Weak visuals, unstable performance, and under three hours of story: Code Violet gameplay revealed

Early adopters have finally gotten their hands on Code Violet, and their initial reports highlight significant concerns regarding the project’s quality. While the official global launch is set for the early hours of Saturday, players in Australia have already begun their playthroughs, and the feedback surfacing online is far from favorable.

Leaked gameplay footage and early impressions point to a major deal-breaker: the entire story campaign can be completed in under three hours. For a major release in 2026, such a brief experience has left many in the community feeling disappointed and short-changed.

The situation is further complicated by the visual state of the final build. Recent gameplay clips reveal lackluster graphics, featuring dimly lit and desolate environments, a noticeable lack of detail, and uninspired animations for both characters and enemies. Frequent drops in image clarity are also being reported, which many argue is unacceptable for current-generation hardware.

Performance issues are also at the forefront of the criticism. On the PlayStation 5, the game targets a 30 FPS cap, yet it reportedly struggles to maintain a stable frame rate even at that level. Players are noting that poor optimization is actively hindering the overall enjoyment of the game.

Unsurprisingly, the comment sections on early gameplay videos are filled with users thanking content creators for the “warning.” A significant wave of pre-order cancellations has already begun, as many potential buyers feel the price tag is unjustified for a title that is fleeting in length, technically unstable, and visually outdated.

Source: iXBT.games