Feature: 007 Tech Secrets From Our First Light Deep Dive: Why Series S Is 30fps, How It Hits 60fps Elsewhere and Much More
007 First Light, launching this week, features different performance targets across Xbox consoles and PlayStation, according to technical details revealed by Digital Foundry following a comprehensive developer deep dive with IO Interactive.
Xbox Series S is locked to a single 30fps gameplay mode with no other options, while Xbox Series X provides two gameplay modes: 60fps and 30fps. PlayStation 5 similarly offers 60fps modes, creating a performance hierarchy across platforms.
The 30fps limitation on Xbox Series S reflects IO Interactive’s “scalability-first” design philosophy. Lead render engineer Alex Mueller explained that rather than removing key visual systems to reach higher frame rates, the studio chose to maintain features like advanced lighting and volumetric effects across all console versions. This approach allows the game to scale down resolution and other settings while preserving the visual fidelity systems that define the game’s appearance.
The decision becomes more understandable given that 007 First Light ran noticeably below 30fps during its initial console reveal, making the achieved 30fps target for Series S a meaningful optimization. IO Interactive prioritized keeping the core visual design intact rather than stripping essential graphical systems to boost performance.
The performance differences underscore the capability gap between current-generation hardware. Xbox Series X and PS5 both support 60fps gameplay, while Series S operates at the lower target, ensuring the game remains playable across the full Xbox console range at launch.