The PC Gamer staff have placed their final vote before the public. They ask which graphical effect earns the title of worst in games: motion blur or chromatic aberration. The winner, it seems, is the one that forces you to leave the room first.
PC Gamer is asking readers to choose which flaw should be banned from games forever, with the final showdown set for later this week. The vote could go either way, per the outlet’s own framing, with motion blur facing off against chromatic aberration.
The Two Finalists
Nobody saw the outcome coming. PC Gamer admits it could not have predicted the two features that reached this point. Now the vote has narrowed the field to motion blur and chromatic aberration, leaving the choice entirely up to the audience.
The two visual effects have both been around for a long time in video games. Motion blur works by smoothing movement through blurring objects as they cross the screen. Chromatic aberration shows up as red or blue fringing around bright edges, a problem that was particularly noticeable in older games. PC Gamer uses a screenshot from Marathon to illustrate the issue, pointing to the red-blue border on the white cabinet on the left as the clearest example of the effect.
What the Vote Decides
PC Gamer puts forward a vote to finally decide which visual effect in games earns the worst title. The contest aims to settle the debate once and for all.
PC Gamer has put the vote into action, and the site says it will show the outcome later this week.
The Screenshot Evidence
The magazine presents visual proof on both sides of the debate. When it comes to motion blur, PC Gamer says the two images were captured during quick, sideways aiming in Hunt: Showdown. The contrast between the two shots is described as being as different as day and night.
PC Gamer observes that Bungie has a fondness for chromatic aberration, and the Marathon example demonstrates it with the red-blue border appearing on the white cabinet.
PC Gamer is making a clear argument that two effects are bad, but it is insisting that only one of them can be the worst.
The Writer Behind the Vote
For more than eight years, Jacob has covered PC hardware and technology. His first published work appeared at PCGamesN, where he earned his first byline. From there, he joined PC Gamer. Now he devotes most of his time to building PCs, running benchmarks, and attempting to learn Linux.
His bio is attached to the article.
How to Vote
PC Gamer has opened a vote and is encouraging readers to cast their ballots. Participation is open to everyone, with no restrictions on who can take part. The outcome will be made public later this week.
The ballot presents two options, and players must choose between them: motion blur or chromatic aberration. The question at hand is which of these two graphical effects earns the dubious distinction of being the worst in gaming.
The Case for Each Side
Here is how PC Gamer frames the case for each:
- Motion blur smooths out movement by blurring objects as they cross the screen, which can soften fast motion.
- Chromatic aberration adds red or blue fringing around bright edges, a problem that was particularly noticeable in older games.
- Neither issue has been addressed with a settled verdict by PC Gamer.
- The choice between the two rests purely on individual preference, since no conclusive argument has been put forward for either.
The reader must rely on their own observations to weigh in.
The Winner Will Be Named
PC Gamer has yet to announce the winner, with the vote still underway and the result still unknown.
PC Gamer is putting forward a light-hearted method for readers to weigh in on a subject of real importance, and it requires taking a stand rather than merely passing by. The outcome of the vote will be documented.
The Comparison
| Effect | What It Does | Where It Shows Up |
|---|---|---|
| Motion blur | Smooths out movement by blurring objects | Hunt: Showdown |
| Chromatic aberration | Adds red or blue fringing around bright edges | Marathon |
Both the person who wins and the person who loses will be given their names, and then it will all come to an end.
Source material: “The final showdown: Motion blur vs chromatic aberration,” PC Gamer.
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