HDMI 1.4 stereo 3D arrives on Xbox 360

By Richard Leadbetter Published 25 October, 2011

Arkham City is first full-res Xbox 360 3D release.

A while back, Eurogamer ran a report revealing that full-resolution stereoscopic 3D using the HDMI 1.4 standard was coming to the Xbox 360. Five months on, Batman: Arkham City is the first shipping game to utilise it.

Previously there has been some confusion as to whether the Xbox 360 hardware is physically capable of carrying the HDMI 1.4 stereoscopic 3D signal. There was some concern that the older HDMI 1.2 standard supported by the Xbox 360 couldn't be extended in the same way that the HDMI 1.3 controller in the PlayStation 3 was repurposed to support the new standard.

However, the release of Batman: Arkham City confirms that from a hardware perspective, any Xbox 360 with an HDMI port can offer the same level of support as the PlayStation 3. Our analysis of the game confirms that the two consoles are both outputting the same 1280x1470 60Hz signal. This comprises of two native 720p images, with 30 lines of blanking information between them.

360-1
ps3-1

Here's how Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 output Batman: Arkham City to 3DTVs. A 1280x1470 framebuffer is utilised, with 720p per eye top and bottom and 30 lines of blanking information between them. This is the first game we've seen to utilise the HDMI 1.4 spec on the Xbox 360.

So how is HDMI 1.4 output possible on older consoles? It turns out that the new standard is rather conservative. A 1280x1470 framebuffer actually requires less bandwidth than native 1080p - and both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 have supported that for ages. Even 3D Blu-Ray movies only run at with the equivalent bandwidth of 1080p at 48 frames per second - well below the 1920x1200/60Hz max of the interface. So HDMI 1.4 support on an HDMI 1.2 console boils down to making the hardware output a custom resolution and nothing more.

In terms of Arkham City itself, the game uses the same TriOviz technology as Gears of War 3 - though the Epic title was restricted to the half-res side-by-side functionality we've seen on other 360 stereo 3D games. Curiously though, while both games seem to be operating at native 720p on both platforms - as we would expect - the Xbox 360 version seems to have a one pixel wide blur across the whole image.

360-2
ps3-2

Another 3D comparison shot of Batman: Arkham City on the Xbox 360 (left) and PlayStation 3. Despite the HDMI 1.4 display format being the same, the Xbox 360 gets a very strange blur added.

While TriOviz still uses the reprojection technology to extrapolate two images from one main render, the algorithm has advanced significantly since its debut in the GOTY edition of Batman: Arkham Asylum, and has far fewer reprojection artifacts than what we saw in the Enslaved Pigsy's Perfect Ten DLC, which featured an earlier version of the TriOviz tech for 3DTVs. We'll be talking to the creators of TriOviz in more depth shortly, and discussing the 3D effect in our upcoming Batman: Arkham City Face-Off.

Picture of Richard.

About Richard Leadbetter

Rich has been a games journalist since the days of 16-bit and specialises in technical analysis. Commonly known around Eurogamer as the Blacksmith of the Future.

Read more articles from Richard by visiting the Richard Leadbetter archive page.

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Comments (46) Latest comment 6 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #1 7 months ago

    That's all very well if your Xbox has an HDMI port. Some of us roll OLD SCHOOL.

  • witchdrash #2 7 months ago

    @MENTAL1ST really there's another non-hdmi xbox 360 that hasn't RROD'd as well as mine!

  • Bravestinsane #3 7 months ago

    heh, mine lasted a few years

    Gave up and demolished it after the 3rd time and just got a elite.

  • systems #4 7 months ago

    HDMI 1.4 requires that 3D displays support the frame packing 3D format at either 720p50 and 1080p24, or 720p60 and 1080p24 (from WikiPedia). So yes, that's fine on Xbox360.

  • DavoTheDiv #5 7 months ago

    Meh. Don't want 3D yet. I'm waiting for smell-a-vision and the real pain-o-matic to come out before I upgrade my TV set.

  • Bander #6 7 months ago

    So HDMI has never been able to match the resolutions that VGA can support? Couldn't the 360 have just used it's VGA output ability all along?

  • vizzini #7 7 months ago

    Well the headline is wrong and misleading, as there is far more to hdmi 1.4 than stereoscopic 720p resolution.

    Unless the 360 firmware has now added 3D auto switching, and been able to ramp up the bandwidth by an extra 5Gbps over the hdmi 1.2 like hdmi 1.3b/1.4 to support 30bit and higher deep colour(for proper HDR ) full 3D audio (7.1) and the Xenos CRT gamma texture correction chip has been disabled so that the software does true gamma correction like Mac, Linux, PS3 and PC(DX10) by using software emulation the article is more wrong than right.

    @bander, You realise that hdmi doesn't use analogue lossy transmission like D-sub and component cables don't you?

  • Bander #8 7 months ago

    @vizzini Yes, but unless there's crosstalk it's not as if you can tell the difference from just looking at it, or are actually losing pixels. VGA is fine until we get decent large high contrast TVs, like the OLED ones that appear to have been side-lined while manufacturers mess about with half-arsed, half-brightness 3D.

  • vizzini #9 7 months ago

    @Bander

    When I used to play the 360 version of VF5c in the spare room via VGA on a top end CRT Trinitron monitor (with virtually infinite contrast), and then compare that to either the PS3 version downstairs on my KDL-46X3000 over hdmi the two games looked noticeable different. Even when I'd bring the 360 downstairs for the occasional go on the big screen(but re-calibrated) the difference was still perceivable, as the blacks were crushed by the 360 when adjusting the whites, and vice versa, and regardless of the which option I choose for whites or blacks, the colours were closer to Mario than the subtle tones of VF5b on the PS3

  • Miths #10 7 months ago

    Arkham City looks great in 3D with quite a bit more depth than I had expected from from reprojection 3D. It obviously also has the immense benefit of not suffering from the performance hits or noticeable visual trade-offs you get in far too many "proper" stereoscopic 3D games.

    I'm anxiously waiting to see if Uncharted 3 can help buck the latter trend, although based on the multiplayer beta/headstart it looks like there are some visual cutbacks in 3D mode, while performance remains solid.
    Give me a new console generation with more power please :).

  • Bradach #11 7 months ago

    3D is never mentioned in EG reviews anyway.

  • Miths #12 7 months ago

    @Bradach

    And that unfortunately goes for many other sites as well in their respective reviews.

    I think it's shoddy work when reviewers don't bother testing games with 3D support on 3DTVs/monitors.
    I don't expect every reviewer to have a 3DTV at home, but I definitely expect them to have access to at least one at work where they could check out the game in 3D, even if they play most of it in 2D.

    Not testing 3D and mentioning how good it looks and whether or not there are any severe drawbacks, is almost as bad as reviewers who only use a gamepad rather than a decent force feedback wheel when they review the likes of GT/Forza and other racing sims or semi-sims.

  • MattEdWithCheese #13 7 months ago

    does it support the Trioviz Anaglyph Shades like AA: GotY and Enslaved do? I assume not as I don't see any anaglyph shots... :|

  • Quak #14 7 months ago

    > So how is HDMI 1.4 output possible on older consoles? It turns out that the new standard is rather conservative.

    A shame you didn't research that properly before your article on PS3 3D where you claimed Sony would have an upper hand in 3D as PS3 supported a newer HDMI standard.

    Turns out the 360 can do it just fine, thank you.
    Edited by Quak at 25/10/11 @ 15:49

  • darm #15 7 months ago

    I'll surely check it out when they finally deliver my copy of AC. Gears of War 3 3D would have been great if it weren't for crappy resolution and black background on subtitles. So, while targeting Locust that were visibly far away made the experience better, looking at the edges of blocks and boxes I was hiding behind almost made my eyes bleed.

  • Miths #16 7 months ago

    @MattEdWithCheese

    Yes, there's an anaglyph option as well (they're calling it "Inficolor" if I remember correctly). I don't know if it's using the same anaglyph glasses as Arkham Asylum - those weren't the standard red/cyan, were they?

  • Whitster #17 7 months ago

    @Miths Totally, I could forgive this a year ago when 3D TVs were astronomical in price and support few and far between. But with TV's now available sub £500 and a good chunk of the big titles this xmas supporting it, not testin the 3D for reviews is criminal.

  • FireMonkey #18 7 months ago

    @vizzini - "Well the headline is wrong and misleading, as there is far more to hdmi 1.4 than stereoscopic 720p resolution."

    Not really. The Headline is "HDMI 1.4 stereo 3D arrives on Xbox 360". This is true. HDMI 1.4 is a standard and it is a flexible standard.

    One of the standards from the specifications is that they can output a single frame
    buffer of 1024 * 1470. The top 720 is used for the left eye, the bottom for the right eye and a black bar is left in the middle (can't remember the reasons why atm). This is exactly what the 360 and PS3 do so they can both claim to have HDMI 1.4 compliant stereo 3D which is what this article headline claims.

  • Negotiator1 #19 7 months ago

    I can confirm this is the best 3D effect yet in a game, and is well worth playing for a gaming session.

  • vizzini #20 7 months ago

    @Firemonkey

    No.

    The ability to do one aspect of one specification does not mean a device can claim compliance, go check the Wiki.

    The PS3 is hdmi 1.3b compliant with Deep Colour support and 10.2GBps transport, and 3D auto mode switching and lossless 7.1 audio with 2D or lossy 7.1 with Full 3D over hdmi, hence why it is not hdmi 1.4

    The 360 is only hdmi 1.2 and still has a CRT based gamma correction chip in the GPU, 3D does not make it hdmi 1.4

  • Miths #21 7 months ago

    @Negotiator1

    On which platform? As I mentioned in my first post, I've been very impressed with the 3D in Arkham City considering it's only reprojection 3D, but it still falls well short of some of the most impressive proper stereoscopic 3D titles on the PS3.

    For me the current benchmark is God of War: Ghost of Sparta. Absolutely astounding depth and with crisp, sharp visuals (as I would expect from a HD remake of a PSP title, though it obviously doesn't have the advanced shaders, lighting and high detail textures of original PS3/360 games) and a rock solid framerate.

    The Uncharted 3 beta is also looking very impressive, albeit with some minor visual trade-offs in 3D mode.
    Resistance 3 also looks great in 3D, if a bit rough around the edges - but that applies to some degree to 2D mode as well.

    Other impressive 3D titles include Motorstorm Apocalypse and WipEout HD, but they are far from the only ones.
    Some like eg. Killzone 3 for instance were major disappointments though, with the visual or performance cutbacks in 3D being far too severe to stomach.

  • MARKIV #22 7 months ago

    Is it possible to get 3D over VGA for those of us without HDMI 360's? I thought I read somewhere the Samsung 3D TV's don't support 3D over VGA, but am not sure for certain.

  • Bander #23 7 months ago

    @vizzini Really? That just sounds odd. Definitely nothing to do with the 360 being in a weird colour mode? One thing I really liked about VF5 on 360 was that it supported full screen, correct aspect ratio graphics on an old 5:4 PC monitor, in high-def. As did DoA4. I miss that time actually, as I don't think 1-on-1 fighters look quite as dynamic in widescreen.

    I like analogue because it does sub-pixel rendering automatically. In theory, a well-pressed analogue Laserdisc can offer a sharper picture than a DVD. The Amiga has resolution modes that offered 1280 pixels across, and they would look sharper on standard definition monitors that technically shouldn't be able to support them. I wish the 360 could do that when in its standard definition modes, as it does wonders for small on-screen text.
    Edited by Bander at 25/10/11 @ 18:45

  • MattEdWithCheese #24 7 months ago

    @Miths I didn't get Arkham Asylum GotY, I bought them directly from Trioviz for Enslaved. Yeah, just checked, they say Inficolor. Thx btw!

  • TheBusterMan #25 7 months ago

    Does one have to get a new HDMI lead,or am I ok with the old one I got with my 360?

  • vizzini #26 7 months ago

    @bander
    Correct 5:4 aspect ratio?

    I'm not sure how you can argue that 5:4 is corrrect unless you are talking 2D or orthographic 3D projected arcade game ports; which virtua fighter isn't. It is a 3D perspectively projected game.

    If the glFrustum/glViewport configurations on the consoles provide the same character aspect ratios relative to the artist developer's intentions, then the console port have perfect aspect whether the viewport and frustum have changed to show more or less of the arena.

    Analogue does have its advantages, but it also loses signal strength, resulting in lower signal to noise ratios; which isn't desirable for colour, and the anti aliasing effect you describe is actually an increase in noise to signal.

  • Moz #27 7 months ago

    Tried this out when I first got the game, but sadly it's just not playable way too much tearing which is super distracting in 3D, nothing on Wipeout 3D which is just stunning.

    Didn't realise Gears 3 had any 3D will have to have a crack at it next time I play.

  • hesido #28 7 months ago

    I hope they add a low res 3d option for us with LG FPR sets, with 540p per eye visuals. I'm pretty sure it would lead to better performance.

  • Gridstip #29 7 months ago

    Who cares !? You need a PC for 3D. I've tried a load of 3D console games and the only one that was clear, fluid and fun was 3D Infinity, and that's just an indie game. You do all realise that one of the main reasons for the delay of the next-gen consoles is that they're waiting for enough people to get 3D TVs. The only question is whether the next consoles will have HDMI 1.5, capable of 1080p 60 frames-per-second 3D, and I bet even then we'll need PCs to do that.

  • anonim1979 #30 7 months ago

    It is like first PS3 - THEY ARE ALSO 1.2 HDMI

    HDMI 1.2 PS3
    http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archive/index.php/t-845918.html
    http://formatwarcentral.com/2007/05/08/does-the-ps3-really-have-hdmi-13/

    FAT PS3 has only Silicon Image HDMI chipset SiI 9132

    You NEED:
    The SiI 9134 can transmit the new, lossless compressed digital audio formats supported in HDMI 1.3: Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio(tm). The two chips also handle other HDMI-supported audio formats, including high- bandwidth uncompressed digital audio and compressed formats such as Dolby® Digital and DTS. The SiI 9133 and SiI 9134 also support SACD and DVD audio formats. Both products provide flexible power-down modes.
    Edited by anonim1979 at 25/10/11 @ 22:59

  • Miths #31 7 months ago

    @Moz
    I've put around six hours or so into the PS3 version in 3D so far, and while I've seen some tearing now and then, it's been so rare that I've never at any point considered it a detractor.

    Personally I'd also much rather take more frequent tearing than I've seen here, over the performance issues (frequent framerate drops into the 20s or even teens) too many other 3D games suffer from.

  • FireMonkey #32 7 months ago

    @vizzini - "The 360 is only hdmi 1.2 and still has a CRT based gamma correction chip in the GPU, 3D does not make it hdmi 1.4"

    Read what was written again. No one is saying the PS3 or 360 is fully HDMI1.4. They are saying it has HDMI1.4 Stereo 3D. That means that it meets the specs layed out in 1.4 for the 3D, which they do.

    You say read wiki. I did and see nothing that says otherwise. I say to you, read the HDMI organisations faq page:
    http://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_1_4/hdmi_1_4_faq.aspx#3

    You will see that it says:
    'Are manufacturers required to implement all of the new HDMI 1.4 features?
    No. HDMI technology is designed to enable a wide variety of manufacturers in different markets to implement the feature sets that work best for their customers.'

    Also, on this page:
    http://www.hometoys.com/htinews/dec07/interviews/hdmi/hdmi.htm

    Steve Venuti, the Vice President of Marketing for HDMI says:
    'Think features rather than HDMI version number.
    HDMI is constantly evolving to meet the needs of the marketplace. The standard is constantly adding more and more features that manufacturers can implement if they desire. But HDMI does not require manufacturers to implement everything that HDMI can do. HDMI provides a menu of capabilities and allows the manufacturer to choose which of those features make sense for its product line.'

    So I think saying it has HDMI 1.4 stereo 3D is pretty clear and valid.

  • Bander #33 7 months ago

    @vizzini are you copying and pasting from random nonsense from somewhere? I said nothing about an anti-aliasing effect, and 3D projection and aspect ratios are not related.

  • knightmt #34 7 months ago

    I have to say that the 2D to 3D conversion that my LG passive tv does is amazing though I have not tried it on Batman yet, it works a treat on RAGE.

  • djronz. #35 7 months ago

    How is that this has a whole article yet most game reviews on ps3 so far, including uncharted 3, dont even mention the 3d aspect!?

    Ive yet to get a 3d tv but will be looking in a year or so, ive tried ps3 games in 3d and mostly i think it works great, i dont really understand the "knockers". If you dont like it fine, dont get it but i think its much like surround sound in terms that it offers more immersion but is something you dont always switch on, well i dont anyway.

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  • drumbaby #37 7 months ago

    "How is that this has a whole article yet most game reviews on ps3 so far, including uncharted 3, dont even mention the 3d aspect!?"

    Because Leadbetter likes Xboxbetter?

  • vizzini #38 7 months ago

    Bander: “I like analogue because it does sub-pixel rendering automatically. In theory, a well-pressed analogue Laserdisc can offer a sharper picture than a DVD. “

    Bander: “@vizzini are you copying and pasting from random nonsense from somewhere? I said nothing about an anti-aliasing effect, and 3D projection and aspect ratios are not related. “

    No, I formally studied signal processing.

    But that is a natural form of anti-aliasing you are describing right there. A combination of noise increasing relative to signal in the higher frequencies areas of the picture when transmitted over analogue cables and the analogue encoding of laser disc (that retains traces of all source picture frequencies as a combination of signal and noise like cassette/vinyl that DVD doesn't).

    @anonim1979

    Ps3 slim audio v FAT

    PS3 3D info

    All ps3 models are fully hdmi 1.3b compliant since f/w 3.7.

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #39 7 months ago

    @vizzini as FireMonkey has pointed out, the headline says nothing of full 1.4 specification. The first sentence states it's "3D using the HDMI 1.4 standard" - which is true.

  • vizzini #40 7 months ago

    @spacemidget75

    Just because that video framebuffer format is present in the hdmi 1.4 specification (but with higher colour and sound options) doesn't make its use by Batman anything to do with hdmi 1.4. It was a standard for 3D irrespective of hdmi.

    It is great that RockSteady have achieved 720p30 stereoscopic on both systems with the latest Batman in hdmi 1.2 and hdmi 1.3b respectively, but my misleading comment is still valid and no doubt another way to try and flannel DF readers into thinking an ageing piece of DirectX9c hardware is more than it really is.

  • FireMonkey #41 7 months ago

    @vizzini - For f*%s sake! There is a specification for this stereo 3D in HDMI 1.4 therefore the consoles that output in this format can rightfully say that they output in the HDMI 1.4 stereo 3D specification. They are saying NOTHING about meeting any other parts of the HDMI 1.4 specification.

    This is not confusing. This makes it simple for people with 3DTVs.

    A 3DTV does not need to handle everything in the HDMI 1.4 spec (as my last post explained) but if they handle the 3D aspect of it they will be labelled as supporting HDMI 1.4 stereo 3D. If the consoles then say we support a 720p frame-packing 3D standard the customers would be really confused.

    I think you are the only person who does not get this and is trying to create confusion when there is none.
    Edited by FireMonkey at 26/10/11 @ 21:56

  • RedgeHammer #42 7 months ago

    @vizzini
    The 360 maybe aging, but is still pulling off things it is not supposed to be capable of doing; moreover, I am constantly amazed that the 360 performs as well as it does. BTW I enjoyed your take on the article from a signal processing viewpoint.

  • Bander #43 7 months ago

    @vizzini I think you're interpreting my post in a way I didn't intend. By sub-pixel rendering I'm not talking about a smoothing effect caused by noise. I mean how the RGB elements of a display can be broken down into 3 pixels in distinctly different positions, rather than being thought of as one pixel, enabling sharper pictures than the fixed maximum resolution of a monitor would suggest.

    An update to the 360 that enables something like a 1280*480i resolution mode to be available for standard-def television users, preferably with RGB SCART cables, would have been lovely. Bit late now though, after the cost of HDTVs have plummeted compared to 2005.

    Thanks for replying though, as your posts makes sense to me now.

  • dgeviper #44 7 months ago

    I have Batman: Arkham City on XBOX 360 and have used it with my active 3D HDTV set. The effect is quite stunning! It has better "3D pop" than most 3D content I've seen. I didn't notice any "strange blurring" as this article states. I only really use my PS3 to watch Blu-Ray movies, so I haven't seen what the effect looks like with games on that platform. Overall I'd say it's a pretty cool feature of modern games!

  • bigcrunch #45 7 months ago

    Finally the 360 gets HDMI 1.4 3D! A little late to the party and contrary to Microsofts earlier thoughts on 3D - glad they changed their mind.

    ** Worldwide exclusive - you heard it here first: Like Arkham City, Assassins Creed: Revelations will also support native 3D (and it uses the same 3D reprojection tech from TriOviz) **

    @Quack
    I doubt if the 360 is capable of 1920x1080p 3D though due to limited video memory on the 360 but it's of limited use due to the low frame rate of 24Hz (30Hz is possible but not well supported). 1080p 3D is only used on the PS3 so far in PlayMemories for 3D photo viewing.

    @Miths
    Uncharted 3 halves the resolution in 3D and drops some polygons (like some small plants and other minor detail) but it still looks good and frame rate is good. I'll be playing through both in 3D and 2D. Best 3D games to date technically are Gran Turismo 5 and MotorStorm Apocalypse (but unless you have a decent TV there is crosstalk in MSA).

    @MattEdWithCheese/Miths
    Yes, Arkham City supports the same TriOviz INFICOLOR glasses as Arkham Asylum, Green Lantern, Captain America, etc.

    @darm
    The 3D in Gears of War 3 is pretty sub-standard. Reprojection wasn't enough and it also uses a trick like the 2D->3D conversion you find in 3DTV's. You'll notice that the ground always seems to swell in front of you, like you're about to climb up a small hill that then flattens out. No matter where you go and which way you turn the hill is always there and it causes eye strain.

    @anonim1979
    The original FAT PS3's are HDMI 1.3, not 1.2. The audio support you quote is optional in the HDMI specification (and is supported in SLIM PS3's). See:
    PS3 HDMI Secrets

  • malmer #46 6 months ago

    @vizzini Batman: Arkham City does 3D auto switching on 360 too. Works like a charm.