The final showdown: Motion blur vs chromatic aberration
PC Gamer has narrowed down a poll on the worst graphical effects in gaming to a final showdown between motion blur and chromatic aberration. The publication notes that the contest between these two visual effects has proven surprisingly close, with both advancing unexpectedly to the finals.
The poll invites readers to vote on which graphical effect should be permanently removed from games. Motion blur, which creates a blurred effect during rapid camera movement, is demonstrated using Hunt: Showdown, where the difference between the effect enabled and disabled is described as “night and day.” Chromatic aberration, the red and blue color fringing visible at high-contrast edges, is illustrated with an example from Marathon, Bungie’s recently released shooter.
The publication frames the vote as a way to definitively settle a long-standing debate within the gaming community about which visual effect is most detrimental to the gaming experience. Both effects are commonly included in modern games as optional graphics settings, allowing players to disable them based on personal preference.
Results from the community poll will be announced later in the week, with PC Gamer positioning the outcome as finally putting the debate to rest.