So our first port of all is checking the resolution itself; a pixel-count during both campaign and Crucible modes showing Bungie's promise has been kept. The Xbox One now delivers the maximum 1920x1080 frame-buffer allowed by its front-end settings, with each pixel revealing its own matching stair-step on vertical and horizontal edges. It's the real deal.
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But such a boost to pixel count can't come cheap. Microsoft's June SDK may have unlocked resources previously assigned to Kinect, but this marks a considerable upgrade. However, in terms of in-game assets, nothing appears to have been pared back for Destiny's campaign or straight multiplayer modes. A charge through the initial Steppes areas, for example, shows draw distances and pop-in are like-for-like between the retail and beta builds on Xbox One, and even PS4. Even on the distant cliffs, shadow maps, geometry and enemy placements remain as they were. Bump-mapped rock textures also go untouched, but as a result of the resolution boost, now appear more defined even from a long range.
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Otherwise, Bungie's target 30fps is strictly adhered to, and with v-sync permanently engaged to boot. In fact, we only catch one hiccup to 28fps; a momentary blip while riding a Sparrow quickly across the wastelands. Based on its timing, this seems to have less to do with strains on the GPU, and is more about the engine's ability to stream the world, as made evident by the way it strikes at the same point as the beta release.
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Overall, the Xbox One version runs identically to its already impressive beta build, albeit with an added full-screen distortion effect, refreshed HUD design, and a crisp 1080p viewing window. With no performance penalty or pared-back visual settings in sight, first impressions suggest a release that very closely matches its PlayStation 4 counterpart in terms of both looks and performance - a state of affairs we're looking to fully confirm in our upcoming Face-Off.
