Quality vs Performance mode for Alan Wake 2 – What to pick

Ah, the dreaded choice of quality vs performance mode in modern console games. When will we have both at once? Who knows! Until then, here’s what to pick for Alan Wake 2.

Quality mode aims for the best visuals, and 30 FPS

To be clear, the PC edition still has plenty of knobs and levers on its own (and the Xbox Series S doesn’t have a toggle for quality/performance mode), but on Xbox Series X and PS5, you do have the two aforementioned options available.

Quality mode’s goal is 4K resolution with a 30 FPS framerate.

Performance mode focuses on framerate over visuals

Performance mode on the other hand, a popular mode in games that feature combat, will target 1080p/1440p visuals and a 60 FPS framerate.

If you’re roaming around quality mode is great, while combat/bosses are best fought in performance

_{[In the above gallery, quality mode is on the left, and performance mode is on the right]}

Of course, the choice is yours in terms of what mode to pick. Personally, I choose quality mode as a default, and when it’s clear that combat will be taking place, I swap back to performance. Given that many confrontations take place at night, I preferred the smoother framerate (especially at launch, with some visual bugs).

However, the game’s director (Thomas Puha) has noted that the game “has been built from the beginning as a 30 FPS experience focusing on visuals and ambiance.” Keep that in mind when you’re walking around Bright Falls!