Silent Hill f Runs at 720p–360p on PS5 Performance Mode, Showing How Demanding UE5 Games Can Be

With its release just days away, Silent Hill f is already sparking discussion around its technical performance. Developed by Neobards Entertainment and powered by Unreal Engine 5, the game brings haunting visuals and eerie atmosphere to the survival horror classic. However, these cutting-edge visuals come at a significant cost on consoles.

A new analysis by ElAnalistaDeBits highlights how performance mode on PlayStation 5 runs at shockingly low resolutions, raising fresh concerns about UE5’s optimization on current-gen hardware.

On the base PS5, performance mode scales between 720p and 360p internal resolution, a drastic downgrade that recalls the resolution struggles of the PlayStation 3 era. While the frame rate remains stable, the sharp drop in image clarity makes it a tough compromise.

On the PS5 Pro, performance mode fares slightly better but still falls short of expectations. The game runs at a locked 720p resolution. Despite the added power of the Pro hardware, the console struggles to push UE5’s advanced features without sacrificing sharpness.

Adding to the frustration, PSSR upscaling on PS5 Pro introduces visible noise in shadows and ambient occlusion, similar to the issues seen in Silent Hill 2 and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. With no option to disable the upscaler, players will have to wait for a potential patch to address these graphical artifacts.

In contrast, the PC version of Silent Hill f appears to handle UE5 much better. Outside of minor hiccups at the start and one issue later in the game, performance has been reported as stable, especially on higher-end hardware. This highlights once again how PC hardware is currently better equipped to handle UE5’s demanding feature set, such as Lumen global illumination.

Silent Hill f’s performance on consoles underscores a growing trend: Unreal Engine 5 titles often require massive compromises to run smoothly on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series hardware. Features like Lumen and Nanite deliver incredible visuals but demand far more from consoles than their current specs can comfortably sustain.

While players on PS5 and PS5 Pro can enjoy stable frame rates, the trade-off in resolution is difficult to ignore, and it raises questions about how future UE5 games will perform as the generation progresses.

What do you think - is sacrificing resolution for smoother performance worth it in a survival horror game like Silent Hill f, or should developers prioritize sharper visuals even if it means lower frame rates?