Which Platform Has Best Remnant 2 Performance?

Want to get your hands on one of the first Unreal Engine 5 games? Take a closer look at how Remnant II performs across PS5, Xbox & PC.


Published: August 8, 2023 10:09 AM /

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The player stares up at the Labyrinth Sentinel, a large world boss in Remnant 2.

If there's one element that defines this generation of gaming, it's performance. Players want to know that their games aren't just going to look good, they want them to perform well. Often that means 60 FPS or higher, while others are happy with a stable 30 FPS.

So I found myself asking the question: Which platform offers the best Remnant 2 performance? 

Remnant 2 Graphics Modes published by Gearbox Publishing

Remnant 2 Performance & Quality Modes Broken Down

Remnant 2 is a true current-gen game, with no PS4 or Xbox One version. It's also one of the first Unreal Engine 5 games, giving us an early glimpse of what's possible with this new tech. To satisfy the heavy demands of the graphics load, Gunfire Games added three Remnant 2 performance modes to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. 

Remnant 2 on PS5 & Xbox Series X each offer: 

  • Quality Mode – Prioritizing resolution and detail at 30 FPS
  • Balanced – Locked 60 FPS with a lower resolution 
  • Performance – Unlocked framerate with a lower resolution 

Where the Remnant 2 Balanced graphics mode offers the best stability, players with a TV equipped with variable refresh rate can get higher frame rates out of Performance. However, Performance mode doesn't lock the FPS, and players have been experiencing frame-rate drops in some of the busier areas. 

Xbox Series S, on the other hand, only offers one graphics mode: 1080P at 30 FPS. This is expected given the lower processing power of Microsoft's cheaper console, and probably fine for most players on that ecosystem. Those who prioritize the fastest, smoothest gameplay would have gone for either a PC or Xbox Series X, anyways. 

Despite its current flaws, I still feel PC is the best place to play it.

As for PC, Remnant 2 is still experiencing a number of bugs that are a bit discouraging. On Ultra Settings, I'm getting about 23 FPS, but when friends join my world for co-op the game will freeze up altogether.

Often times it will take several seconds before my Gunslinger can catch up with the rest of the world. Not ideal when fighting any of the intimidating Remnant 2 bosses. 

Remnant 2 running on Ultra Settings showing FPS

As for PC requirements, Remnant II recommends:

  • Minimum: Gefore GTX 1650 
  • Recommended: GeForce RTX 2060 

I'm running a Geforce RTX 3060 Ti, which should be more than capable handling what this game demands. Even on low graphics settings, I was averaging around 37 FPS, and using NVIDIA DLSS I was able to bump performance to 43 FPS.

This is a GPU that pretty effortlessly runs anything else on my PC at 60+ FPS at 1440P, so it's unfortunate to see how badly this game struggles.  

Sadly, Remnant 2's performance isn't currently optimized to run very well on PC, despite how great of a game it is. 

The player fights against at Sha'Hala, one of the larger bosses in Remnant 2.

Remnant 2 Has Performance Flaws That Will Hopefully Be Patched

Poor Remnant 2 performance optimization at launch is making the playing experience fairly frustrating, and in a game that requires quick reflexes and instant retaliation, it makes things far more difficult than they need to be. 

Keyboard and mouse definitely feels like the best way to play Remnant 2, and I hope sooner rather than later the game will be patched to help fix some of the more extreme stuttering I've been noticing.

Despite its current flaws, I still feel PC is the best place to play it, even if the consoles offer a more streamlined experience. 

But that has always been the tradeoff with PC gaming. On console, players generally have a decent idea of what they're getting into; it's designed to be a plug-and-play system.

PC is filled with countless variables that can affect Remnant 2's performance, making it an exciting if slightly frustrating experience. It's why last year I posed the question of if it was worth buying a gaming PC

I stand by my initial assessment that console is easier than PC and will be for the foreseeable future.

But as we start to see more graphically demanding games that require high frame rates for a competitive edge, there's no beating what PC is capable of, even if games like Remnant 2 do launch with some bugs at first. 

The gunslinger explores a field in Remnant 2.

What System Should I Buy Remnant 2 On? 

For the best Remnant 2 performance capabilities down the line, PC is the way to go. If you have a PC that can run it, it's a ton of fun that works extremely well with mouse and keyboard, even with the FPS issues I've been noticing. The game is playable, and eventually, these issues will be resolved.

So, that's where I recommend players go if they want to get the most out of this game, but that doesn't mean console isn't a fine place to pick it up, either.

The reality is this is a true current-gen game that requires the best in what modern processing power is capable of. Even on the Xbox Series S, Remnant 2's performance is admirable. 

If you haven't picked it up yet, definitely consider it. Remnant 2 sales topped over one million units in its first week, and we gave it an 8.5 in our TechRaptor Remnant 2 review. It is worth playing and will be a near-flawless game once some of the early patches are released to help smooth out some of the bugs we've been experiencing. 

Whether you pick up Remnant 2 on PS5, Xbox or PC, good luck: this game is dang hard, but extremely rewarding once you get the hang of its systems.

With a smoother performance patch, it wouldn't surprise me if Remnant 2 was a Game of the Year contender in December -- though it will have some stiff competition, like Tears of the Kingdom.

Have a tip, or want to point out something we missed? Leave a Comment or e-mail us at tips@techraptor.net


Me holding a Nintendo Switch next to a Reggie Fils-Aime poster
| Staff Writer

Dan is a Boston-based writer who has been with TechRaptor since the end of 2020. He has been working in the online writing, editing and SEO space for nearly… More about Dan

More Info About This Game
Learn more about Remnant 2
Game Page Remnant 2
Developer
Gunfire Games
Publisher
Gearbox Publishing
Release Date
July 25, 2023 (Calendar)
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