Saints Row: The Third performance analysis - lowest framerate on Switch? (UPDATE: patch 1.4.0 analysis added, see threadmark)

Deleted member 10737 · May 11, 2019

video by o k

summary:
- there's going to be a patch coming next week. the game is available now for purchase tho and this is the performance of the launch version
- bug where it gets stuck on the loading screen
- native 720p in handheld mode, 1080p in docked mode, but a lot of jaggies
- unlocked frame rate, but it can't even maintain 30 fps
- fps can drop to as low as 13 in some instances. it can occasionally run at higher than 30fps but it's all very inconsistent.

¡Hip Hop! · May 11, 2019

I can't watch the video at the moment. Does the patch fix the framerate issues?

Deleted member 10737 · May 11, 2019

¡Hip Hop! said:
I can't watch the video at the moment. Does the patch fix the framerate issues?

there's no patch yet, the "day 1" patch is gonna come next week

Bitanator · May 11, 2019

mazi said:
- fps can drop to as low as 13 in some instances. it can occasionally run at higher than 30fps but it's all very inconsistent.

An authentic N64 experience

Wander_ · May 11, 2019

I mean, there's always a patch for performances coming, is it that hard to wait a bit before spreading analysis? this happen for nearly every switch game.

Triggerhappytel · May 11, 2019

Wander_ said:
I mean, there's always a patch for performances coming, is it that hard to wait a bit before spreading analysis? this happen for nearly every switch game.

Launch day performance analysis isn't unique to the Switch.

Mechaplum · May 11, 2019

Wander_ said:
I mean, there's always a patch for performances coming, is it that hard to wait a bit before spreading analysis? this happen for nearly every switch game.

It is not limited to just switch games.

9-Volt · May 11, 2019

I'm playing it right now and I haven't experienced such huge dips in the framerate. There are dips in busy situations, when lots of action going on on screen but nothing serious. Dragon's Dogma had worse dips in lesser situations imo.

This plays just fine.

lupinko · May 11, 2019

This must be a terrible port because this played really smoothly at 30fps/720p native on PS3. (SR4 on the other hand wasn't as polished and was sub-720p iirc on the ps3).

Deleted member 1476 · May 11, 2019

Wander_ said:
I mean, there's always a patch for performances coming, is it that hard to wait a bit before spreading analysis? this happen for nearly every switch game.

Nah, the game is out now so review what is out now. If they found this good enough to ship then it is good enough to get analyzed.

Deleted member 10737 · May 11, 2019

Wander_ said:
I mean, there's always a patch for performances coming, is it that hard to wait a bit before spreading analysis? this happen for nearly every switch game.

this is going to be how the game runs for anyone buying it day 1, it not gonna get patched until next week.

Dark1x · May 11, 2019

lupinko said:
This must be a terrible port because this played really smoothly at 30fps/720p native on PS3. (SR4 on the other hand wasn't as polished and was sub-720p iirc on the ps3).

No no no no, it most certainly did not. It's awful on PS3 with performance way below 30fps (into the teens regularly). It was so bad that I tossed the game aside and waited until the PC version went on sale for cheap.

Error 52 · May 11, 2019

Saints Row IV had a terrible remaster on PS4/Xbox One, so SR doesn't have a great track record with this.

9-Volt said:
I'm playing it right now and I haven't experienced such huge dips in the framerate. There are dips in busy situations, when lots of action going on on screen but nothing serious. Dragon's Dogma had worse dips in lesser situations imo.

This plays just fine.

There's always that guy!

Deleted member 7044 · May 11, 2019

Shadow · May 11, 2019

Sounds like how I played it on a 2009 iMac. It was playable but it had drops in many places. I hope they do improve it. Also reminds me I really should go back to it since I could run it much better now.

Gnorman · May 11, 2019

Wander_ said:
I mean, there's always a patch for performances coming, is it that hard to wait a bit before spreading analysis? this happen for nearly every switch game.

It happens for all games not just switch games. Maybe devs will start shipping games in a better state if they get enough negative press.

Dark1x · May 11, 2019

Wander_ said:
I mean, there's always a patch for performances coming, is it that hard to wait a bit before spreading analysis? this happen for nearly every switch game.

Well, I'm looking at it now as 1) it's available right now and 2) if we wait, then there will not be time to look at the game at all. I don't believe for a second that the patch will solve all problems either - it's shipped in a really bad condition. What makes you think all those issues can be addressed with a last minute patch?

The game is notorious for bad console performance. The PS360 versions are horrible in that regard and even when Saints 4 was ported to current gen, it also ran very very poorly.

Deleted member 10737 · May 11, 2019

Dark1x said:
Well, I'm looking at it now as 1) it's available right now and 2) if we wait, then there will not be time to look at the game at all. I don't believe for a second that the patch will solve all problems either - it's shipped in a really bad condition. What makes you think all those issues can be addressed with a last minute patch?

are you guys doing a video on it? would be cool to see how the frame rate is in handheld mode.
and yeah it's not like a patch is gonna do magic and make it run at a consistent 30fps, i don't expect much from the update.

Deleted member 10737 · May 11, 2019

edit: wrong thread and double post. oops.

Laserdisk · May 11, 2019

Dark1x said:
Well, I'm looking at it now as 1) it's available right now and 2) if we wait, then there will not be time to look at the game at all. I don't believe for a second that the patch will solve all problems either - it's shipped in a really bad condition. What makes you think all those issues can be addressed with a last minute patch?

The game is notorious for bad console performance. The PS360 versions are horrible in that regard and even when Saints 4 was ported to current gen, it also ran very very poorly.

Is it an engine thing? or just optimization?

Oregano · May 11, 2019

Sad to see how poorly this and Dragon's Dogma run.

Dark1x · May 11, 2019

Laserdisk said:
Is it an engine thing? or just optimization?

I suspect it's an engine thing - more specifically, I think it's a CPU limitation.

Laserdisk · May 11, 2019

Dark1x said:
I suspect it's an engine thing - more specifically, I think it's a CPU limitation.

Interesting, I only really played them on PC but have the PS4 version and was not impressed.

Deleted member 10737 · May 11, 2019

Oregano said:
Sad to see how poorly this and Dragon's Dogma run.

i thought the dragon's dogma port was supposed to be good? i need to watch the video from yesterday.

Putosaure · May 11, 2019

Dark1x said:
I suspect it's an engine thing - more specifically, I think it's a CPU limitation.

I kinda suspect that the Switch may not receive a high quality open world game (outside of Zelda and maybe Lego City Undercover) because of this CPU limitation...

Oregano · May 11, 2019

mazi said:
i thought the dragon's dogma port was supposed to be good? i need to watch the video from yesterday.

576p undocked with framedrops to low 20s. 900p in docked with less framedrops. Textures and lighting slightly upgraded over last gen but still tons of pop in.

Deleted member 10737 · May 11, 2019

Oregano said:
576p undocked with framedrops to low 20s. 900p in docked with less framedrops. Textures and lighting slightly upgraded over last gen but still tons of pop in.

damn, that's pretty bad for handheld mode.

.exe · May 11, 2019

Flashes of SR2 on PC.

🤮

catboy · May 11, 2019

Wander_ said:
I mean, there's always a patch for performances coming, is it that hard to wait a bit before spreading analysis? this happen for nearly every switch game.

I made the decision to post the video because the game is available to buy, right now. It's not an embargo type situation where this is an early copy - if someone picks it up today, they're getting this.

I made sure to specify in the video that a patch was coming, all footage states "No D1 Patch" so if anyone tries to screengrab and use it maliciously to misrepresent the game it would be more difficult, and I will release an update when the patch is available. Also, I don't expect the changes to be all that significant - I think there's only so much they can do. I suspect there will be an improvement to worst case scenarios but it's not going to suddenly be smooth as butter next week.

Eoin · May 11, 2019

Wander_ said:
I mean, there's always a patch for performances coming, is it that hard to wait a bit before spreading analysis? this happen for nearly every switch game.

The game is out now and people are paying money for it so analysis now is totally fair. You would hardly ask for a moratorium on any kind of performance analysis on any game just because developers were promising a patch?

lupinko said:
This must be a terrible port because this played really smoothly at 30fps/720p native on PS3. (SR4 on the other hand wasn't as polished and was sub-720p iirc on the ps3).

This is the original Digital Foundry face-off for Saints Row 3:

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-face-off-saints-row-the-third

The short summary is that although framerates could sometimes temporarily hover near 30FPS for both consoles, it definitely couldn't be described as "smooth". It varied constantly, with extended gameplay sequences running at framerates in the 20s and occasionally the mid-teens, and sections with multiple explosions had a particularly heavy impact on performance. The Xbox 360 version looked better at a cost of generally inferior performance - Xbox 360 had a V-sync option which basically allowed a choice between constant screen tearing or an even worse framerate.

From what we've seen from the Switch version, it's potentially worse than the PS3 version, but that doesn't mean that the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions ran well.

catboy · May 11, 2019

9-Volt said:
I'm playing it right now and I haven't experienced such huge dips in the framerate. There are dips in busy situations, when lots of action going on on screen but nothing serious. Dragon's Dogma had worse dips in lesser situations imo.

This plays just fine.

I can't confirm 100% as I have no way of capturing and analysing handheld footage, but to my eyes I found the experience to be slightly better in handheld but still nowhere near "not serious", imo.

I'm glad you are able to see past the issues, though!

Infernal Monkey said:
I mean... the fact that it's native res in handheld is really nice at least.

Yeah, it being native res is nice, but the artefacts from the lower resolution depth buffer effects kind of ruins it a lot of the time, unfortunately.

Still, credit where it's due!

Gnorman · May 11, 2019

Oregano said:
576p undocked with framedrops to low 20s. 900p in docked with less framedrops. Textures and lighting slightly upgraded over last gen but still tons of pop in.

Pop in is by fair my biggest no no in games. It's so jarring seeing things just appear.

Deleted member 55311 · May 11, 2019

Wander_ said:
I mean, there's always a patch for performances coming, is it that hard to wait a bit before spreading analysis? this happen for nearly every switch game.

They are selling the game right now even after they delayed the "day one" patch. Why shouldn't people know how it runs right now? If you are a consumer you should be ashamed.

ParksCo2 · May 11, 2019

Framerate is absolutely an issue. Currently doing the Alien Chase scene and I keep dying because it can't keep up with the explosions while driving around. Next to impossible to line up shots. It does look real good when in handheld. I would like to see the GTA 3/Vice/San Andreas trilogy ported.

Shaneus · May 11, 2019

Seriously, what's even the point of buying games on launch anymore, especially on Switch? You're almost guaranteed some kind of fuckery for the first week or two until pubs/devs pull their fingers out and realise consumers are over it. Look at MK11, for one.

On the bright side, I'm saving so much money.

fiendcode · May 11, 2019

mazi said:
damn, that's pretty bad for handheld mode.

It still looks and runs significantly better than the PS3/360 version. The framerate is relatively stable too, drops are rarer and the DF analysis only had one real instance dip into the low 20s (during a cinematic).

ParksCo2 · May 11, 2019

Shaneus said:
Seriously, what's even the point of buying games on launch anymore, especially on Switch? You're almost guaranteed some kind of fuckery for the first week or two until pubs/devs pull their fingers out and realise consumers are over it. Look at MK11, for one.

On the bright side, I'm saving so much money.

I have to agree with Shaneus. There are just too many issues on day one ports. I also picked up Shakedown Hawaii and man if there isn't currency issues that will be patched next week. If you can wait a week, and after that time you still want it with the patch then buy it. Otherwise there will be something else somewhere else (or on the Switch) that will take your free time.

New Donker · May 11, 2019

I played a ton of this on 360 and I remember it chugging at times when the action got hectic....unless I'm misremembering...

So its basically the authentic experience! :p

Possum Armada · May 11, 2019

Wander_ said:
I mean, there's always a patch for performances coming, is it that hard to wait a bit before spreading analysis? this happen for nearly every switch game.

you are looking at this from an absurdly wrong perspective.

Maybe the publisher should wait a bit before selling a game in that state.

They are selling an eight year old game for $40 that hits 13 FPS.

I get get wanting to stan for your favorite games, but is this really the hill you want to die on?

Iacomus · May 11, 2019

I experienced a few of these.

Normally I'm ok taking on waves of enemies in Saints Row the Third (On 360 and PS3) so something did feel off with the aiming.

The performance bit is shocking considering its a previous gen title. I guess it was a straight port not a re-release.

Possum Armada · May 11, 2019

Iacomus said:
I experienced a few of these.

Normally I'm ok taking on waves of enemies in Saints Row the Third (On 360 and PS3) so something did feel off with the aiming.

The performance bit is shocking considering its a previous gen title. I guess it was a straight port not a re-release.

Im wondering if the engine just isn't supported well on Switch

fadedbones · May 11, 2019

Would've been nice to see this kind of honest analysis for MK11. Still disappointed after that

Deleted member 873 · May 11, 2019

Embarassing performance.

Sweeney Swift · May 11, 2019

Great video, friend!

Very disappointed the bar for games on their launch seems to be getting lower and lower. The only way that trend reverses is if shit like this continues to get criticized and called out

hanshen · May 11, 2019

mazi said:
damn, that's pretty bad for handheld mode.

It's not bad if you actually played the game. Ive been playing it handheld exclusively.

Deleted member 10737 · May 11, 2019

Sweeney Swift said:
Very disappointed the bar for games on their launch seems to be getting lower and lower. The only way that trend reverses is if shit like this continues to get criticized and called out

the fact that HUGE day 1 patches are something that's expected for most big games is quite telling. it seems like for many publishers the polishing stage of game development is now done after the game is out.

TheRuralJuror · May 11, 2019

mazi said:
i thought the dragon's dogma port was supposed to be good? i need to watch the video from yesterday.

I've seem maybe one report of bad frame rate with mystic knight. Otherwise, I play that game back and forth between xbox one x and switch all the time. Runs fine in my experience other than some pop-in and I don't think most would noticed the resolution until that DF video. It's got some minor stuff, but I wouldn't put it on par with what I've seen from SR3.

Deleted member 36186 · May 11, 2019

Wander_ said:
I mean, there's always a patch for performances coming, is it that hard to wait a bit before spreading analysis? this happen for nearly every switch game.

Another reason to make the analisys on launch day - so that developers and publishers stop releasing games in this state.

Deleted member 10737 · May 11, 2019

hanshen said:
It's not bad if you actually played the game. Ive been playing it handheld exclusively.

Ramjag said:
I've seem maybe one report of bad frame rate with mystic knight. Otherwise, I play that game back and forth between xbox one x and switch all the time. Runs fine in my experience other than some pop-in and I don't think most would noticed the resolution until that DF video. It's got some minor stuff, but I wouldn't put it on par with what I've seen from SR3.

i watched the DF video, it's not too bad. i've played games with worse resolution and frame rate on switch. it's still something i want to get in the future, maybe digitally on sale.

noyram23 · May 11, 2019

Error 52 said:
Saints Row IV had a terrible remaster on PS4/Xbox One, so SR doesn't have a great track record with this.

There's always that guy!

Dude got them Switch Pro in secret

Saints Row: The Third performance analysis - lowest framerate on Switch? (UPDATE: patch 1.4.0 analysis added, see threadmark)

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