Expedition 33 Quality vs Performance Mode: Which Should You Use? (PS5, Xbox, PC)

Image Credits: Sandfall Interactive

Choosing between Quality and Performance mode in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 can be tricky... especially since the differences aren’t always obvious at first glance. Let’s break it down for PS5, Xbox, and PC players.

PS5 Quality vs Performance Mode

• Quality Mode:

  • Runs at 30 FPS

  • Higher resolution

  • Better lighting and graphics effects

  • Motion blur implementation smooths things out (makes 30 FPS feel less choppy)

• Performance Mode:

  • Runs at 60 FPS

  • Lower resolution

  • Some lighting and effects reduced

  • Camera movement and fast actions feel much smoother

Most reports say that while Quality Mode looks good, Performance Mode offers a far better experience for smooth gameplay. Many say the only big difference they notice visually is lighting and shadows, not clarity or textures.

Xbox Quality vs Performance

Xbox Series X and Series S follow the same general pattern:

• Series X: Quality (30 FPS, better visuals), Performance (60 FPS, smoother gameplay)

• Series S: Often defaults to Performance-like settings to maintain frame rate

PC Quality vs Performance

On PC, things depend on your hardware.

• High-end GPUs (RTX 4080, 4090, 5080, 5090) can hit high frame rates even at Quality settings, but players still report better gameplay feel with Performance mode.

• DLSS Quality and Balanced settings are often recommended for a good balance between visuals and frame rate.

• Motion blur and sharpening settings can impact how smooth or crisp either mode looks.

Most PC players recommend lowering from "Ultra" to "High" settings. Ultra settings often kill performance with almost no visible graphics improvement.

What Most Players Are Choosing

• PS5/Xbox: Most prefer Performance mode for smooth 60 FPS play.

• PC: Performance-focused settings or DLSS Balanced. High graphics instead of Ultra.

Final Blurb

Unless you really want slightly better lighting and shadows, Performance mode is the way to go for Expedition 33... especially if you value smoother gameplay over marginal visual boosts. Even many Quality mode fans admit the difference isn’t worth the frame rate drop.

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