A Plague Tale: Innocence was released to warm reception in 2019, largely due to its unique setting, solid gameplay, and emotionally gripping story. It has recently been in the spotlight again due to the upcoming sequel, A Plague Tale: Requiem, coming in 2022 and its inclusion as a free game for PS+ subscribers for the month of July. This comes hand in hand with an update for modern consoles.
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The game is already gorgeous on PS4 and Xbox One but is clearly held back by the weaker hardware. The new version for PS5 and Xbox Series X allows the game to look and run better than ever before for console owners. The entries below reveal that the visual fidelity mostly remains the same, but several other improvements help it feel better and look sharper. Special thanks for Digital Foundry's in-depth analysis of the upgrade.
Load Times Are Dramatically Better
This one is standard across most next-generation upgrades. Loading up a save file of A Plague Tale: Innocence takes about fifteen seconds across all the new platforms. On the older systems, it took almost an entire minute. While not instant like many new games, the improved loading times are still extremely welcome. The game is slow-paced by design, so having the game load up faster definitely helps — it's not like the gameplay speeds up once it does load.
Adaptive Triggers And Haptic Feedback On PS5
PS5 owners get an added bonus with new controller features in A Plague Tale: Innocence. Haptic feedback helps you feel footsteps on different surfaces. Adaptive triggers are used for using the sling. Opinions differ on the features' utility, but it is more commonly used than other controller features of the past, like the touchpad. Games like Returnal and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart have received praise for the unique usage of the DualSense.
60 Frames Per Second All Consoles
On the PS4 and Xbox One, the game runs at 30 frames per second. This is nothing surprising for the generation. Most new games ran at this frame rate, with 60 being reserved mostly for re-releases and remakes. On the PS5 and Xbox Series X, the game runs at a smooth 60. There are only occasional drops of two or so frames at certain moments, though it is barely noticeable. The game's linearity helps keep performance smooth.
Motion Blur Is Added
Not every gamer loves motion blur, but it can help make the animation look smoother and create a more cinematic presentation. The update adds beautifully done motion blur. This alone makes the game look significantly better than it did on the last-generation consoles. It also makes moving the camera feel smoother and more intuitive. There is no option to turn it off, but it really does help the game's visuals.
The Xbox Series X Version Allows For 120 Frames Per Second
This feature is exclusive to the Xbox consoles. There is an option in the console menu to run the game at 120 frames per second. The Series S also has this feature, but it is absent on PS5. This does not mean the game actually runs at that frame rate, however.
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In reality, it is just uncapped and running the best it can. Depending on the area, the game floats anywhere between just barely above 60 to above 100. Some might prefer the consistency of 60 fps, but having more options is always better for players.
Better Shadows
This detail is extremely subtle but worth mentioning nonetheless. Shadows are improved in this upgrade, looking more defined and less soft. Though not immediately noticeable, it helps especially in a game like A Plague Tale: Innocence. Light is a major part of the gameplay as you use torches and other tools to keep the rats away from you and Hugo. You often like up dark rooms or walk around with a flame. Seeing the way the light reacts to the environment always looked great, and now it looks just like a nudge improved with better shadows.
4K Image, But It Is Not Native
Natively, the new consoles run the game at the same resolution as the Xbox One X; 1440p. Techniques common to the medium help put out a 4K resolution. This is perhaps done to maintain a steady frame rate, though some players might have appreciated the option for a fidelity mode almost standard to many titles these days. The Xbox Series S deserves mention, too. It runs the game natively at 900p. This is not surprising considering its weaker power when compared to PS5 and Series X.
3D Audio
The original release already has impressive audio design. Given the game's setting, tone, and gameplay, it is essential for it to have the best sound possible. It helps immerse you into the world and feel the blood-curdling terror of the rats' approach.
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Though not everyone can take advantage of this, the PS5 version features enhanced 3D Audio for an even deeper sonic experience. Good audio is one of those things most people don't appreciate until it is missing or specifically pointed out to them, which is a credit to how seamlessly it fits into the experience.
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