The Paris map, in comparison, features even larger crowds and the frame-rate adjusts accordingly. While exploring the crowded bow of the ship, for instance, the frame-rate dropped into the mid-30s.
When compared to the first training mission, the measured results on PS4 actually seem consistent - performance numbers seem contingent on the size of the crowd in any given area. It's not entirely clear what's happening, but it is interesting nonetheless. The difference in performance is fascinating here, and something we would never have been able to notice if not for the option to uncap the frame-rate.
While the difference is minimal, just 3-5fps at most, the Xbox One version actually manages to run faster than the PlayStation 4 code throughout the interior areas of the Paris map. This continues as we explore the surrounding garden, but just as we make our way indoors something changes - Xbox One takes the lead. Things look up once we're handed control, with both versions crossing the 30fps barrier as PS4 maintains its advantage. The introduction sequence for this map is mildly disappointing, both consoles dropping below 30fps with PS4, predictably, commanding a slight lead. Once we ventured into the meat of the game, however, things took an unexpected turn. Thankfully, with the addition of the 30fps cap, it's possible to eliminate these spikes, but the drops below 30fps remain an issue - at least in this first mission. This means drops well below 30fps in the busiest areas, with jarring spikes up to 60fps. The first two areas on Xbox One exhibit frame-rate numbers more in line with the PS4 beta than the final game on Sony's platform. Unfortunately, when it comes to performance, the results aren't quite where they need to be.
That's all well and good for PlayStation owners, but how does Hitman fare on Xbox One? First impressions suggest a near identical presentation we see the same 1080p rendering resolution with all of the same visual features intact. As a result of the improved performance, it's now possible to enjoy the game at an almost completely stable 30fps. Hitman now includes the option to cap the game's frame-rate at 30fps. The good news here is that the game's developer, Io Interactive, is clearly listening to feedback and has taken steps to address our concerns. While the improved performance is certainly great news, we're still not huge fans of variable, unlocked frame-rates - a concern we expressed in our analysis of the beta. So while performance remains rather variable, the more serious drops in frame-rate we encountered in the beta have been completely eliminated here. The second training area fares even better now, and manages to turn in something approaching a stable 60fps throughout: a taste of what could have been. Compared to the beta, we're looking at a boost of 10 to 15 frames per second, with performance that remains above 30fps the vast majority of the time. Starting off with the PlayStation 4 version, we were immediately pleased to see a noticeable performance increase right out of the gate.
Now, with the launch-day version of Hitman in hand, we were eager to see if these issues have been corrected, and how the previously unseen Xbox One version stacks up. Unfortunately, for many players, this beta left a sour impression, thanks in part to its wildly inconsistent frame-rate.
The fact that Square Enix saw fit to open the game's outdated beta to PlayStation Plus users just one week before launch was even more baffling. Between the Friday release date - unusual for a worldwide release, and for a digital one - and the episodic rollout of new content, this latest instalment in the contract killing series is launching in a rather atypical fashion.
If nothing else, the days leading up to the release of Hitman have certainly been interesting.