Xboxaddict.com Article
Biomutant - A Free Next-Gen Update
by Adam Dileva
Biomutant was an interesting game when it released early last year. Developed by quite a small team at Experiment 101, you would have never guessed it given the sheer size and aesthetic of Biomutant’s world. When I reviewed it at launch I truly really enjoyed my time with it, so much so that I actually bought the big Atomic collector edition afterwards on my own. I still stand by my high score even though many were disappointed with it, and I was more than excited to hear that Biomutant was finally going to get a massive update for Xbox Series X|S, as it was only running the Xbox One version at launch, so naturally it wasn’t reaching its full potential.
For those that haven’t played Biomutant before or forgot about it, there’s no better time to check it out now that there’s a native Xbox Series X|S version, a free update for those that have already purchased it. Biomutant has a very unique world and aesthetic to it, and now that it simply performs smoother, loads quicker, has native HDR and looks better than ever, I couldn’t be happier.
Pollution is causing the Tree-of-Life to become sick and withered, which in turn is causing the world to deteriorate. This massive tree reaches the four corners of the world, but are now bleeding due to World Eaters, massive creatures, attempting to destroy it. With a mostly open world, it’s now up to you to save the ever important Tree-of-Life to prevent a catastrophe. All of this is beautifully narrated by David Shaw Parker; a calm and soothing voice, describing the world around you and translating the Sims-like language gibberish everyone speaks.
Next-Gen Upgrade
If you were like me and played Biomutant for many hours previously, you’ll be happy to know that the upgrade is seamless and automatic if you’re playing on an Xbox Series X or S. The upgrade is for FREE and your previous game saves will work, as well as all your earned achievements. With some game publishers requiring a repurchase or buying an ‘upgrade’ from last to next-gen consoles, kudos to THQ Nordic for the free update, as I probably wouldn’t have bothered otherwise.
While I did play Biomutant on my Xbox Series X at launch, because it wasn’t a native Series X|S version, it didn’t always perform as well as it was meant to, nor did we have any Quality or Performance options that many games offer now. That is, until now. Now because of this Next-Gen update, Biomutant now has much quicker loading times, HDR support, Native 4K resolution, and much better framerates. While not specifically listed, I do swear that the lighting and fur seems much better also, but it’s also been over a year since I’ve played, so maybe it’s just my memory playing tricks on me. Overall it simply feels 'prettier', and I've been hooked on the photo mode since this update.
On an Xbox Series X or S, you now have three different graphical options to choose from, and they will slightly differ based on the Series console you have. You can choose from Quality, Quality Unleashed or Performance. I’ve tried them all, but I certainly found Performance mode to be my preference given the quick paced combat, though Quality mode sure does look gorgeous when exploring the world.
Technical Details for Xbox Series X:
- Quality Mode: 4K resolution @ 30 FPS
- Quality Unleashed: 4K @ as many FPS as possible (usually 40-50ish)
- Performance: 1440p (2K) @ 60 FPS
Technical Details for Xbox Series S:
- Quality Mode: 1440p (2K) @ 30 FPS
- Quality Unleashed: 1440p (2K) @ up to 60 FPS
- Performance: 1080p @ 60 FPS
Would I have loved a 4K @ 120 FPS mode since I have a TV that supports it, of course, but I also need to keep in mind that it’s also from a small development studio, and it’s impressive what they’ve done for a free next-gen update. Quality mode sure looks great, but I simply can't choose 30 FPS over 60.
Thank You Experiment 101
An obviously much prettier and smoother experience now with the Next-Gen update, jumping back into Biomutant reminded me how much I truly enjoyed it the first time, and this tempts me to come back and work further on my NewGame+ game save. Leaps and bounds over the Xbox One version, Biomutant now looks and performs better than ever, likely closer to their original vision, and it sure looks gorgeous.
**Biomutant was provided by the publisher and played on an Xbox Series X**
