Game Performance
Ongoing coverage on Game Performance.
Latest coverage
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for Switch 2 is a portable journey best played at home
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has been ported to the Nintendo Switch 2, offering the same JRPG adventure but with significant compromises in visual fidelity and performance, especially in handheld mode. While the core gameplay remains strong and combat is fluid, the port suffers from blurry visuals, long load times, and simplified assets, making the docked mode the only recommended way to play. Despite its technical shortcomings, the game's ambitious nature and the fact that it runs on the device at all are noted as impressive achievements by Square Enix.
Monster Hunter Wilds is coming to Nintendo Switch 2, and we're all hoping this goes better than the PC port
Capcom has announced that Monster Hunter Wilds is in development for the Nintendo Switch 2, with hopes that its performance will be better than the game's troubled PC launch. The announcement follows the reveal of the game's first major expansion, Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendence, slated for 2027. Despite recent sales milestones, Monster Hunter Wilds has faced optimization issues and has been outsold by its predecessor, Monster Hunter Rise.
Brand new direct-feed Elden Ring Nintendo Switch 2 footage released
FromSoftware has released new direct-feed gameplay footage for Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on the Nintendo Switch 2, following its release date announcement. The port, originally planned for 2025, has been delayed to August 28, 2026, to ensure more stable performance. The footage showcases the game's visuals and appears to run without major issues.
Rayman Legends Retold Runs at 60 FPS on Nintendo Switch 2, 4K Resolution When Docked
Ubisoft Montpellier's technical director Thibaut Assandri discussed Rayman Legends Retold's performance targets for the Nintendo Switch 2, aiming for 60 FPS and 4K resolution when docked. The game will utilize Nvidia's DLSS technology for upscaling, allowing it to achieve visual fidelity comparable to the Xbox Series S. Assandri also detailed optimizations made to the Snow Drop engine to meet the 60 FPS goal across all platforms, including high-end PCs and PlayStation 5.
Metal Gear Solid 4's Master Collection gets an impressive new showing, confirming 60fps, shorter load times, and…
Konami has revealed gameplay of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots in the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol 2, showcasing improvements such as 60fps performance and shorter load times. The collection confirms the return of licensed content, including the in-game iPod, and features from the original PS3 release, though some elements like the Assassin's Creed crossover and Hideo Kojima's blog link have been altered or removed.
Forza Horizon 6 proves modern games can both look and run well—and all the UE 5 obsessors need to take note
The article argues that Forza Horizon 6 demonstrates that modern games can achieve both high visual fidelity and smooth performance, suggesting that developers should not solely focus on advanced engines like Unreal Engine 5. It highlights the game's ability to look good while running well, serving as a counterpoint to trends that prioritize graphical power over optimization.
A Forza Horizon 6 Sound Effect Might Just Trigger Some Awful Memories For You
Forza Horizon 6 features a car horn sound effect that mimics the Microsoft Teams notification, a callback to its publisher, Microsoft. This sound effect, also present in Forza Horizon 5, has elicited humorous and sometimes negative reactions from players. The game has also set new player count records on Steam and is currently available on PC and Xbox Series X|S, with a PlayStation 5 release planned for later this year.
Lord of the Rings Online takes action to reduce lag in raids
Standing Stone Games is implementing changes to Lord of the Rings Online's load balancer to address severe lag issues experienced in raids. These adjustments aim to reduce performance impacts caused by multiple groups sharing server instances. The studio plans to release these changes this week and gather player feedback.
'It's a Clear Upgrade': Why 007 First Light Will Look and Play Best on PS5 Pro
IO Interactive has confirmed that 007 First Light will leverage PlayStation 5 Pro's PSSR2 upscaling technology for a significant visual upgrade, offering denser details and improved character models. Technical Director Henrik Schlichter stated that the implementation was surprisingly quick, taking only about a day. While base PlayStation 5 owners will still benefit from FSR 3.1.5, the optimal console experience will be on the more expensive PlayStation 5 Pro.
Forza Horizon 6 is out, Valve update Proton Hotfix for Linux - initial thoughts
Forza Horizon 6 has launched on PC and is playable on Linux via Valve's Proton Hotfix, which has been updated to address initial issues. While the game runs well on high settings on desktop PCs, Linux users on Steam Deck experience performance drops and stuttering, requiring significant setting adjustments for a smoother experience. Despite some visual glitches and AI concerns, the game is stable and visually impressive on Linux.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on Switch 2 is further proof that Nintendo's latest can tackle the biggest…
The Nintendo Switch 2 is proving capable of handling major third-party releases, with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle being a recent impressive port. Despite lower resolution targets and graphical settings compared to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, the game's visual fidelity and performance are well-preserved thanks to the id Tech 7 engine and DLSS capabilities. MachineGames has effectively navigated the console's limitations, offering a strong experience that plays to its strengths.
Phasmophobia – Player Character Update Overview
The recent Phasmophobia Player Character Update by Kinetic Games has received mixed reactions, with many players expressing disappointment. While the update introduced higher quality character models, a wider array of cosmetics, and new animations, it also brought issues such as glitchy textures, awkward character movements, and limited customization options. The author notes that the update prioritized animations over general performance, negatively impacting the gameplay experience.
Sony Aims to “Improve the Performance” of Marathon by Focusing on Content, Player Acquisition
Sony aims to improve the performance of its extraction shooter Marathon by focusing on content updates, gameplay system enhancements, and expanding its player base. Despite reporting significant financial losses related to the Bungie acquisition, Sony remains committed to Marathon, citing its strong critical reception and positive player engagement metrics. The company plans to introduce additional content and ensure all story content remains accessible to new players to foster continued engagement.
Windrose's Latest Patch Finally Gives Your SSD A Break (So It Doesn't Break)
Kraken Express has released a new update for their pirate simulation game Windrose to address issues with excessive SSD usage. The patch reduces disk activity during gameplay, which was causing concerns about drive longevity. Additional updates have also improved save file management and cloud synchronization.
Pirate survival game Windrose was accidentally killing your SSD
The pirate survival game Windrose was found to be causing excessive read/write operations on players' SSDs, potentially leading to hardware wear. Developer Kraken Express has released a patch to address these issues, reducing disk usage and CPU load. Despite this problem, the game has achieved significant sales success since its early access launch.
Choosing Better Gaming Platforms for Today’s Players
Modern gaming platforms are evaluated based on player-centric factors like usability, performance, and social features, rather than just technical specifications. Players prioritize seamless experiences, quick loading times, and intuitive interfaces across various devices including PC, consoles, and mobile. The article emphasizes that simplicity and reliability are key to player retention, with social connectivity and cross-device play becoming increasingly important expectations.
Buffs, Nerfs, and Bugs
A recent patch for the pirate RPG Sea of Thieves aims to improve performance and address issues with excessive disk writing that were impacting SSD lifespan. The update promises smoother gameplay for players.
Starfield PS5 Update Fails to Fix Crashes, Players Still Struggling
A recent update for Starfield on PlayStation 5, version 1.000.004, aimed to fix persistent crashing issues but has failed to resolve the problem for many players. Reports indicate that the same frustrating crashes continue to occur during gameplay, leading to player frustration and questions about Bethesda's testing and optimization processes for the platform.
Saros Tech Analysis – The Evolution Of A Near-Perfect Formula
Saros, an upcoming title from Housemarque, is presented as a technical showcase for the PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro, building upon the formula of Returnal. The game features a refined "bullet ballet" combat system where projectiles are a resource, enhanced visual fidelity, and a more character-driven narrative. Both the base PS5 and the PS5 Pro deliver a solid 60fps experience, with the Pro offering improved image quality, upscaling, and reflections.
Bethesda "lectured" Fallout New Vegas designer for saying the RPG would run at 30 FPS: "'Why do you have a f***ing engine that can't run 30 frames per second?'"
Fallout: New Vegas senior designer Chris Avellone shared an anecdote where Bethesda executives lectured him about promising the game would run at 30 frames per second. Despite the game's known performance issues due to the Gamebryo engine, Avellone stated that a game not running at 30 FPS was inexcusable. This discussion highlights internal awareness of the game's technical limitations prior to launch.
