Thanks to programmer’s LinkedIn page Germain Mazac, who works for Bethesda Game Studios, we now know that Starfield appears to be getting ray tracing (RTX) support. On the aforementioned page you can read that Mazac, as part of his work, is working on ‘RTX integration’. Since Bethesda itself has not yet mentioned Starfield and ray tracing, Mazac seems to be talking about this.
Of course we don’t know if this only concerns the PC version of the game or if the support for ray tracing will also come to the console versions. In any case, it is a remarkable choice given the outdated state of the engine, which often seems to hang together with duct tape and also failed to make an impression in Starfield’s reveal trailer. In any case, we will find out more in the first half of 2023.
Microsoft recently confirmed that Halo Infinite, the flagship game of the Xbox Series X, will support 120fps gameplay in multiplayer mode. This led us to question what other games have 120Hz support confirmed on compatible 4K TVs and screens.
So we did some research and this article is the result: an exhaustive and detailed list of all the games for PS5 and Xbox Series X that go beyond the historic 60fps refresh limit of the consoles. In addition to the list of titles with such support, we have also included the connection technology of 4K 120Hz TVs (HDMI 2.1) and also the best 4K TVs for next-gen gaming.
While many users will be playing next-gen consoles on TV, we’ve also covered the other option, which is high-refresh PC monitors. These have in fact been available on the market for several years, so we have compiled a list of recommended models that support at least 120Hz or more at different resolutions. We have in fact included monitors with native resolution 1080p and 1440p, and also the very first models equipped with an HDMI 2.1 interface, necessary for 4K at 120Hz.
In addition to the games and screen recommendations, we’ve also included a short guide to gaming at a120fps. Scroll the page or go directly to the section that interests you most using the navigation guide below:
Before we begin, let’s ask ourselves a simple question:
Why is 120fps better than 60fps?
Answer: The higher the frame-rate, the lower your input lag and the higher the temporal resolution.
These two side effects make the gameplay of frenetic games such as shooter or racing easier, being able to react more readily to the appearance of an enemy or to perceive in advance the approach of a sharp bend. You can see all of this demonstrated in our “Over 60fps” video.
High-refresh monitors had a big impact on PC gaming when they were introduced years ago, and we expect a similar effect on consoles now that 120fps is on the plate.
Obviously there is a trade-off between high frame-rates and graphics fidelity. For games where fast-paced sections are rare, or where developers want to emphasize the visuals of their worlds through higher resolution or enhanced effects, sticking to a more traditional 30fps or 60fps may make more sense.
Which PS5 and Xbox Series X games support 120fps?
At the moment, we know that there are eight games on PS5 or Series X that support 120fps, and the spread is nowhere near even.
While the PS5 has an innovative design in many ways, we’ve heard very little about which games will support 120fps. The PS5 slate currently only contains a handful of titles, but it is sure to grow over time.
The full list of 120fps PS5 titles
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition
Dirt 5
Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom
Rainbow Six Siege
Now let’s take a look at the other side of the coin with the Xbox Series X. Given that Microsoft balances the situation with PC gaming on Windows, perhaps it’s not surprising to see more games with 120fps support on consoles. Here is the list of games confirmed so far.
The complete list of Xbox Series X games at 120fps
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition
Dirt 5
ExoMecha
Gears 5
Halo Infinite (multiplayer)
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Metal: Hellsinger
Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Orphan of the Machine
Rainbow Six Siege
Second Extinction
The Falconeer
Backward compatibility can send some titles at 120fps as well: the Series X doubles the original 60fps refresh, sending it to 120fps.
However, we still have no confirmation of any visual compromises in 120fps gameplay.
Best TVs and monitors for gaming at 120fps, recommended by Digital Foundry
If you like fast-paced titles like first person shooter or racing, we recommend a TV that supports high refresh rates with the new consoles, as long as your budget allows it. Here are our recommended models for each category, including LG’s gorgeous OLEDs and competing alternatives from Samsung and Sony. Each model chosen offers 120fps at 4K, variable refresh rate and low input lag, making them perfect models for gaming. By clicking on each model you will access our detailed article The best TVs for 4K gaming with HDR.
The best 4K and 120Hz TVs for PS5 and Xbox Series X
LG CX OLED (via HDMI 2.1)
Samsung Q80T QLED (via HDMI 2.1)
Sony XH9005 / X900H (via HDMI 2.1, which will arrive via software update)
LG NanoCell 85
Note: The 49-inch Q80T has a 60Hz panel instead of the 120Hz one used in the larger variants. And it also lacks support for variable refreshes, as well as having worse viewing angles, so we recommend getting the 55-inch variants.
Gaming monitors are also a great choice for PS5 or Series X, but be warned that at the time of this writing, no models support HDMI 2.1 input. Of course, this doesn’t stop you from enjoying 120Hz at resolutions below 4K, such as 1440p or 1080p, as the HDMI 2.0 standard supports 120Hz for these resolutions. To reach 144Hz at 1440p you’ll need to turn off adaptive V-Sync. This is an option to consider because these monitors are significantly cheaper than the 4K and 120Hz alternatives. The first monitor announced with HDMI 2.1 support is the Eve Spectrum, linked below, but we expect more compatible models to arrive later this year.
Best 120Hz gaming monitors for PS5 and Xbox Series X
AOC 24G2U (1080p 120Hz via HDMI 1.4)
BenQ EX2780Q (1440p 120Hz via HDMI 2.0)
LG 27GL850 (1440p 120Hz via HDMI 2.0 w / VRR disabled)
Eve Spectrum (4K 120Hz via HDMI 2.1)
Digital Foundry’s guide to 120fps next-gen gaming
What is HDMI 2.1?
Long story short, HDMI 2.1 is the new standard that increases the amount of data that can be carried over an HDMI cable. While the ports may always look the same, increased bandwidth requires new cables, new source devices (consoles and next-gen graphics cards), and new output devices (TVs and monitors). If the whole chain is upgraded to HDMI 2.1 support, then you will get several features.
The most important feature for us is to send more frames per second at a given resolution. On the previous HDMI 2.0 standard it was possible to send a maximum image 60 times per second. On HDMI this amount doubles, becoming 120 frames per second for 4K.
Other features include an automatic low latency mode that basically allows the TV to disable certain processes to lower input lag, and support for variable refreshes, which eliminate screen tearing and judder artifacts without adding side effect of the increased input lag of v-sync. Other features also include HDMI VRR (included with the HDMI 2.1 standard), FreeSync (for AMD graphics cards) and G-Sync (for Nvidia graphics cards).
What is the difference between 120Hz and 120fps?
The Hertz (Hz) indicate the number of times a screen refreshes in one second. The maximum refresh rate is an intrinsic part of every model of TV or monitor; most screens stop at 60Hz but some go as low as 120Hz. Gaming monitors are notoriously available at refresh rates above 60Hz, some models even go up to 360Hz, with the most common supporting 144Hz or 240Hz.
THE Frames per second (fps) (fps) indicate the number of images generated by the console or PC in one second. This can be locked to some degree, normally to keep new frames constantly updated, or unlocked to allow for higher frame-rates in less demanding games to render.
Halo is for everyone. We can confirm #HaloInfinite multiplayer will be free-to-play and will support 120FPS on Xbox Series X. More details will be shared later! pic.twitter.com/9bIrppFiON
– Halo (@Halo) July 31, 2020
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Ideally, these two parameters should be similar most of the time to take advantage of the low input lag and improved temporal resolution mentioned earlier. For example, if your screen is at 120Hz and your console is delivering 120 frames per second, then you will make the most of your setup.
If your console only delivers 60fps, then you won’t have an advantage in using a 120Hz screen over a 60Hz one. Conversely, if your console generates a fixed 120fps but is connected to a 60Hz screen, you will get a boost in responsiveness. * but not comparable to the 120fps and 120Hz pairing.
If you like fast-paced games, it makes sense to have a 120Hz screen. Even though the console produces a frame-rate between 60 and 120fps, you’ll get a more and more responsive image on a 120Hz screen versus a 60Hz one.
We’re still a few weeks away from the launch of the consoles, so we’re still not sure how the games will run, if the frame-rate will be completely fixed at 120fps or if there will be dips here and there. But considering the powerful processors mounted on the fixed 120fps consoles they are sustainable, and we’re thrilled to see the new machines in action.
What about the Xbox Series S?
In theory, the Xbox Series S should run games at 120fps like the Xbox Series X but at a lower resolution. Little is known, but Ubisoft has outlined the performance of some of its games for each next-gen console. We hope to know more as the launch approaches.
