The Outer Worlds should perform well if you’re fortunate enough to have a high-end PC. However, if you’re working with an older system, you’ll need to adjust your settings for optimal gameplay. Start by confirming that your hardware meets the minimum requirements. After that, make sure to update your GPU driver to the latest version.
Next, you can modify the game settings and make adjustments in the Windows folder to enhance performance. If executed properly, you’ll experience improved performance while playing The Outer Worlds.
1. Update Your GPU Drivers
The first step in preparing for any new game release is to update your GPU drivers. This essential process often provides a noticeable performance boost.
Visit the website of your GPU manufacturer and download the most recent drivers for your specific chipset. These drivers are specifically optimized for The Outer Worlds and can assist in enhancing your gaming experience.
2. Turn Off Ambient Occlusion, Depth of Field, and Other Graphics Settings
Ambient Occlusion usually remains enabled by default, regardless of whether you’re using High or Low settings. It’s advisable to disable it, along with Depth of Field, by modifying the Engine.ini file located in your My Documents folder, though the exact location can vary based on your game’s DRM. Alternatively, you can use the Windows search feature to locate it.
3. Adjust Graphics Quality
You have six different settings to choose from, which makes it challenging to customize the game extensively. The five presets—Low, Medium, High, Very High, and Ultra—determine texture and lighting quality.
The differences between these settings primarily revolve around reflections and lighting; even the Low setting offers a surprisingly impressive visual experience.
With this in mind, we can identify which settings to reduce for higher frame rates. It’s common practice in games to lower Shadows for better performance, and the same applies here.
If you reduce your Shadow settings, you can expect approximately a 10 to 15 percent boost in performance. If your setup struggles, consider switching them to Medium or Low, which will lead to a significant performance enhancement.
While Visual Effects like Chromatic Aberration, light flares, and blood effects don’t significantly impact system performance, you can disable them for those extra frame rates. However, keeping them enabled allows you to appreciate the game’s intricate details.
Enabling VSync and capping your frame rates can also provide a slight performance improvement without sacrificing quality.
If you need further optimization, adjust the 3D Resolution setting, located under the Resolution options in the Graphics tab. Lowering this percentage renders the game at a reduced resolution, so if you’re playing at 1080p at 100%, consider lowering it a bit to find what works best for you.
4. Windows Tweaks for Enhanced Performance
You can implement several additional tweaks in Windows to enhance performance:
- Ensure all unnecessary applications are closed.
- Open Task Manager, navigate to the Details tab, right-click the IndianaEpicGameStore-Win64-Shipping.exe, and set its priority to High. This can help mitigate stuttering.
- If you’re using an SSD, consider moving the game there for a smoother experience, since an HDD’s slower Read and Write speeds can impact gameplay.
- Press Win+R, type in %temp%, and delete all files in the Temp folder.
- In the command prompt, type ‘temp’ and delete all files again.
- Type ‘prefetch’ in the command prompt and delete the contents once more.
Implementing these adjustments will help you achieve the optimal settings for enjoying The Outer Worlds at glorious high frame rates. It’s a stunning game best experienced under optimal conditions.