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Do consoles upscale games better than pc?

A heated debate is brewing among gamers over whether consoles are superior to PCs when it comes to upscaling games to higher resolutions. Key opinions are emerging from various forums, revealing conflicting views and experiences that underscore the evolving landscape of gaming technology.

By

Carlos Mendoza

May 4, 2025, 05:46 PM

Edited By

Carlos Gomez

Updated

May 4, 2025, 11:45 PM

2 minutes of duration

A side-by-side comparison of a console and PC gaming setup displaying the same game at 1440p and 4K resolutions.
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The Upscaling Showdown Continues

Discussions highlight that while some believe consoles upscale without issue, others refute this claim, citing their gaming setups. โ€œNo, they use TSR/TAA/FSR a lot, though to do it, and it will look the same as PC using the same methods,โ€ stated one commenter. They argue that many current-gen console games often run at lower native resolutions such as 720p or 900p, especially to maintain 60fps. This contradicts the view that consoles have resolved the issues with scaling effectively.

Key Themes Emerging from the Discussion

Resolution Challenges

Some commenters assert that most current-gen games use dynamic scaling, where the resolution fluctuates to optimize performance. As one gamer noted, โ€œEven then, they rarely go below 1080p.โ€ Yet, this raises questions about image quality and performance consistency across different systems.

Upscaling and Image Quality

A significant point of contention is how upscaling works differently across platforms. Gamers emphasize that โ€œThe upscaler is a factor too,โ€ and with top-notch technologies like DLSS on PC, image quality is often superior, even at the same resolution as consoles.

Viewing Environment

Interestingly, many gamers emphasize the role of viewing distance. Console players often sit farther from larger TVs, which can blur resolution differences. โ€œOn consoles, you sometimes upscale to a resolution that is not your screenโ€™s native resolution,โ€ highlighted one participant, noting games like The Last of Us and Demon's Souls output images at 1440p played on 4k displays without issues.

What Gamers Are Saying

"A lot of people play games at 1440p 60fps on a 4k display, it looks fine!"

Moreover, the viewing environment shapes these experiences. Modern 4k TVs from prominent brands have advanced upscaling algorithms, influencing how previous-gen console games look on high-resolution screens. This might explain why even lower resolutions, like 720p, can appear impressive on supported displays.

Key Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Dynamic Resolution Scaling: Many current-gen games rely on dynamic scaling to achieve playable frame rates, often running at lower native settings.

  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ Image Quality Disparities: Advanced upscaling technologies like DLSS give PCs an edge in visual fidelity.

  • ๐Ÿ“บ Viewing Distance Impact: Console players may perceive less resolution difference due to larger screen sizes and viewing distances.

As the dialogue progresses, gamers remain engaged in sharing experiences, debating the impacts of technology, and redefining what it means to enjoy games across different platforms.