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For the smoothest combat, choose Performance mode on PS5 Pro or, on PC, begin with the recommended preset, a platform-appropriate upscaler set to Balanced, and a frame-rate cap. Choose Balanced on PS5 Pro if you have a 120Hz VRR display and prefer its higher-resolution 40 FPS target; use Quality for a 30 FPS visual showcase. On PC, add frame generation or ray tracing only after the underlying frame rate is steady.
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Platforms | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | Responsive combat | Upscaled 2K, 60 FPS | PS5 Pro | Nov 2026 |
| Balanced | Higher resolution with a 120Hz VRR display | Upscaled 4K, 40 FPS | PS5 Pro | Nov 2026 |
| Quality | Image detail and screenshots | Native 4K, 30 FPS | PS5 Pro | Nov 2026 |
| PC starter profile | A steady, adjustable baseline | Recommended preset, Balanced upscaling, capped frame rate | PC | Nov 2026 |
Which PS5 Pro graphics mode should I choose?
Pick Performance if smooth response during combat is your priority, Balanced if you have a 120Hz VRR display and want a higher-resolution compromise, and Quality if image fidelity matters more than frame rate. The mode targets and display recommendation below come from a published comparison by a game guide, not a universal performance guarantee; patches or display configurations may affect results.
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| Mode | Reported image target | Reported frame-rate target | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | Upscaled 2K | 60 FPS | Fast combat and responsive camera movement |
| Balanced | Upscaled 4K | 40 FPS | A higher-resolution compromise on PS5 Pro |
| Quality | Native 4K | 30 FPS | Visual showcase, exploration, or screenshots |
When is Performance the better choice?
Use Performance as the default if you value more fluid motion and quicker-feeling camera control. Its cited target is 60 FPS at upscaled 2K, compared with 40 FPS in Balanced and 30 FPS in Quality. In a fast-action game, the lower frame-rate target can make motion feel less immediate even when the image is sharper, so a resolution trade-off may be worthwhile.
Performance does not mean native 2K rendering: the cited comparison describes the output as upscaled 2K. Treat the mode’s resolution and frame-rate figures as reported targets for that comparison rather than a promise that every scene will remain at precisely the same rate.
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Does Balanced mode need a special display?
The cited guide recommends a 120Hz display with VRR for Balanced mode, which targets upscaled 4K at 40 FPS. It also says Balanced is unavailable on non-Pro PS5 hardware. If your screen does not support the recommended refresh and variable-refresh features, Performance is the simpler choice for smoother motion; do not assume a standard PS5 can select the Pro-only option.
A compatible 120Hz VRR TV or monitor is a display requirement to consider, not an automatic upgrade to the game’s frame rate. The published figures distinguish the modes by their targets; they do not establish that buying a new screen will raise the console’s rendering performance by itself.
When should I use Quality?
Quality is the visual-showcase option: the comparison reports native 4K at 30 FPS. Choose it for screenshots, slower exploration, or a preference for the sharpest cited image target over fluidity. It is not the recommended starting point for someone whose leading concern is responsive combat.
Should I enable ray tracing on PS5 Pro?
Think of the ray-tracing option as an image-quality toggle, not as a performance feature. The cited guide reports no observed performance change in its comparison, but that is one reviewer’s observation rather than a universal benchmark. Choose based on the image you prefer, and re-evaluate after a game update if the behavior changes.
What PC graphics settings should I change first?
Start with the game’s recommended graphics preset, then choose a compatible upscaler, cap the frame rate, and reduce distracting image effects. Keep frame generation and ray tracing out of the initial performance profile until the base frame rate is stable.
- Apply the recommended preset. Use the game’s recommended graphics preset as a coherent baseline before changing individual options. This gives you a known starting configuration instead of stacking several unmeasured changes at once.
- Select an upscaler for your GPU. On NVIDIA hardware, start with DLSS. On AMD or Intel hardware, start with FSR or XeSS, respectively. Set the selected upscaler to Balanced first; only try another mode if you have a clear reason, such as a preference for more performance or a sharper image.
- Set a frame-rate cap. Use the display refresh rate or 60 FPS as the cap for steadier pacing. A cap is a consistency choice: an uncapped frame rate is not automatically better if delivery varies substantially from moment to moment.
- Reduce visual distractions. Lower motion blur and film grain for a cleaner view during combat. Camera shake is a comfort preference, so adjust it to suit you rather than treating the default as mandatory.
- Leave NVIDIA Reflex on automatic. The in-game description reproduced by AllThingsHow says automatic mode turns Reflex on whenever DLSS Frame Generation or V-Sync is enabled. Automatic is the documented starting point; the guide does not establish a need to override it for every PC.
- Keep Frame Generation off initially. First establish a steady base frame rate. Frame generation inserts generated frames; it does not make a weak or inconsistent base rate equivalent to a strong, stable one.
- Keep Ray Tracing Quality off for a performance-first profile. If the setting is greyed out during play, the cited guide says to change it from the title screen and restart. Do not mistake an unavailable in-game control for a setting that is already enabled or disabled as intended.
- Make manual changes in priority order. If the baseline still needs adjustment, reduce shadows, reflections, and view distance before sacrificing material or character texture quality. Leave High-Quality Hair off for gameplay-focused tuning; the guide says it affects cinematics rather than gameplay.
Why start with Balanced upscaling?
Balanced is the recommended starting point in the cited PC guide because it avoids immediately choosing either a more performance-oriented mode or DLAA. The best option depends on the GPU, output resolution, and desired image quality, so this is a baseline rather than a guarantee of ideal results on every system. Change one setting at a time and compare the effect in the same kind of scene; otherwise, it is difficult to know which adjustment helped.
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When is frame generation worth trying?
Try it only after gameplay has a steady base frame rate. Generated frames can increase the displayed frame count, but they do not replace the underlying frames that the system must render, and the guide warns against using the feature to compensate for an unstable base. DLSS Frame Generation also requires compatible RTX hardware and a recent driver; the cited guide says V-Sync must be off for this feature.
Because frame generation and V-Sync affect latency and frame delivery, assess the result by how consistent and responsive the game feels, not only by a displayed FPS counter. Keep the original stable configuration available so you can switch back if the generated output feels worse for your setup.
What if ray tracing is unavailable during play?
The PC guide reports that Ray Tracing Quality may be greyed out while playing. Return to the title screen to change it, then restart as instructed. The same guide recommends leaving it off for a performance-first setup; enabling it is an image-quality decision to revisit only after the baseline runs steadily.
What controller settings should I use?
Begin with horizontal and vertical camera sensitivity at 50, the documented defaults on a 1–100 scale, and adjust in small increments. Keep axis inversion off unless inverted controls are already familiar, then choose vibration and movement vibration according to comfort.
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Set both horizontal and vertical sensitivity to 50 first. If the camera feels too slow to track action, raise one axis by a small amount; if it overshoots or feels difficult to control, lower it. Adjust horizontal and vertical sensitivity separately if only one direction needs correction. Since the controls use a 1–100 range, there is no evidence-based “pro” number that will suit every player.
Make a change, play long enough to judge ordinary camera movement, and then decide whether to keep it. Large jumps can make it hard to tell whether the problem is sensitivity or simply unfamiliarity with the new response.
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Should I invert the camera?
Leave X- and Y-axis inversion off if you do not already use inverted controls. If you have an established preference, enable the matching axis rather than assuming both directions need to be inverted. The documented options provide a way to match familiar camera behavior, not a universally superior control scheme.
What should I do with vibration?
Keep controller vibration and movement vibration enabled if you want tactile feedback, and disable either option if it is uncomfortable or you want to conserve controller battery. On PS5, PlayStation’s official product page confirms support for DualSense vibration and trigger effects. That confirms controller-feature support, not a frame-rate or graphics improvement.
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A current review reports three controller presets but no individual button remapping. The documented sensitivity and inversion options can tune camera behavior, but they are not substitutes for assigning a specific action to a different button. If an existing preset does not fit your needs, do not assume that every control can be rebound individually.
For broader comfort, the official PlayStation product information and the current review identify adjustable difficulty, subtitles, camera shake, motion blur, control reminders, tutorial reminders, pause support, and manual saving. These options address different needs: subtitles aid access to dialogue, reminders can reduce the need to remember controls, and camera shake or blur can be adjusted to personal comfort.
Will my PC meet the published requirements?
Check both the GPU and storage requirements before tuning graphics. S-Game’s published 2026 PC requirements list 16 GB RAM, an SSD, 145 GB installed storage, and at least 300 GB free for preload processing; its minimum and recommended GPU tiers correspond to different stated resolution and frame-rate targets.
| Requirement tier | GPU listed by S-Game | Published target | Other requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | GTX 1660 6 GB or RX 5500 XT 8 GB | 1080p at 30 FPS with upscaling | 16 GB RAM; SSD; 145 GB installed size; at least 300 GB free for preload processing |
| Recommended | RTX 3060 Ti 8 GB or RX 6700 XT 12 GB | 1440p at 60 FPS with upscaling | 16 GB RAM; SSD; 145 GB installed size; at least 300 GB free for preload processing |
These are S-Game’s published targets, not independent benchmark results for every graphics preset. The minimum target is 1080p at 30 FPS with upscaling; the recommended target is 1440p at 60 FPS with upscaling. Settings adjustments can change image quality and performance, but the published requirements do not support promising that settings alone can make hardware below the minimum deliver the recommended target.
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Why does the game need more free space for preload than its installed size?
S-Game lists a 145 GB installed size and at least 300 GB of free space for preload processing. Those figures describe different storage needs: the installed size is not the same as the amount of free space called for during preload processing. Check the available space on the relevant drive before starting that process rather than using the installed-size number as the sole threshold.
What else should I check before launch?
The published requirements say an SSD is required and recommend updating graphics drivers before launch. A graphics preset cannot compensate for missing required storage or make an unsupported system meet a published target. If performance is poor, first confirm the game is installed on an SSD and the graphics driver is current before spending time on individual visual options.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How should I troubleshoot an unstable frame rate?
Separate base performance problems from display and post-processing choices. Begin with the recommended preset and a stable cap, then reduce demanding settings in a controlled order; do not add frame generation as the first response to inconsistent rendering.
- Frame rate varies from scene to scene: keep frame generation off and use the frame-rate cap. If further adjustment is needed, lower shadows, reflections, and view distance first.
- The picture looks too soft: verify that the selected upscaler matches the GPU vendor, then compare the Balanced starting point with another available mode. The guide does not provide GPU-specific image-quality results that would make one upscaler setting universally best.
- Combat is visually busy: reduce motion blur and film grain; set camera shake to a comfortable level. These adjustments address visual clarity and comfort rather than serving as guaranteed performance fixes.
- A graphics control is disabled: for Ray Tracing Quality, return to the title screen, change the setting there, and restart.
- The game still misses its target: compare the hardware to S-Game’s published minimum and recommended requirements, check the driver and SSD, and remember that the stated targets include upscaling.
There is no independent GPU-by-GPU benchmark dataset in the cited material to support universal FPS predictions beyond S-Game’s minimum and recommended targets. Performance can change with patches and graphics-driver updates, so treat the listed figures as published targets rather than a guarantee for every PC or scene.
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Adjust controls and visual effects to reduce friction without assuming that a single configuration suits everyone. Sensitivity, inversion, vibration, camera shake, blur, subtitles, reminders, pause support, saving, and difficulty address distinct preferences.
- Camera control: tune horizontal and vertical sensitivity separately from the default of 50 if the camera is difficult to manage.
- Motion comfort: reduce camera shake or motion blur if either makes combat harder to follow or uncomfortable.
- Feedback: retain vibration and movement vibration if tactile cues help; disable them if they distract or are uncomfortable.
- On-screen support: enable subtitles and use control or tutorial reminders if they make dialogue or mechanics easier to follow.
- Difficulty and pacing: use the available adjustable difficulty, pause support, and manual saving to fit the experience to your preferred pace.
PlayStation describes the premise as playing Soul, “a swordsman with a wounded heart and only sixty-six days left to live.” That establishes the game’s character premise, not a control or performance requirement. The relevant settings choice remains the one that makes combat and exploration comfortable for you.
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What is the best overall setup?
On PS5 Pro, choose Performance for the cited 60 FPS target, Balanced when you have a 120Hz VRR display and prefer the cited upscaled 4K, 40 FPS compromise, or Quality for native 4K at 30 FPS. On PC, establish a stable base with the recommended preset, the appropriate upscaler at Balanced, a frame-rate cap, and reduced motion blur or film grain if desired. Tune the controller from its documented defaults, and treat added visual features as optional rather than assuming they improve responsiveness.
These recommendations reflect the published mode comparison, game guide, review, official PlayStation product information, and S-Game’s 2026 PC requirements. They do not constitute an independent benchmark, and a patch may change settings behavior or performance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a DualSense controller with Phantom Blade Zero on PS5?
Yes. PlayStation’s official product information confirms DualSense vibration and trigger-effect support for the PS5 version. Those features provide controller feedback; they do not change the console’s graphics mode or frame-rate target.
Does Balanced mode work on the regular PS5?
The cited mode guide says Balanced is unavailable on non-Pro PS5 hardware. Its 40 FPS, upscaled 4K target is presented for PS5 Pro.
Why does the PC preload need 300 GB free if the game is 145 GB?
S-Game lists 145 GB as the installed size but calls for at least 300 GB free for preload processing. The free-space figure applies to that process, not just the final installed footprint.
Is there a universal best sensitivity number for Phantom Blade Zero?
No universal best value is established. The documented defaults are 50 for both camera axes on a 1–100 scale, so use them as a starting point and adjust to your own control preference.
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