No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files PS5 & Xbox port impressions, comparisons, and more

No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files launches next week for PS5, Xbox Series, and PS4 worldwide following its debut last year for Steam, Switch 2, and Switch. I had a chance to play the PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series versions for this new comparison feature covering my thoughts with the new ports, how last year's releases feel today with any potential updates, and more. If you're curious about the game itself, you can read Cullen's full review of No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files here and my  feature going over the Switch 2, Switch, and Steam versions here from last year.

Since I was revisiting the game on new platforms for this feature, I decided to also try out No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files across Switch 1, Switch 2, Switch 1 on Switch 2, and the Steam on my PC handhelds to see if anything had changed since last year's launch. I've included capture and comparisons from all versions I had access to in addition to load times and more below.

No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X impressions

One thing I didn't catch when I played No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files last year, was that in addition to the performance issues I covered, the game appears to suffer from the Unity 50hz (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drDdNPogb9s) issue. This means that when you move the camera or are moving the cursor in a fixed camera or static character position, it is smooth. When you move the character the camera appears to match a lower tick rate, in this case 50hz. I verified this by forcing the game to 50fps at 50hz on my Steam Deck and the movement was correct, albeit with the game not at 60fps or higher. This problem is present in every version of the game, and the issues I covered last year for Switch 1 and 2 are on top of this problem.

No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files on PS5 and Xbox Series X has no trouble running at 60fps with none of the frame pacing issues the Switch 2 version had, but this camera problem is present here just like on other platforms. When it comes to image quality, the Xbox Series X version is the best of the ones I played with PS5 below that. While the Switch 2 version offers a quality and performance mode for docked play, the PS5 and Xbox versions offer one fixed mode. I'm not sure if it has PS5 Pro support or not, but on base PS5 there is only one mode. 

The Switch 2 version has more jagged edges while the PS5 version looks softer overall. Both of them aren't as good as the overall quality of the Xbox Series X version from what I've played though. In fact, if the Switch 2 version didn't have those hitching issues, I'd play it over the PS5 version as well to have the ability to continue my save with touchscreen support on the go. If a potential day one patch adjusts the PS5 resolution or anything like that, I will update this feature. 

I didn't have time to test the PS4 version on an actual PS4, but I did try it out on my PS5 via backward compatibility. The frame rate target holds up well as you'd expect, and I was even able to load my PS4 save into the native PS5 version through an in-game prompt when it detected my PS4 save. 

On the Xbox side, I want to also note that while the first two A: The Somnium Files games supported Xbox Play Anywhere with Xbox and Xbox on PC support, No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files is only playable on Xbox Series X. 

No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files load time comparison for PS5, Xbox, Switch, Switch 2, PC, and PS4

When testing the load times, I installed No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files for Switch on the Switch OLED SD card, the Switch 2 internal storage, the Switch 2 version on the Switch 2 internal storage, the PS5 version on the internal storage, the Xbox Series version on my Xbox Series X internal storage, the PS4 version on the external hard drive on PS5, the Steam version on my Steam Deck OLED internal storage, and the Steam version on my ROG Ally internal storage. I tested the time taken to load the title screen from the console dashboard and the time taken to load the same early game location. Note that the PC version has a launcher which adds a time to Steam Deck with it taking only one second on ROG Ally as indicated by the + part below. The Xbox version currently does not let you skip the Spike Chunsoft splash screen animation while other platforms do. 

As you can see, the PS5 version loads the fastest with the Steam release on ROG Ally very close. I hope a future update adds the ability to skip the initial Spike Chunsoft splash animation on Xbox. 

Which is the best version of No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files

For TV or docked play on the console side, the Xbox Series X version delivers the best experience right now. I'm a bit surprised by the difference in resolution here across PS5 because we usually have them very close. Performance is similar and great barring the camera issue across PS5 and Xbox Series X. The Switch 2 version even now using performance mode has hitching in addition to the camera issue. This camera issue is something players might get used to, but it bothers me like it does in Dave the Diver or Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble pre-patch. The PS5 version loads faster than Xbox, but I would get this on Xbox to play on a 4K TV over PS5. 

For portable play, the Steam version on a PC handheld delivers a better performing experience than Switch 1 and Switch 2. If the Switch 2 version ran better handheld or made use of VRR in some form, it would be better. It looks nice, but doesn't run as well as it should. The Switch 1 version via backward compatibility on the other hand has none of the hitching issues, but it is a lower resolution with more visual cuts. If you care about the best performing console version, the Switch 1 version played on Switch 2 is that. I also appreciate the touchscreen support in both Switch versions. 

I don't think the game will get major patches going forward, but it would be great if the camera movement issue is addressed since it affects every version. It might not be a huge issue for a lot of people, but it is an easy thing to fix and would improve the game feel a lot in the portions where you have 3D character movement. Beyond that, I wish the Switch 2 version had seen more optimization because it still isn't perfect.

No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: The Somnium Files is now available for Switch 2, Switch, and PC (Steam). It launches on February 26 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PS4 worldwide.