A player compared the server performance of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 on the PS4 after the recent update with the beta. And it seems that the servers are now worse than during the testing phase.
Recently, user Smcro presented his test results on server performance on Reddit. And they are quite explosive. Apparently, the tick rate of the multiplayer servers of Black Ops 4 has been reduced compared to the beta – at least on the PS4. Many fans are now outraged.
PS4 servers of Black Ops 4 now have lower send rate
What happened? During the multiplayer beta, tests showed that the servers of Black Ops 4 ran with a send rate of 60Hz. However, according to Smcro’s recent investigations, the send rate of the multiplayer servers on the PS4 is now at 20 Hz after the last update 1.03. In Blackout, these values on average vary between 20Hz and 40Hz.
By the way: Even though Smcro’s results only relate to the PS4 servers, the tick rate has apparently also been reduced to 20Hz on the Xbox One and PC.
What does this mean for players? The send rate is the rate at which a server sends updates to the clients – in this case, to the PS4, Xbox One, or PC.
Simply explained: Instead of receiving new information from the server at every frame (assuming the game runs at 60 FPS), the new information for the clients is now provided every third frame. At 20Hz, 50ms elapse between each sent update, while at 60Hz it is approximately 16.7ms.
In short: Since there is now, on average, three times as much time between the updates sent by the server, there are now more inconsistencies. Bullets in shooters fly quickly, and such a delay is often noticeable – among other things, in hit feedback.
That’s why many players are now outraged
This post by Smcro has already gathered over 5,800 upvotes on Reddit and has been commented on more than 700 times. In the comments, many players express their displeasure.
Deceived by the beta: For many, the strong performance of the beta was an important selling point for the final product. Many players emphasize that during the beta, nearly every kill and death felt justifiable and comprehensible in terms of hit feedback. That has changed – now we finally know why.
There are even early voices suggesting misleading advertising or even fraud given the stark performance difference between the beta and the current version of Black Ops 4. Especially in light of the sales records of Black Ops 4, these alleged cost-saving measures concerning the servers are bitter for the fans.
20Hz no longer up to date in shooters: Moreover, players criticize that a tick rate of 20Hz is absolutely unacceptable for a modern shooter. 60Hz is already standard and also the absolute minimum.
For example, CS:GO already has numerous servers with a send rate of 120Hz – especially in the competitive area. The difference between 60Hz and 120Hz is only 7ms, yet even this difference is noticeable at this level. The nearly 34ms between 20Hz and 60Hz is something one does not even want to talk about.
This is what the developers say: So far, Treyarch has not directly commented on this acute case. However, at EGX 2018 in Berlin, Studio Design Director David Vonderhaar already addressed this issue – specifically regarding the battle royale mode Blackout.
When he was asked about the tick rate in Blackout for the release version of Black Ops 4, Vonderhaar stated that the tick rate there would be 20. 60 is a number, but if you send 60 ticks with nothing, it has no effect – even if people like higher numbers.
The rate would be 20 because that encompasses the entire world in Blackout. That distinguishes the network model of Black Ops 4 from other games. It doesn’t matter what number is there when what is sent is not relevant. The status of the entire world of Blackout is sent with 20. Everyone receives the same information.
At 8:20 you can watch Vonderhaar’s statement in this video:
Watch EGX 2018 in Berlin #EGMAX by MONSTERSANDEXPLOSIONS on www.twitch.tv
By the way – now the developers have also officially responded: Black Ops 4: This is what the developers say about the server downgrade
