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Technical CentreKnown issues, diagnostics and performance
CurrentPatch 1.17.00

PC Graphics & Performance

A controlled PC tuning and fault-isolation ladder for image quality, frame pacing, crashes and current Patch 1.16 graphics changes.

Evidence
Official source
Verified
2026-08-08
Spoilers
No spoilers

Use this page to make one measured change at a time. It does not promise a universal frame rate: Pearl Abyss states that published performance results are internal tests, and real results depend on hardware, drivers, resolution, scene and settings.

Record:

  • CPU, GPU and RAM;
  • Windows version;
  • launcher and game version;
  • GPU driver;
  • display resolution and refresh rate;
  • graphics preset;
  • upscaler and quality mode;
  • frame generation state;
  • ray tracing, Ray Reconstruction or Ray Regeneration state;
  • HDR state;
  • the exact scene and action used for testing.

Confirm the system meets Pearl Abyss’s current requirements before diagnosing settings.

Pearl Abyss officially lists:

  • AMD FSR 3 and 4;
  • NVIDIA DLSS 4 and 4.5;
  • Intel XeSS 3;
  • AMD FSR Ray Regeneration;
  • NVIDIA DLSS Ray Reconstruction;
  • frame generation on PC.

Patch 1.16.00 implemented AMD FSR SDK 2.3.0, added FSR Upscaling 4.1 support for Radeon RX 7000-series GPUs and updated Ray Regeneration to 1.2.0.

  1. Start from a stable preset.
  2. Set the intended output resolution and refresh rate.
  3. Choose one upscaler and disable competing reconstruction options.
  4. Test without frame generation to establish real render performance.
  5. Reduce the settings with the greatest visible scene cost.
  6. Retest the same route for several minutes.
  7. Enable frame generation only after base frame pacing is stable.
  8. Add HDR and advanced ray features one at a time.
  9. Keep the final settings only if a save-and-reload test remains stable.
  • repeat the same route to separate shader or asset warm-up from persistent stutter;
  • close overlays and capture tools one at a time;
  • confirm the game is on the intended GPU;
  • check temperature and clock behaviour without changing overclock settings;
  • compare frame pacing before comparing average frame rate;
  • test a capped frame rate below the unstable peak;
  • record whether the fault begins after a menu, cutscene, fast travel or character switch.
  1. Preserve saves.
  2. Return CPU, GPU and memory tuning to known-good settings.
  3. Verify game files through the installed launcher.
  4. Record the current driver before changing it.
  5. test with overlays disabled;
  6. test the exact failing action once;
  7. collect the crash time, location and action;
  8. check Patch 1.16 notes and Current Known Issues;
  9. submit a reproducible report if the fault remains.

Do not delete saves or configuration folders as a first response.

For blur, ghosting, flicker or unstable edges:

  • compare native output with one upscaler;
  • disable frame generation temporarily;
  • test depth of field, motion blur and sharpening separately;
  • confirm dynamic resolution is not changing the test;
  • verify the display is using the intended resolution and HDR mode;
  • capture the same frame with settings and patch recorded.