Playing through Thief on PS4 and Xbox One over the past week I'm not so sure 1080p on consoles is a standard that should be set for next-gen. The PS4 version struggles needlessly to try to maintain a 30 frames per second presentation, regularly dipping into the 15-20 range during gameplay. At several points in the journey, it even edges toward the single digits. That isn't even something I remember dealing with on the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360.
What makes this particularly controversial is the Xbox One version does a much better job of maintaining a steady framerate. I'd go as far as to say because of this, the Xbox One version is a lot better.
So how is it that Thief on Xbox One is able to do this? Well, the short answer is 900p. It's displayed at a lower resolution, requiring roughly 660,000 fewer pixels per image to be rendered. However, the visual clarity would make you think the six-digit figure is in no way accurate. The truth is that's due to diminishing returns. Between 900p and 1080p the images don't look nearly as different as going from the standard definition output of 480i up to 720p. Surprisingly, the pixel difference is the same.
Numbers are a big thing right now, and I understand that it's an important factor for most gamers. After all, paying $100 more for a console that has less processing power is a tough sell.
As much as the Xbox One has been beaten up and called names all over the internet, it's more powerful than gamers are giving it credit for. More importantly, developers feel less pressure to adhere to the 1080p standard which compromises texture quality, effects, physics, and in the case of Thief, framerate.
PC master race 
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Well, I was always knew Meach was a pathetic fanboy. But the fact he's willing to argue all by himself without any backup is SO GOOD.
