The free third-person update for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora has completely reshaped how players explore the Western Frontier. Suddenly, the world feels bigger, combat feels more cinematic, and you can finally admire your custom Na’vi in motion. But this visual and mechanical upgrade also pushes both consoles harder than before — especially in dense jungles filled with foliage, ray-traced lighting, and rapidly streaming assets.
If you’re deciding between PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, this guide breaks down real-world performance, community-tested impressions, and each console’s strengths and weaknesses specifically in the highly demanding third-person mode. No tech jargon — just the information you actually need.
Hardware Breakdown: The Power Behind Third-Person Mode
Third-person mode isn’t just a camera change — it shows more of Pandora at once, which means:
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More foliage
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More dynamic lighting
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More streaming textures
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More animation detail
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More alpha effects on-screen
That makes console architecture more important than ever.
Xbox Series X — The Raw Power Leader
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12 TFLOPS GPU
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Slightly stronger CPU
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Expected to excel at high-detail scenes and ray-traced global illumination
PlayStation 5 — The Streaming Speed Champion
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Slightly weaker GPU
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But a significantly faster SSD, allowing:
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Faster texture streaming
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Fewer pop-in issues
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More stable asset delivery during camera swings
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In third-person, where the camera constantly reveals new scenery, SSD speed becomes a quiet but critical factor.
Real-World Performance: What Players Report After the 2.0 Update
Across Reddit, YouTube analysis channels, and console-focused communities, a clear pattern emerged:
Xbox Series X — The Foliage Shimmer Issue
In Performance Mode (60 FPS), Series X users commonly report:
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Noticeable foliage shimmering
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Blurry vegetation edges
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More visible temporal noise in dense jungle areas
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Artifacts more obvious in third-person (because the view is wider)
This issue is unique to Series X and occurs far less (or not at all) in first-person view.
Community Workaround:
Switch to Quality Mode, which reduces or eliminates shimmering.
PlayStation 5 — Smoother Performance Mode Experience
PS5 players report:
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No widespread shimmering issues
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More stable vegetation rendering in 60 FPS mode
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More consistent image clarity in third-person
The PS5’s faster SSD also helps with large-area traversal and sudden camera turns.
Performance Mode vs. Quality Mode – Which Should You Use?
| Setting | Target | Best For | Series X Notes | PS5 Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Mode (60 FPS) | Smooth and responsive gameplay | Combat, flying, general play | Can cause foliage shimmering; VRR helps | Best all-round mode; stable and clean |
| Quality Mode (Higher resolution) | Cinematic visuals | Screenshots, exploration | Recommended mode to avoid shimmering | Beautiful image; slightly lower FPS |
Pro Tip: Enable VRR (if your display supports it)
Variable Refresh Rate reduces visible dips and micro-stutter in both modes.
Which Console Runs Third-Person Mode Better?
⭐ Winner: PlayStation 5 (By a Small Margin)
PS5 offers:
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More consistent Performance Mode
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Cleaner third-person foliage rendering
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Fewer reported visual artifacts
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Faster world streaming thanks to SSD speed
Players wanting a smooth 60 FPS third-person experience with minimal issues will likely be happier on PS5.
When Xbox Series X Might Still Be the Better Choice
Choose Series X if:
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You prefer Quality Mode over 60 FPS
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You don’t mind trading smoothness for sharper visual clarity
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You value ecosystem perks like Game Pass
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You prioritize raw GPU-driven fidelity over streaming speed
When shimmering isn’t an issue (in Quality Mode), Series X delivers breathtaking visuals.
Final Verdict: Which Version Should You Play?
For the best, most stable third-person gameplay → PS5
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Stronger Performance Mode
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Clean image quality
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Fewer rendering artifacts
For the sharpest visuals (but lower FPS) → Xbox Series X
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Stunning Quality Mode
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Great for cinematic players
Both consoles deliver excellent experiences, but third-person mode currently favors PS5 due to fewer visual issues and more consistent Performance Mode behavior.
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