Xbox One And PS4 Resolution Battle Gets First Test With ‘Battlefield 4’ Gameplay Footage

The rumors of “Call of Duty: Ghosts” running at 720p on Xbox One and 1080p on PlayStation 4 have led to a heated discussion about the value of video game resolution for gamers. While the discussion is mostly hypothetical, due to embargoes, the first test of any disparity comes as early as Tuesday and “Battlefield 4.”

Resolution should not be the only thing that will dissuade individuals from shelling out $500 for an Xbox One or $399 for a PS4, but it is an important factor and any early problems could indicate development issues for a next-gen console. One aspect of the “COD: Ghosts” rumor centers around the Xbox One being difficult to develop for, and that’s due in part to some of Microsoft’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) policies, such as scheduling patches for video games, notes Edge magazine. With the Xbox One set to launch on Nov. 22, and the PS4 launching on Nov. 15, perception will be incredibly important, and while pre-orders have long been snatched up, positive reviews of the launch and the available games can lead to undecided gamers to choose one console over the other.

As noted with the PlayStation 3, many individuals discussed the difficulty of developing games for the console, and that could affect video game ports and delay development cycles. Any perceived advantages would be negated and the extra power provided by the “Cell” architecture used in the P3 is squandered, argues Hubert Nguyen on Ubergizmo. With all the debate surrounding graphics, Erik Kain said the biggest selling point for the PS4 or the Xbox One should be about convenience and the exclusive content. For those concerned about graphics, the best route will not be found on a console but a PC, says Kain.

While there is no confirmation regarding the "COD: Ghosts" rumor, there will be a chance to look at another popular game that is rumored to have different resolution across the two platforms. "Battlefield 4" will be released on the PS4 and Xbox One and, according to reports, the game will run at 720p on Microsoft's console and 900p on Sony's system. Video reviewers are set to upload gameplay footage of "Battlefield 4" from both consoles, and one reviewer is hinting that viewers will be able to see the difference.

JackFrags, a YouTube game reviewer, discussed uploading the footage on Reddit, saying, "I'll be posting Xbox One and PS4 footage - Direct capture 1080p on the 29th October - I'm not allowed to post before then. I have several hours of PS4 multiplayer and the full single player campaign on Xbox One recorded." While remaining elusive, JackFrags did note there will be a noticeable difference between the two consoles.