Following crippling lag problems encountered by numerous players with large save games, Bethesda released a PS3 Skyrim patch on Monday in part designed to improve the "occasional performance issues resulting from long term play".
However, it wasn't long before his game started to resemble a Nordic slideshow once more, and he now says he'd again struggle to recommend the PS3 version of the RPG stunner in its current state.
"Initially, I was startled by how buttery smooth the framerate seemed having installed the patch," Tim wrote. "It even held up fine when going into problem areas crowded with NPCs, such as Whiterun, or engaging in large scale scraps with multiple enemies out in the wild. I was a happy Sabre Cat.
"However, extended play later last night - and we're talking a three hour session - saw the choppiness creep back in, until eventually it became unplayable again."
While the lag issue doesn't affect all players - older machines with rammed HDDs seem particularly susceptible - and the patch may have cleared it up for some, Tim's girlfriend and colleague also ran into game breaking problems after installing the 92mb PS3 Band-Aid. Have you downloaded it and has it made a major difference to your game?
The patch also appears to have negatively impacted the game for some players in other ways, including more frequent game crashes.
You'll need a Skyrim guide at some point - bookmark it.
Comments
25 comments so far...
flowerday11 on 30 Nov '11 said:
Being an xbox owner has never felt more rewarding, not had any issues at all. 70hours in and still hooked like a crack addict
Eternal Darkness on 30 Nov '11 said:
Lag isn't an issue now for me. Instead it's the constant freezing. I have to turn off then when I turn back on it says my HDD may be corrupt. Luckily so far it hasn't been....
Metagen on 30 Nov '11 said:
Is anyone having issues with lag that IS using the cloud saving feature on PS3
DAEDALUS79 on 30 Nov '11 said:
Unfortunately ive got to agree with the article, downloaded the patch last night, played for maybe 2 hours and the lag was unbearable. Restarted and after a few hours it was starting to go again, makes me wonder what the hell the patch actually did.
Flamestrike on 30 Nov '11 said:
Works fine and runs better than before. Even the minimal lag I would sometimes experience in start up has disappeared.
Once again, I've a 40g ps3 with hardly any space left, (about 6500kb), which completely flies in the face of CVGs claims about older machines being particularly susceptible.
Feel sorry for those still having issues.
However, the Xbox fanboys at CVG appear to be relishing all this a bit much.
starvinbull on 30 Nov '11 said:
Let them have their fun, it'd be the same with PS3 fanboys if the situation were reversed.
landon08 on 30 Nov '11 said:
I still have lag. The patch didn't fix a thing for me and I have a newer ps3.
Sangor on 30 Nov '11 said:
Well I have a original 60gig machine that's had a 250gb hard drive fitted and post patch the lag is just as bad, a few people at work have older machines with the original 40/60gb hd's and its more or less the same for them.
only_777 on 30 Nov '11 said:
I'm now 50 hours in and I have not had a single problem with my PS3 version.
The problem is only with certain set-ups, and my set-up is as follows:
PS3 Slim
Hybrid 7200rpm HDD
Cloud Save
StokedUp on 30 Nov '11 said:
Said it many times before and I'll say it again, Ive never had this crippling lag problem, I downloaded the patch and it made no difference simply because there was nothin to fix. My save file is now 10MB.
Can't understand why it would not happen to my old launch day PS3 bu it isn't.
smokey310 on 30 Nov '11 said:
still getting lag, as well as noticing some new bugs and glitches....most notable of which was during a new character, i ran ahead of the stormcloaks in the very beginning when alduin attacks and breaks through the tower wall, before you jump into the inn, but alduin could not break through that wall, and i could not continue....i tried again without running ahead and it worked fine, but it always worked fine when i ran ahead before the patch
Flamestrike on 30 Nov '11 said:
I was actually talking about CVG staff, not forum users.
Sammy_bham on 30 Nov '11 said:
no lag, no slow down, no crashes, no backwards flying dragons, no glitches,
nothing
nadda.
all working 100% as it did before the patch.
must be certain "discs" lol. only thing i can think of lol.
anyway...
back to skyrim.
only_777 on 30 Nov '11 said:
It's certain combinations of PS3 model, HDD type/speed and free space.
only_777 on 30 Nov '11 said:
Apart from the poorer graphics? Nice, I wish I had the worst version....
Lady Gagagged on 30 Nov '11 said:
Surely the one that works for the majority is the best version? This and BF3 show there is a fundamental problem with the PS3.
Terranova1 on 1 Dec '11 said:
It's more or less the same for me, i have had it lock up a couple of times during loading screens before the patch but since then it hasn't done it, and i have had no lag at all before or after the patch and i played the game for 4-5 hrs at a time, maybe it is the older PS3 models that have the issue i have a slim , i dunno.
faeorain on 1 Dec '11 said:
I play it on the Xbox and was having no problems at all until the update yesterday. Now it lags to the point where I cannot play the game at all. I can barely move my character around, the lag is just really that bad. I don't get it. If there were not any significant problems for the Xbox version, then why the hell make a " patch " for it. This patch has broken my game
only_777 on 2 Dec '11 said:
Well mine version does work and I've had no problems at all. I'm 60 hours in and have not had one problem. Maybe because I have the same quality set up as the dev machines, 1st Gen Slim with Hybrid HDD.
So I have the console version that works and looks better. And it's not a problem with the PS3 is it! Surely I don't have to point at PS3 exclusives to make that point.
procion on 7 Dec '11 said:
I posted a poll and with it a thread before Skyrim came out asking if people were worried that Skyrim would freezeup and crash due to Bethesda's shoddy engine in the Fallouts 3 and New Vegas in the official Bethesda Skyrim forum. I was IMMEDIATELY publically named, by a Bethesda MOD, as a flamer and a troll for daring to snub the mighty Bethesda in their hallowed halls that is the OFFICIAL Skyrim forum. And of course the predominantly U.S. pitchfork and torch baring red-knecked Nords all came in their tens to break the now muted demander of the truths (moi) now tramelled in the Bethesda village stocks with any verbal names they could fling such as TROLL and surprisingly FLAMER. So this Mod effectivly became the Flamer and Troll he was accusing me of being, having incited his terrorist in every cave seeking minions to protect Skyrim only for the Skyrimming and loving it Nords. I have had no apology from Bethesda to my subsequent complaint (tho I did PRIVATELY-message this creature mod calling him a complete and utter Cad amongst other testy and choice-fitting nomenclature that he fit oh-so-well).
But what is more important than my bruised and Abu Graibed ego is the actual issue at hand... Here we have ANOTHER Bethesda game that plays like a ride on a camel at an intersection with many many other camels all waiting their turn to stop and start their way thru the many intersections of cross-roaded camels all awaiting and wending their weary humped ways thru the sphinctered sphinxed gameplay that makes up Skyrim. And yet again the pattern is set for a THIRD Bethesda game that frustratingly doesn't play itself at times, and then does, and then doesn't.
Funny how the 360 version seems to be sailing thru sans problemes. Does this have some thing to do with Bethesda having Micro$it's hand wedged firmly up it's derriere? No, of course not, and a caveman orchestrated 9-11 and there was a really big "earth""quake" at Fukushima too. But everything is safe now... Afterall Skyrim has been patched hasn't it?
only_777 on 7 Dec '11 said:
No you said things that upset people so that makes you a troll and a flamer. I love the PS3 and it's the best console in the market place, I said that it was great that the PS3 was hacked and the PSN brought to it's knees for Sony violation of consumer rights and I was a troll too.
*Troll fist*
fishoil2011 on 29 Dec '11 said:
I've always been a PS3 fan, until now. I can't play Skyrim for a few minutes and it freezes up!! The "patch" didn't do a thing! I'm gonna go buy a X-Box so i can play!
only_777 on 1 Jan '12 said:
Thanks for joining to tell us all that, however instead of downgrading, why not just upgrade to the PC version? If you are going to by a 360 for one game, just spend the money on a good GFX PCI card and get the game on PC?
Mmmmgrolsch on 1 Jan '12 said:
How is he downgrading? As a games console its not a downgrade.
only_777 on 1 Jan '12 said:
If it's to play just one game it's not worth it. It's better on the PC. But my comment was aimed at the 360 version of Skyrim not being as good as the PS3 version. And no I haven't had any problems with my PS3 version so it's better!
I'm going to have to post the video ain't I? I know where this comment is going to get me, I'm going to get hate so here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55P2W3F26sA
Shame to those people that have the basic PS3 and not a system with hybrid HDD, it's a shame their version are like a power-point presentation, but mine is not!
----
So to wrap this up. get the PC version. You don't need a £300 card to run it, even on a cheap system it'll look better than the PS3. If have a PS3, play it on that - safe in the knowledge that it's got better graphics than the 360 version.
(But get a Hybrid HDD like me or it might glitch out!)