The latest performance report for Borderlands 4 reveals significant enhancements for PC users. The comprehensive update showcases a notable 20% increase in average frames per second (FPS), achieved by the Optimization Team.
Improved Frame Rate and Stability
This update not only boosts average FPS but also reduces stutters. The optimization targets the low-end frame rates, specifically the 1% and 0.1% metrics, which are crucial for assessing frame stability. Enhancing these rates leads to a smoother gaming experience.
Addressing hitching issues, which can seriously disrupt gameplay, was a priority. The team refined the Pipeline State Objects (PSO) process. This improvement avoids overwhelming the system with excessive effects, thus minimizing stuttering.
Shader Optimization
Shader PSOs assist in accelerating rendering by enabling graphics drivers to produce optimal shaders based on specific conditions. However, generating these shaders can cause delays on initial encounters. The developers addressed this by pre-building shaders and allowing them to be generated in the background.
Graphics and Rendering Enhancements
- Borderlands 4 features billions of dynamically spawned guns with unique materials, presenting a challenge for rendering programmers.
- Improved detection of new materials ensures graphics drivers are adequately prepared for special effects and weapon configurations.
- Revisions to the Hierarchical Level of Detail (HLOD) optimized the rendering of distant areas without noticeable changes to players.
Reduced Crash Rates
Since the update’s December release, the crash rate has significantly improved. It has decreased from 0.63% to 0.38% of all sessions, with the number of players experiencing crashes dropping from 17% to 9.35%.
Visuals and Lighting Optimization
Enhanced visual effects now reduce GPU load by lowering polygon counts for various elements, including thruster exhausts and action effects. CPU strain has also been alleviated through refinements in Cryo damage effects and collision physics.
Utilizing Unreal Engine 5’s Virtual Shadow Maps technology has improved performance across the game world of Kairos. The dynamic lighting that adjusts for day and night cycles benefits significantly from this optimization, leading to more efficient per-frame calculations.
User Interface Improvements
Backend code updates have enhanced the efficiency of the user interface (UI). Players can enjoy faster navigation through the ECHO Menus and improved visibility of damage metrics without perceivable changes in functionality.
Ongoing Commitment to Improvement
The team recognizes the need for continuous improvement and values player feedback. They encourage users to report issues to 2K Support, helping the team identify and resolve performance challenges. The commitment to enhancing the gaming experience on Kairos remains strong, ensuring players can continue enjoying tailored graphics settings.
