Sony's PlayStation 5 allows users to switch between three available system modes to optimize virtual experiences. The current modes are Fidelity, Performance, and Performance RT, which prioritize different details of gameplay. Fidelity Mode is the default mode for most systems, but not all users will know what this means. Unlike Performance and Performance RT, Fidelity Mode prioritizes graphics and uses sophisticated software to improve the overall look and feel of the game.
PS5's Performance and Performance RT Modes sacrifice upgraded visuals for efficiency and frames-per-second (FPS). Performance Mode features 60 FPS that prioritizes loading times and connection over appearance. PlayStation 5 users inclined to online multiplayer games will likely prefer Performance Mode over Fidelity. Performance RT tries to salvage the best of both modes by enabling ray tracing on PS5 while maintaining 60 FPS.
Unlike Performance and Performance RT Modes, the PS5's Fidelity Mode will only run at 30 FPS. This framerate compensates for increased graphics such as ray tracing and improved scene density. Ray tracing is quickly becoming a popular inclusion to many PlayStation 5 exclusives, but this graphical improvement requires hardy graphics cards and is not featured in all games. Fidelity's improved scene density ports information from one frame to the next to create a more immersive experience. Details like clouds in the skies, debris floating in the sea, or the fur on an animal are incredibly realistic, making the in-game world feel more lifelike.
PlayStation 5's Fidelity Mode Trades Latency For Looks
Fidelity Mode features an average 33.3ms rendering time, which determines the lag players may experience during gameplay. Higher system demand tends to increase latency, which brings increased lag. Independent internet connection may also contribute to additional lag, depending on if the title contains online features or not. Users who prefer multiplayer games may not choose Fidelity due to the impact of lag in fast-paced multiplayer titles like Apex Legends or Call of Duty: Warzone. However, Fidelity Mode offers massive improvements to single-player PS5 games like Horizon Zero Dawn or Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
The PS5's Fidelity Mode provides a minimum screen resolution of 1296p but can reach 1800-2160p depending on the demands of the title. A crystal clear image combined with Fidelity Mode's graphic overhaul delivers crisp, immersive gameplay to rival other systems on the market. Of course, the size and capabilities of individual monitors or televisions will also impact the resolution Fidelity Mode delivers.
PlayStation 5 users looking to customize their gaming experiences should take full advantage of their console's three system modes. Fidelity Mode likely appeals to the single-player market. Many PS5 exclusives focus on single-player titles, but the existence of Performance and Performance RT Mode ensures that multiplayer still stands a chance on the console. The PlayStation 5 modes will appear in the system settings within the Game/App Data selection, where users can select Fidelity as the system's default mode.