDigital Foundry analysis indicates that The Outer Worlds 2 struggles on PlayStation platforms, exhibiting frame rate drops, screen tearing, lower resolution, and PSSR image artifacts on PS5 Pro.GameSpot
Digital Foundry's analysis reveals that The Outer Worlds 2 underperforms on PS5 and PS5 Pro compared to Xbox Series X. Base PS5 exhibits lower resolution, frame rate drops, screen tearing, and image breakup. On PS5 Pro, PSSR upscaling produces visual artifacts alongside Lumen and ray-tracing lighting, with frequent frame rate dips during combat.
Open source
Frequently asked
Answers built from the verified data on this page.
What frame rate does The Outer Worlds 2 run at on PS5 Pro?
On PS5 Pro, The Outer Worlds 2 offers 3 graphics modes: Performance Mode targets 60 FPS at 1080p; Quality Mode targets 30 FPS at 2160p; Balanced Mode targets 40 FPS at 2160p.
What frame rate does The Outer Worlds 2 run at on PS5?
On PS5, The Outer Worlds 2 offers 3 graphics modes: Performance Mode targets 60 FPS at 1080p; Quality Mode targets 30 FPS at 2160p; Balanced Mode targets 40 FPS at 2160p.
Does The Outer Worlds 2 use PSSR on PS5 Pro?
Yes. At least one PS5 Pro graphics mode of The Outer Worlds 2 uses PSSR, Sony's machine-learning upscaler, according to the sources cited in our analysis.
Is The Outer Worlds 2 worth playing on PS5 Pro?
PS5 Pro fails to deliver noticeable improvements in resolution or frame rate stability compared to base PS5, while introducing visible image noise due to PSSR interference with UE5 Lumen lighting.
What is the best graphics mode for The Outer Worlds 2 on PS5 Pro?
Best overall balance: Performance Mode — Performance Mode targets 60 FPS at 1080p.
What is the PSFoundry Score of The Outer Worlds 2?
The Outer Worlds 2 scores 75/100 on PS5 Pro. The PSFoundry Score measures technical performance only — frame rate, image quality, graphics modes, visual features, responsiveness, loading and stability — not how good the game is.
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.
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Browse the full PlayStation performance database or the PS5 Pro Enhanced games list.