By: James Yu and Sarju Shah - Posted on Wednesday, December 6, 2006.

We expected the PlayStation 3 to ship with several games that first appeared on the Xbox 360, similar to how the Xbox 360 had a lot of Xbox ports at launch. And the PS3 did indeed arrive with a good number of games that originally shipped for the Xbox 360. This gave us the perfect opportunity to compare the graphics on both systems with several cross-platform games. You'd think that the PS3 versions would be exactly the same or slightly superior to the Xbox 360 versions, since many of these games appeared on the 360 months ago, but it seems like developers didn't use the extra time to polish up the graphics for the PS3. We found that the Xbox 360 actually had better graphics in the majority of the games we compared.

Need for Speed Carbon

Both systems have fairly similar graphics in Need for Speed Carbon, but the Xbox 360 has better lighting while the PS3 has sharper textures. The 360 has better high dynamic range lighting in the Camaro image. We're not sure if the PS3 version blurs the background tree leaves on purpose, but it's another noticeable difference. The lighting in the street shot appears more realistic on the 360, but the building textures are sharper on the PS3. We also seem to be missing some lighting and a few landmarks in the rearview mirror of the PS3 version.

Mouse over the default Xbox 360 image to see the PlayStation 3 comparison shot.





18829 Comments

  • Snake3232

    Posted Nov 2, 2009 12:53 am GMT

    Wow Devs dont giv a crap about PS3 gamers, giving low quality especially Madden and Tony Hawks

  • eczklf

    Posted Oct 24, 2009 1:31 pm GMT

    orjinal grafik

  • eczklf

    Posted Oct 24, 2009 1:31 pm GMT

    cxddcd

  • penguins227 posted Oct 15, 2009 2:25 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    penguins227

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 2:25 pm GMT (hide)

    Lol, compare in something that requires good graphics, like Assassin's Creed or Battlefield: Bad Company.

  • penguins227 posted Oct 15, 2009 2:09 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    penguins227

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 2:09 pm GMT (hide)

    NFS CARBON: In the Menu, the 360 looks noticeably better, but in-game, the Ps3 seems to reign, and in my opinion, with a large margin too. Notice in the first in-game shot the reflections on the bumper of the car on the Ps3.

  • Bog101 posted Oct 12, 2009 3:21 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Bog101

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 3:21 pm GMT (hide)

    ps3 textures are bright and washed out

  • Bog101 posted Oct 12, 2009 3:20 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Bog101

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 3:20 pm GMT (hide)

    xbox has better graphics. its more crisp

  • Ryan5000M posted Oct 12, 2009 7:36 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Ryan5000M

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 7:36 am GMT (hide)

    In my oppinion i think ps3 is a better system all together, its built well and doesnt overheat, and mine now has a 500GB hard drive i picked up for $120 CDN and i love it, my brother has xbox 360 and a ps3, he says the ps3 online is better and has cool features, he also says he has to pay for xbox live wich sux, but whatever one is better now wont matter in half a year their both going to change like crazy and it will be a back and forth battle forever. so your better off just picking one that you think you would enjoy more, personally i hate xbox controllers, but i like their xbox live headsets better than ps3, ill only buy an xbox if the price is dropped on the elite, plus killzone is better than halo anyday

  • AaEd123 posted Oct 12, 2009 7:11 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    AaEd123

    Posted Oct 12, 2009 7:11 am GMT (hide)

    man they are making the xbox 360 look better but always PS3 will take Xbox 360 Down

  • sharvan001 posted Oct 10, 2009 9:06 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    sharvan001

    Posted Oct 10, 2009 9:06 am GMT (hide)

    i need some advise sure i can find my answer on the web checking the specs but you guys are experts right what do i buy the xbox 360 or ps3

  • MTMind2 posted Sep 22, 2009 3:57 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    MTMind2

    Posted Sep 22, 2009 3:57 am GMT (hide)

    yes and no, Burning_Sun. yes some devs put less effort than others, but it is a fact that the PS3 is more difficult to program than the 360, and that's the biggest factor here rather than 'lazy' devs.

  • Burning_Sun posted Sep 20, 2009 9:06 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Burning_Sun

    Posted Sep 20, 2009 9:06 pm GMT (hide)

    this is more of the developers fault then the ps3 at the time

  • dirx09 posted Sep 17, 2009 8:35 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    dirx09

    Posted Sep 17, 2009 8:35 pm GMT (hide)

    Kinda Off Topic, But The 2nd CoD3 Image, behind the Jeep in the Background, if you quickly go over the image with your mouse a lot, it looks like the guys tea Bagging someone.

  • dpc posted Sep 15, 2009 10:23 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    dpc

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 10:23 am GMT (hide)

    I like 360 Graphics better, and I have both systems. I just got a PS3 and expected a much better picture, but was taken back a little by how the 360 picture is actually better and more vibrant. I downloaded COD 5 demo, to check out using HDMI cables for both on my 34" Sony HDTV. Now I am a little dissapointed with PS3, it will become my Blu-Ray player, I am glad I got it for $200.00 and not the high prices that others have paid. I think the contollers on PS3 are cheezey compared to 360, especially for shooter games. It feels like the PS1 controller, at least I do not have to pay for online, that is good, but you also get what you pay for, and the 360 online is very, very good.

  • heas14 posted Sep 13, 2009 2:04 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    heas14

    Posted Sep 13, 2009 2:04 pm GMT (hide)

    i disagree with fight night all the lightning makes it unrealistic on the 360

  • heas14 posted Sep 13, 2009 1:43 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    heas14

    Posted Sep 13, 2009 1:43 pm GMT (hide)

    ps3 looks more realistic because its not to bright the one who made the comparison is biased towards the 360

  • SaintsPlaya posted Aug 30, 2009 12:41 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    SaintsPlaya

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 12:41 pm GMT (hide)

    Too hard for me to decide. I do not want to get involved with the war, anyways I am buying the PS3 Slim when it comes out. Best of both worlds, B's.

  • Panda6666 posted Aug 29, 2009 3:00 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Panda6666

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 3:00 pm GMT (hide)

    XBOX 360 now dont get three red riings of death i play it for non stopping 7hours for 7months

  • Panda6666 posted Aug 29, 2009 2:56 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Panda6666

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 2:56 pm GMT (hide)

    YOU will be disapionated if u bring a ps3 trust me

  • Panda6666 posted Aug 29, 2009 2:54 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Panda6666

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 2:54 pm GMT (hide)

    XBOX 360 ALL the way XBOXLIVE gold is way BETTER PS3 nnobnetwork and its only 50 buccks a yearmy cousin has a ps3 with full hd 1080p and he says playstation network has alot of problems and its slower than xbox live

  • Panda6666 posted Aug 29, 2009 2:51 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Panda6666

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 2:51 pm GMT (hide)

    playstation 3's graphics are a 3% better but the lightning in 360 is way better and all xbox 360 have hdmi except for arcade so pl aystation 3 and theres xbox 720 that is a godlike console

  • TheHippyKid posted Aug 28, 2009 8:29 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    TheHippyKid

    Posted Aug 28, 2009 8:29 pm GMT (hide)

    All fanboys shut up!!!!!! Man just enjoy your own consoles. If you guys want to get worked up about something make it sports. Also please dont thumbs down this cuz its true.

  • boba707 posted Aug 25, 2009 3:44 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    boba707

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 3:44 pm GMT (hide)

    they tested them all at 720p not 1080p that is your problem

  • boba707 posted Aug 25, 2009 3:40 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    boba707

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 3:40 pm GMT (hide)

    they tested them all at 720p not 1080p that is your problem

  • mikey1611 posted Aug 25, 2009 8:09 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    mikey1611

    Posted Aug 25, 2009 8:09 am GMT (hide)

    What I have to say has nothing to do with the graphics discussion but has came up a bit often, with my friends and also overseas to talk about gamespot. Does anyone think that gamespot is a bit biased for xbox? It seems when you click on links for game, it leads to the xbox tab unless it's an exclusive for another game. Unless somebody can explain this to me? thank you. I just have that thought, but i'm sure they're not biased. Btw, I'm a PS3 gamer (for now, only thing stopping me for x360 is that you have to pay for live) and i have to give it to x360 that it's games seem to have better graphics but would like to support somebody else's comments to test games that were originally made for the ps3. The PS3 did come out late and may have developers make games for the xbox first then modify it for the ps3.

    Also, this isn't the PS3's best performance, it will get better. We've got blu-ray and they did say that developers "still need time to maximize performance from the Cell and the RSX" no idea what that means (for now) but sounds great. Xbox360 is a console for now and made you happy now. PS3 is a console for the future and will make you happier from now till then.

  • MackenzieGS posted Aug 24, 2009 12:34 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    MackenzieGS

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 12:34 am GMT (hide)

    I thought the PS3 graphics would look better but im wrong. Just look at bottom right of the 4th picture and scroll over (it looks more pixelated on the PS3 becuase there is less anti-aliasing, etc). However i think the PS3 might have better graphics if the game is specifically designed for the PS3 (more direct processing power will result in more anti-aliasing, etc). Personally i prefer the PS3...not becuase of the graphics, just becuase the PS1 was the first real 3D gaming system and i've been hooked to it ever since. Almost everything i own is made by Sony and i've noticed that what Sony may lack in their products they make up for by improving something more essential.

  • gtracer65 posted Aug 20, 2009 5:46 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    gtracer65

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 5:46 pm GMT (hide)

    yep. 360 is worse.

  • heatfanman101 posted Aug 18, 2009 11:33 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    heatfanman101

    Posted Aug 18, 2009 11:33 pm GMT (hide)

    lol, look how many r marked as spam

  • crazyshooter93 posted Aug 15, 2009 5:29 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    crazyshooter93

    Posted Aug 15, 2009 5:29 pm GMT (hide)

    this games are old and really prove nothing about which one has better graphics why don't you compare new games like killzone 2 and gears of war 2 exclusives are the only games that prove which one has better graphics

  • TerrorToaster posted Jul 28, 2009 11:38 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    TerrorToaster

    Posted Jul 28, 2009 11:38 pm GMT (hide)

    While the PS3 can handle some details better, it glares light waaay to much. The Xbox 360 definitely wins.

  • metalgear31907 posted Jul 23, 2009 8:13 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    metalgear31907

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 8:13 am GMT (hide)

    @ fatalis92 STFU! halo is nothing more then a fun little time waster NOT a masterpiece!

  • metalgear31907 posted Jul 23, 2009 8:10 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    metalgear31907

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 8:10 am GMT (hide)

    no, this post isn't intended to start a flame war (rolls eyes)

  • coolin_PS3 posted Jul 14, 2009 2:38 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    coolin_PS3

    Posted Jul 14, 2009 2:38 pm GMT (hide)

    Uncharted 2 will blow you ago with graphics too shut up xbox shaggers. PS3 rules!

  • coolin_PS3 posted Jul 14, 2009 2:35 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    coolin_PS3

    Posted Jul 14, 2009 2:35 pm GMT (hide)

    This was before games could use the ps3's full potential. look at killzone 2 now.

  • iwantapepsi posted Jul 12, 2009 2:26 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    iwantapepsi

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 2:26 pm GMT (hide)

    360 all day

  • ROCKYKILLER1987 posted Jul 12, 2009 10:54 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    ROCKYKILLER1987

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 10:54 am GMT (hide)

    Xbox 360 better

  • HmongXiongBoy

    Posted Jul 10, 2009 6:49 pm GMT

    i like the ps3 graphics more

  • xbox360555 posted Jul 2, 2009 11:56 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    xbox360555

    Posted Jul 2, 2009 11:56 am GMT (hide)

    The 360 out matches the PS3

  • flakk88 posted Jun 24, 2009 4:43 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    flakk88

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 4:43 pm GMT (hide)

    dude they both look awesome, ps3 has some gd and bad games and xbox also

  • Jim9349 posted Jun 24, 2009 8:43 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Jim9349

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 8:43 am GMT (hide)

    PS3 PWNS ALL NOOBS!!!!
    asdfpojasldfhlaksjhdflkajsdiuuihn4rrf edsu8ijh sorry spider on keybord

  • BluePheonix11 posted Jun 24, 2009 7:47 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    BluePheonix11

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 7:47 am GMT (hide)

    360 is just darker and has slightly better textures. I think the 360 has better lighting too, IDK. The "graphics" as in how many "edges" a model has are the same. Not in terms of the Wii, since the Wii has much less "edges" and worse textures and blablabla you know. PS3 and 360 have almost the same graphics anyway. 360 wins. But I'd rather get a PS3. Has better games IMO

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Xbox 360 Versus PlayStation 3 Graphics Comparison

Forget spec comparisons. Let's advance the Xbox 360 versus PlayStation 3 graphics debate to screenshots now that the games are here.

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