While there aren’t too many of differences betweenHogwarts Legacy’s PS4 and PS5 versions, there are still some important ones to note when deciding which version to buy. Knowing what the PS4 and PS5 versions of Avalanche Software’s wizard-filled adventure game entail will give players the information they need to decide whichPlayStationconsole they want to play it on.
The PS5 ushered in a plethora of new and improved functions compared to the PS4 that new games releasing are taking advantage of. Despite plenty of games still releasing for both PS4 and PS5, many of them do include a variety of luxurious features that only make their way to the next gen PS5 version.Hogwarts Legacyis one of those games.
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Hogwarts Legacy Price and DualSense Differences Between PS4 and PS5
With the release of the PS5, plenty of AAA games have made the switch from $60 to $70.Hogwarts Legacyis no different, with its PS5 version being sold for $70 and its PS4 version being sold for $60. While the game is largely the same for both platforms, it is arguable that the graphical and performance improvements seen on the PS5 compared to the PS4 justify the difference in prices.
Another slight difference has to do with the consoles' respective controllers. The PS5’s DualSense controller introduced new features to PlayStation gaming that aren’t available on PS4 games. The DualSense’s adaptive triggers are incorporated specifically forHogwarts Legacy’s spells. When casting spells, players will feel the resistance on the triggers, a similar implementation to the way the adaptive triggers are implemented into various games that have gunplay likeThe Last of Usand theCall of Dutygames on PS5.
The DualSense’s haptic feedback is also a benefit that only PS5 players will get to experience in plenty of theirPS5 gamesincludingHogwarts Legacy. Casting spells, crafting, and flying through the wizarding world can feel that much more immersive on a PS5 due to the haptic feedback that has been carefully implemented into the game to make players feel like they’re actually playing out their Hogwarts fantasy. PS4 players are unfortunately left out from the luxuries of the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers that PS5 players get to enjoy.
Hogwarts Legacy Performance and Gameplay Differences Between PS4 and PS5
One of the major differences betweenHogwarts Legacy’s PS4 versionand PS5 version is the graphics settings. On PS5, the game gives players the option to pick between five different graphics presets: Fidelity mode, Fidelity mode with raytracing, Performance mode, Balanced mode, and HFR mode. Each of these options provide varying resolutions and framerates that allow players to make their game look and run as pretty and as smooth as they’d like.
The PS4 version ofHogwarts Legacydoes not feature any of those graphics presets seen on the PS5 version. Instead, players can choose to lock or unlock the framerate. Locking the framerate keeps the game running at 30 FPS, while unlocking it can bring the game up to around 50-55 FPS on PS4. As far as visuals go, the PS4 version has a resolution of 900p, the PS4 Pro version has a resolution of 1080p, and the PS5 version can run at 1440p on Performance mode or 4K on Fidelity mode. Another big difference regarding performance is the load times. Due to the PS5’s ultra high-speed SSD, the game’s load times are much faster on the PS5 than on the PS4.
Gameplay-wise,Hogwarts Legacyis pretty much the same game on the PS4 and the PS5. However, there is one minor difference regardingHogwarts Castle. In the castle, there is a bridge that players can walk across as they explore Hogwarts. For the PS5 version, this bridge is out in the open, providing a stunning view of the outside world for players to gaze upon. On the PS4 version, however, this bridge is encompassed by the rest of the castle, removing that outside view that is present on the PS5 version. The reason for this change is most likely to improve performance on the older system and keep it running at stable frame rates.
Hogwarts Legacyis out now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X with a Nintendo Switch version coming November 14.
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