Optimization
Ongoing coverage on Optimization.
Latest coverage
The Blood of Dawnwalker devs offer "fixes and workarounds" as players slam PC optimization: "AAA price…
The Blood of Dawnwalker, a new vampire RPG from former CD Projekt Red developers at Rebel Wolves, is facing criticism for poor PC optimization shortly after its release. Players are reporting performance issues despite meeting recommended system requirements, leading to negative reviews on Steam. Rebel Wolves has acknowledged the problems and offered temporary workarounds while working on official patches.
How Modern Warfare 4 is revamping Call of Duty multiplayer and preparing for Switch 2
Activision and Infinity Ward are preparing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 for its open beta, featuring significant multiplayer refinements like a rewritten mantle system and clearer map design. The game is also set to debut on the Nintendo Switch 2, with Digital Legends working to ensure it runs at 60fps docked and optimizes file size to around 87GB.
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls’ First PC Patch Targets Its Biggest Problems
Arc System Works has released a patch for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls on PC to address significant technical issues, including poor optimization, performance drops, and various bugs. The update aims to reduce CPU usage, improve frame rates, and enhance overall stability, though it requires a lengthy shader compilation process upon installation. While the game has a high aggregate review score, user feedback on Steam has been negative due to these launch issues.
Statistically, your PC probably doesn't come close to the recommended RAM requirement for this third-person…
The upcoming third-person shooter Cinder City will hold a pre-alpha playtest for US-based players aged 16 and over from August 14-16, requiring participants to sign an NDA. While an initial high RAM requirement of 64GB was corrected to a still substantial 32GB minimum, the developer NC and publisher Big Fire Games state that final system requirements may be lower due to ongoing optimization efforts.
CodeDev launches optimisation division The Performance Guys
UK co-development studio CodeDev has launched a new division named The Performance Guys, dedicated to tackling critical optimization work for game development projects. The division, which includes engineers and technical artists, aims to deliver significant memory usage savings and has already worked on titles like Mafia: The Old Country. CodeDev also developed an internal tool called 'Performance Intelligence' to provide detailed insights into budget and CPU usage, supporting optimization efforts across Unreal Engine, Unity, and proprietary technologies.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls apologises for poor PC performance, promises fixes
Developer Arc System Works has acknowledged significant performance issues with the PC version of Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, including poor optimization, long load times, and laggy online play. The company has promised to actively investigate and implement fixes before the game's August 7th, 2026 release on PlayStation 5 and PC.
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu Review - Tainted by over-promises
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is a co-op indie game that suffers from poor optimization, frequent crashes, and a lack of clear explanations for its mechanics. Despite a promising premise involving a sanity system, the gameplay loop is repetitive and unenjoyable, especially in solo play. The game's numerous bugs and foundational issues make it a disappointing experience that likely should have been released in Early Access.
Crimson Desert developer trying to get game to run on Nintendo Switch 2
Pearl Abyss, the developer of Crimson Desert, is attempting to bring the game to the Nintendo Switch 2. The company's CEO stated that significant optimization and technical verification are required for a potential release on the new platform.
With 32 GB as a minimum and 64 GB as the recommended amount, Cinder City's RAM requirements are all kinds of wrong…
The upcoming PC game Cinder City has drawn attention for its unusually high minimum and recommended RAM requirements, with 32 GB as the minimum and 64 GB recommended. While other hardware specifications like the CPU and GPU seem more in line with current gaming standards, the memory demands are considered excessive and potentially indicative of optimization issues. Developer Big Fire Games, a studio under NC Corporation, has yet to confirm a release date, leaving time to address these concerns.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition on Switch 2 listed as 41GB
The official Nintendo site has listed the Elden Ring Tarnished Edition for the Nintendo Switch 2 with a digital file size of approximately 41GB. This suggests that Bandai Namco and FromSoftware have optimized the game, resulting in a smaller-than-expected download size for the open-world adventure.
"There is a limit to progress based on price": In today's AI hardware disaster, Stellar Blade Blood Rain devs prioritize "making the game playable" for as many people as possible
Shift Up CEO Hyung-Tae Kim emphasized the importance of making games playable on current-generation hardware, citing price limitations for PCs and consoles. The studio is prioritizing optimization for its upcoming action game, Stellar Blade: Blood Rain, rather than relying on future hardware advancements. This approach aims to ensure broader accessibility for players, similar to the successful PC port of the original Stellar Blade.
No Rest for the Wicked dev explains why the Nintendo Switch 2 version is coming later
Moon Studios' Thomas Mahler explained that the delayed Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series S versions of No Rest for the Wicked require more intensive optimization due to smaller memory budgets. The developer aims to ensure a high-quality experience on all platforms rather than releasing a compromised version.
No Rest for the Wicked Comes to PS5 Before Xbox, But It's Not Some Shady Exclusivity Deal
No Rest for the Wicked will launch on PlayStation 5 in October, with its console release initially exclusive to the platform. Developer Moon Studios clarified that this is not a shady exclusivity deal with Sony, but rather a result of optimization challenges, particularly with the underpowered Xbox Series S. The game will be released on Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch at a later date once development and optimization are complete.
Elden Ring releases August on Nintendo Switch 2
FromSoftware has announced that Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition will be released on Nintendo Switch 2 on August 28th. The release was delayed due to optimization issues identified in previews, with hopes that the final version will be more polished.
"It's Actually Been Pretty Smooth" - Infinity Ward On Getting Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Running On Switch 2
Infinity Ward studio head Jack O’Hara stated that development for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on the Nintendo Switch 2 has been smooth, with the team now focusing on optimization and performance. The game is scheduled for release on October 23, 2026, with cross-play and cross-progression confirmed. O'Hara expressed excitement about returning to Nintendo platforms after previous work on the Wii U and Nintendo DS.
Tides of Annihilation Team Worked With Epic Games for Optimization, Hands-on Event Coming in Summer
Eclipse Glow Games is collaborating with Epic Games and Nvidia on optimizing Tides of Annihilation for stable performance across all platforms, utilizing Unreal Engine features like Nanite and DLSS. A hands-on event for the game is scheduled for this summer, with registration now open.
Unreal Engine 6 announced—and I truly do hope optimization is its top priority
Epic Games has announced Unreal Engine 6, with the author expressing a strong hope that optimization will be a key focus for the new engine. The article notes that Unreal Engine 5 has been available for approximately four years.
Game Guidance
This guide provides PC settings recommendations for the game Pragmata to help players optimize their experience. It covers various graphical and performance options available to enhance gameplay.
One Simple Question About FPS Reveals Gaming’s Performance Crisis
A simple Reddit question about frame rates highlights a persistent performance crisis in PC gaming, where maintaining smooth frame rates is a daily concern for millions. Despite advancements in visual fidelity, even mid-range systems struggle with demanding titles, leading to player anxiety and a growing appeal of consoles' consistent performance.
