Playing Black Flag Resynced on the PS5 Pro and a 120Hz display has confirmed my love of 40fps modes on console and given me more confidence if GTA 6
cant hit 60fps

Date:
Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Description:
The rise of the PS5's balanced 40fps mode in games this generation has been a dream for fidelity-appreciating but console-focused players like me

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The PlayStation 5 Pro has been my primary, booted-up-nearly-every-day console since the premium PS5 variant launched in late 2024. Ive used it a lot on both a 60Hz display and a 120Hz display, and the experience it gives me on both for my PS5 games has been basically flawless.

The extra power, chops, and graphical prowess that it offers have been superb for a console enthusiast like me. It makes both fidelity-focused and performance-focused game settings better, but has also paved the way for a
new middle ground between the two. This in-between mode, often labeled as Balanced, allows players with a 120Hz display to enjoy a host of enhanced ray tracing features and boosted image quality, with a bunch of extra frames per second, giving it a clear boost over standard fidelity modes, which are normally locked at 30fps. Whats even better is that you can often engage this mode on base PS5 or PS5 Slim consoles when those are teamed with a 120Hz-capable display too, and its proving once again to be a saving grace
for fidelity-chasers this generation. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

This Balanced mode is absolutely excellent in Assassins Creed Black Flag Resynced and is the only way Id recommend a PS5 or PS5 Pro user to play what is one of the best Assassin's Creed games . It combines the sheer beauty of the Anvil-engine-powered Caribbean setting with loads of water, shadow, and particle detail to boot, with a 40fps frame rate that, while not as super slick as 60fps, is absolutely noticeably better than 30fps. The difference is huge.

Two and a half years ago, I wrote how I was happy with 4K 30fps on console . But, after spending time with a PS5 Pro, I will happily admit that my preferences and opinions have changed and that gives me much confidence when it comes to Grand Theft Auto 6 . You may like Assassins Creed Black Flag Resynced is getting a proper PS5 Pro upgrade and every graphics mode
benefits 60FPS feels like a bridge too far: GTA 6 is likely to only run at 30fps on PS5 consoles due to CPU limitations, tech analysts say but theres hope that a 40fps mode would be a good option if 60 is off the table My two favorite premium controllers are perfect for playing GTA 6 on PS5 or Xbox
and both are discounted right now Perfectly balanced (Image credit: Ubisoft) Not that long ago, stories were circulating saying that GTA 6 having a 60fps mode on console would be unlikely . And it was something to take note of too, given it was coming from the brilliant tech analysts over at Digital Foundry
.

I dont think many folks were truly surprised at this. The amount of technical brilliance and sheer detail that will likely go into GTA 6 will surely translate into the amount of demand on a consoles GPU and CPU. Think of the poor old Series S trying to run such a behemoth. Godspeed, little Xbox. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

However, playing Assassins Creed Black Flag Resynced on its Balanced mode right now has me feeling a bit more confident in the prospects of what we may have to settle for on GTA 6 .

While the smoothness of 60fps is a joy on a console like the PS5 or PS5 Pro,
I am one to chase graphical fidelity wherever I can.

Im a sucker but also quasi-expert on video game landscapes and environments
in a way, so I will always desire to see more detail like the edges of
leaves, the fluttering of foliage in the wind, and expansive vistas across lands as far as the eye can see, views scattered with landscape features, ruins, and blissful seas all at the expense of a few more frames. And thats what Resynced s 40fps mode does. What to read next PlayStation says 'GTA 6 plays best on PS5' and is giving fans a freebie if they pre-order on the PS Store With GTA 6 pre-orders coming, here are some PS5 and Xbox gaming accessory upgrades that I'd recommend as someone who tests hardware for a living Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced review: a robust and beautiful remake of one of the best but not without flaws (Image credit: Ubisoft) The glorious beauty and image quality thats on offer in the balanced mode isnt
far off the fidelity-focused 30fps mode at all . The overall fidelity in balanced mode is fantastic. I can enjoy all the detail of plants and foliage, and every landscape element and urban rooftop or dwelling is a sight to behold, genuinely.

Sony s enhanced PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) tech, and the benefits of variable refresh rate (VRR) play a big part in how good it looks on PS5 Pro too, of course. The former offers excellent boosts to anti-aliasing, overall image detail and quality (at least in my eye), and things like the flickering of fire and light something again noticed by Digital Foundry . The latter, VRR, does as usual, in my experience a great job of smoothing out any potential frame rate drops to reduce tearing, too, but its not something Ive been hugely concerned about generally with Resynced .

The extended ray tracing is also excellent in this mode on PS5 Pro, with shadows being fantastic, reflections being lifelike and adding an extra mirror-like quality to views, and particles of dust or vegetation fluttering beautifully in the wind. The water is absolutely lovely too, with each splash from Edward Kenways swimming perfectly natural and evocative of how the seas would behave, and the glistening rocks and sand of every beach. Blissful at every glance. A reason to be confident (Image credit: Ubisoft) As I said above, the difference between 30 and 40fps is absolutely noticeable and tangible, and while the jump to 60 is even smoother, I concede that the fact that one can cling on to extended ray tracing and high levels of detail at 40fps is a triumph and offers a super balance. For someone who, for one
reason or another, but happily, has settled on one platform in PlayStation consoles, as ones main way to play games, and has a penchant for quality and performance, then Resynced has nailed that sweet spot.

Combine Resynced s excellence in this mode with the likes of the Horizon games, The Last of Us games, Marvels Spider-Man games and more on PS5 and PS5 Pro, and the 40fps modes are the reason Im more confident in GTA 6 if 60fps really is off the table and it does indeed end up having a balanced mode instead of a performance mode. Plus, given Rockstars track record of
squeezing all the graphical excellence it can out of even standard consoles how Rockstar made Red Dead Redemption 2 look that good on base PS4 is actual witchcraft the detail, lighting, reflections, and image quality we can
expect in Vice Citys urban and natural landscapes, as well as characters adn cars, is going to be immense.

Of course, I would prefer there were a 60fps mode for GTA 6 . Heck, Id hope for the three settings weve grown a bit used to on the PS5 Pro covering 30, 40, and 60 frames per second modes.

But if compromises have to be made due to the likely enormous demand made by GTA 6 on consoles, then this sweet, sweet 40fps mode in the middle could be the door to excellence on PS5 and PS5 Pro, given the evidence we have so far of it being the perfect middle ground for superb graphical fidelity and deliciously smooth frame rates. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your
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