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Optimize Performance by Editing GameUserSettings.ini

By Rusty

Guide: How to Optimize Performance by Editing GameUserSettings.ini

If you're experiencing low FPS or performance issues, you can improve the game's performance by editing the GameUserSettings.ini file. This guide will show you how to disable RTX Ray Tracing, Lumen technology, and make other optimizations for better frame rates.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Locate the GameUserSettings.ini file:

The configuration file is located at the following path:

%localappdata%\ForeverWinter\Saved\Config\Windows

You can copy and paste this path into the File Explorer address bar.
Once there, find the file named GameUserSettings.ini and open it with Notepad or any text editor.

2. Modify Graphics Settings for Better Performance:

Adjust the following values in the GameUserSettings.ini file to reduce the load on your system and increase FPS.

[ScalabilityGroups] sg.ResolutionQuality=65.0 ; Lower resolution scale (between 0-100) for better performance sg.ViewDistanceQuality=1 ; Decrease the view distance to reduce rendering load sg.AntiAliasingQuality=0 ; Disable anti-aliasing for higher FPS sg.ShadowQuality=0 ; Disable shadows for a performance boost sg.GlobalIlluminationQuality=0 ; Disable global illumination to save GPU power sg.ReflectionQuality=0 ; Disable reflections for better FPS sg.PostProcessQuality=1 ; Lower post-processing effects sg.TextureQuality=0 ; Use lower texture quality for smoother performance sg.EffectsQuality=0 ; Disable effects like particles and explosions sg.FoliageQuality=0 ; Reduce foliage detail for better performance sg.ShadingQuality=0 ; Disable complex shading effects sg.LandscapeQuality=2 ; Lower landscape detail to reduce GPU load

3. Disable RTX Ray Tracing and Lumen Technology:

Ray Tracing and Lumen lighting are very performance-intensive. Disabling them will greatly improve FPS if they are enabled in the game.

Add the following lines to your configuration to disable them:

[SystemSettings] r.RayTracing=False r.RayTracing.Shadows=False r.RayTracing.Reflections=False r.RayTracing.AmbientOcclusion=False r.RayTracing.GlobalIllumination=False r.RayTracing.Lighting=False r.RayTracing.Translucency=False r.RayTracing.SkyLight=False r.Lumen.Reflections=False r.Lumen.Reflections.HardwareRayTracing=False r.Lumen.Reflections.ScreenTraces=False r.Lumen.GlobalIllumination=False r.Lumen.ScreenProbeGather=False r.BloomQuality=0 r.LensFlareQuality=0 r.LensFlareQuality=0 r.PostProcessAAQuality=0 r.PostProcessAAQuality=0 r.DepthOfFieldQuality=0 r.DefaultFeature.AntiAliasing=0 r.MaxAnisotropy=16

4. Disable Frame Rate Smoothing:

By default, Unreal Engine might smooth the frame rate to prevent sharp fluctuations. Disabling this can improve FPS stability.

Add the following line to the [Script/Engine.Engine] section of your GameUserSettings.ini:

[/script/engine.engine] bSmoothFrameRate=False

5. Optional: Adjust Resolution and Frame Rate Limit:

Lowering your in-game resolution (e.g., from 2560x1440 to 1920x1080) can significantly improve FPS.
Limiting the frame rate to a specific value can also help stabilize performance.

Adjust these settings in the [ForeverWinter.FWGameUserSettings] section:

[/script/foreverwinter.fwgameusersettings] bUseVSync=False ; Disable VSync for higher FPS bUseDynamicResolution=True ; Enable dynamic resolution to adapt to performance needs ResolutionSizeX=1920 ; Set resolution width to 1920 (Full HD) ResolutionSizeY=1080 ; Set resolution height to 1080 (Full HD) FrameRateLimit=120.000000 ; Limit frame rate to 120 FPS for smoother gameplay

6. Save the File:

After making these changes, save the GameUserSettings.ini file and close the editor.

7. Restart the Game:

Launch ForeverWinter and check your performance. You should notice better FPS and smoother gameplay, especially in demanding areas.

Summary of Changes:

Lowered graphics settings to reduce GPU load and improve performance.
Disabled RTX Ray Tracing and Lumen technology to avoid the performance hit from advanced lighting effects.
Disabled Frame Rate Smoothing to remove artificial FPS caps and fluctuations.
Lowered resolution and frame rate limit for stable, high-performance gameplay.

By following these steps, you should experience improved performance in ForeverWinter. This guide will work for anyone playing the game on Steam, and the path to the configuration file is the same across systems.

RAW full code of GameUserSettings.ini I am using for 2k resolution: https://pastebin.com/Am4axBFe

UPD1: added more tweaks to the [System Settings]

r.BloomQuality=0 ; Disables bloom effect, which creates a soft glow around bright areas. Improves performance. r.LensFlareQuality=0 ; Disables lens flare effect, which simulates camera reflections from bright light sources. Increases FPS. r.PostProcessAAQuality=0 ; Disables post-process anti-aliasing, which smooths edges of objects after rendering. Better FPS, but may cause jagged edges. r.DepthOfFieldQuality=0 ; Disables depth of field, which blurs background objects to simulate camera focus. Improves performance. r.DefaultFeature.AntiAliasing=0; Disables anti-aliasing globally, reducing smoothness of object edges but boosting performance. r.MaxAnisotropy=16 ; Sets anisotropic filtering to 16x, enhancing texture detail on surfaces viewed at angles. Higher values offer better visuals but may impact performance.

UPD2: Suggested by u/5hifty

1. Create a separate file, Engine.ini.
The easiest way to do this is by copying your existing GameUserSettings.ini file and renaming it to Engine.ini. Once renamed, open the new file with Notepad and delete all existing variables in it.

2. Add the following lines to the file:

[/script/engine.renderersettings] r.AntiAliasingMethod=0 ; Disable all Anti-Aliasing methods. Personally I don't recommend using this line as it makes very pixelated graphics. r.Upscale.Quality=0 ; Sharpen the resolution scaler and apply a “nearest neighbor” method for pixel reduction. r.Upscale.Softness=0 r.Tonemapper.Sharpen=0.5 ;Sharpen the game without third-party filters. Set it to your preference 0.5 to 2.5. r.TextureStreaming=0 r.DepthOfFieldQuality=0 r.BloomQuality=0 r.FilmGrain=0 r.SceneColorFringeQuality=0 r.DisableDistortion=1 r.Tonemapper.Quality=0 r.LensFlareQuality=0 r.Fog=0 ; Disables Fog effect r.VolumetricFog=0 ; Disables Volumetric Fog effect

UPD3: Suggested by Astraxis

A few more commands, these go in Engine.ini:

[/script/engine.renderersettings] r.OneFrameThreadLag=0 ; disables frame delay from the processing thread (improves responsiveness) [/script/engine.inputsettings] bEnableMouseSmoothing=False ; disables mouse smoothing bViewAccelerationEnabled=False ; disables mouse acceleration bDisableMouseAcceleration=False ; ditto

3. Make Both of Files file read-only

After editing the Engine.ini and/or GameUserSettings.ini file, go to "File > Save". Then right-click the file, select "Properties > General", and check the "Read-only" box. This is important because it prevents the game from auto-deleting the file, which would force you to recreate it each time. If you would like to modify the file further after initial testing you will have to un-check read only, make variable updates, save, and then recheck read only again.

Award

Created by

Rusty
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Languages: English

Posted

Updated

25 Sep, 2024 @ 4:44am

1 Oct, 2024 @ 4:46am

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56 Comments

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КЛОУН-АДА 1 Aug @ 7:36pm

Ow, there is people with REALLY WEAK 3090 cards
and not like me with 1050

КЛОУН-АДА 1 Aug @ 7:20pm

>Running game 19 fps on low settings
>Searching FPS configs
>Found this
>Turn off RTX by disabling it with commands in file
>Doing it
>Game no longer fucking turn on coz not enough memory for RTX

DAIKAIJU 5 Apr @ 9:59pm

This is an entirely different game but somehow the Engine.ini file here is compatible with this game too. I would ignore anything for the GameUserSettings.ini file though since those settings are different: https://github.com/movementbuff/offthegridgame/tree/main

This truly disables RTX and Lumens, and there are steps in the link to either reenable shadows if you like those and other troubleshooting as well. The DeviceProfiles.ini file is for further lowering texture quality for more frames, but it does affect some environmental text critical for gameplay so I wouldn't recommend it.

Jerry The Terrorist 13 Jan @ 7:33am

@Abomination713 correct, ray tracing was already disabled by default, lumen too. The claims this guide makes are completely unsubstantiated outside of basic performance tweaking you can already do in game. Such as lowering the resolution, real rocket science.

There is no magic fix to performance yet, we're just stuck waiting for the devs to optimize the game.

Abomination713 23 Dec, 2024 @ 4:18am

Guide does not work and literally changed nothing in my game.

Lizzo 22 Dec, 2024 @ 1:56pm

What settings should i focus on to boost fps with something like ~15/20 fps but keep as much quality as possible?

On ultra i get around 40 fps but a high chance my PC gets a kernel power 41 fatal error.

Rusty [author] 1 Dec, 2024 @ 11:46pm

@Kittie It sounds like you are using DLSS or FSR, that causes ghosting. Try disabling it or changing to Quality Mode.

Kittie_LeBeau 1 Dec, 2024 @ 1:58pm

any idea which flag gets rid of the petroleum jelly effect? eg. when you stand still everything is sharp if you move it becomes blurry if you use a scope and move you see trippy ghost rings.

JORO2077 29 Nov, 2024 @ 10:16am

After the update the game still has frame drops, is this a joke?

Rusty [author] 21 Nov, 2024 @ 3:47am

Thank you for your feedback. It seems there’s no universal solution for all systems; it’s all about trying different approaches and seeing what works best for your particular case.

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