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DigitalFoundry: What's Up With Nier Automata on PC? (Also stutters on PS4/Pro)
- Thread starter Jimmyfenix
- Start date
I think that's generally something where you have to grant some lenience.
For smaller games like this one in particular, which is
- too small to get active support from GPU manufacturers (which all the AAA games and large engines have); but at the same time
- uses a completely custom engine
And I say that because unlike many other porting issues we see these days, like lack of resolution support, low-res assets, or even the fullscreen thing in this one, even if I were personally working on it I really can't say if I could fix it in time. This type of issue can get really difficult.
Yeah, but it would be a nice slider for making it more scalable to lower-end systems. Certainly better than dropping the resolution I would think.
copelandmaster
Member
Is there a way to fix the way the engine stream assets (and then stutters as a result)? Would this have been too expensive to fix for just the PC port? Do other open world games have similar problems?
This is my number one problem with this game.I wouldn't even care if they left the bad LOD settings in
, I just want a smoother game. It's so noticeable because you are running at high speeds all the time.
This is my number one problem with this game.
wtf am i saying?
Many do.
Heck, pretty much most of UE3 engine games, no matter if open world or not have this issue.
That's fair; I get that, however the drivers which are causing the issue aren't that new and AMD don't have the biggest marketshare but are pretty big. Either way, it's an issue.
Not saying I blame them 100% and appreciate the port but it is clearly an issue for a large number of end users (customers).
From a business point of view I also think it would be wise to give some kind of commentary around any issues impacting a proportion of their base. It's nice to hear a fix for issues is coming soon but all issues or just performance?
From the user side, running the game off a fast SSD and having ample RAM helps. I only get very minor stutter (we are talking 1 or 2 dropped frames) when traversing the entire central city area mounted.
From a developer's perspective, of course it could be improved with some specific work for the PC version, loading more assets in memory for high-end (e.g. 16 GB of RAM or more) systems and adding e.g. a setting for LoD distances.
But honestly, with the current counterproductive climate, adding an option resulting in better LoD distances and handling than on consoles would probably get more people complaining, after they set it to the maximum and it had an impact on their performance
I fully agree with everything you said.
I just wanted to clarify that it's not something where you can point at the developer/publisher and rightfully say "you're being stupid and/or completely disinterested in the quality of your PC releases" like with, say, K-T.
Sorry, just regular crashes then. I was able to use the task manager to close the game both times it crashed and reopened it without any problems.
From the user side, running the game off a fast SSD and having ample RAM helps. I only get very minor stutter (we are talking 1 or 2 dropped frames) when traversing the entire central city area mounted.
From a developer's perspective, of course it could be improved with some specific work for the PC version, loading more assets in memory for high-end (e.g. 16 GB of RAM or more) systems and adding e.g. a setting for LoD distances.
But honestly, with the current counterproductive climate, adding an option resulting in better LoD distances and handling than on consoles would probably get more people complaining, after they set it to the maximum and it had an impact on their performance
I fully agree with everything you said.
I just wanted to clarify that it's not something were you can point at the developer/publisher and rightfully say "you're being stupid and/or completely disinterested in the quality of your PC releases" like with, say, K-T.
Oh I agree, a lot of work will have gone in to this and it's a pretty good quality release (from what I managed to get through).
From a media point of view it would also be nice to get some push on this I suppose, so the Developer/Publisher have some impetus to let us know whats happening.
Anyways, will keep checking back until there's some kind of fix, either from the Dev's or AMD.
By jumping through hoops do you mean literally downloading RTSS and letting it run in the background? The main benefit of PC gaming is that most PC games are not optimized for any framerate. They run at whatever the hardware can push at whatever settings you have it on.
There really aren't any 30fps locked PC ports anymore (although rare ones do make it through, generally from Japanese devs).
CrispyBoar
Banned
Between the PS4 version & on PC, I might as well pick it up on PS4.
Based on literally what? By all accounts the game is running better or the same if you have similar hardware as PS4 or PS4 Pro.
copelandmaster
Member
From the user side, running the game off a fast SSD and having ample RAM helps. I only get very minor stutter (we are talking 1 or 2 dropped frames) when traversing the entire central city area mounted.
From a developer's perspective, of course it could be improved with some specific work for the PC version, loading more assets in memory for high-end (e.g. 16 GB of RAM or more) systems and adding e.g. a setting for LoD distances.
But honestly, with the current counterproductive climate, adding an option resulting in better LoD distances and handling than on consoles would probably get more people complaining, after they set it to the maximum and it had an impact on their performance
I have Nier installed on a SATA 3 EVO and am using 16GB 1600 ram. No hitching to be found, but plenty of stuttering to be had. Not a happy camper
.The culture of "X game" - Ultra/Max settings 1440p" is stingy one, yeah.
But at the same time, for everyone else, maybe more developers should put detailed descriptions for each setting (especially for AA options and their differences), and be a little more careful with their defaults. Nier by default has 8x MSAA for its high setting, and doesn't disclose that its MSAA and not a much lighter FXAA or something. Nor does it clarify that AO and PPA are wrapped into one setting and that turning it on directly conflicts with the MSAA setting. So now you have a game that to the surface observer runs in an unexpected manner and looks funny.
CrispyBoar
Banned
Thanks, I didn't realize it.
Altered Juice
Member
ahahaha gotta love DF comparison threads.
"Yikes at the *insert system* version!" is all it takes to get the ball rolling
Antilurker77
Member
I'm surprised with how many people are giving the stuttering cutscenes a pass. For such a story heavy game its a total deal-breaker for me. I hope it gets patched or a fix is found soon, its the main thing stopping me from diving into this game.
User made fix already exists. Re-encoding to MPEG-4 or downloading fixed files.
If it's stuttering rather than hitching, have you tried RTSS?I have Nier installed on a SATA 3 EVO and am using 16GB 1600 ram. No hitching to be found, but plenty of stuttering to be had. Not a happy camper
I have found that in borderless windowed mode with in-game V-sync on and capping to 60 FPS using RTSS frame delivery is basically perfectly paced on my system (during gameplay).
grandwizard
Member
Lol that video title. Good ole alarmism.
Yes, RTSS and the control nvidia panel. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I tried and failed, for example, to make Witcher 3 not run like ass (jerky camera) at 30 fps despite using rtss and the half refresh rate option in the nvidia control panel. Certainly less smooth than what you get with a 30 fps lock on a PS4 Pro. Now I don't care since I have a 1070, but hey. It just seems to me that those workarounds don't always work as they should, and that you end up with a superior experience on less powerful consoles. A smooth properly paced 30 fps is better imo than a 35-55 fps jumping framerate.
Antilurker77
Member
That fix doesn't work. I've been talking to some people who said the fix worked for them, only for them to discover it was a fluke and that they still have stuttering. Not every cutscene has the stutter issue, which lead to a bunch of false positives about the fix working.
Sad Affleck
Member
For me its because my TV doesnt do 60hz, its always 59.97. Usually RTSS does fix it though, tge fullscreen fix changes the framepacing enough for me to not have random judder.
Kaldaien's fix introduced hard frame rate drops when it loads new data for me. That never happens with the vanilla version, though the fullscreen picture is blurry upscaled.
I wonder if DigitalFoundry is measuring with that fix installed or not.
Yeah. Everything else is maxed. I mostly get 60 FPS but it dips to ~50 at times when you'd think it would be OK.
copelandmaster
Member
I've had it capped at 60fps in RTSS for days, and have had MSAA off for about a day. Borderless window since launch.
1080p, GTX 980 Kingpin.
With Vysnc off, I get stuttering while the readout reads 60fps, 16.6ms. When I get drops, 59.9, 58.9, etc.
With Vysnc on, still get stuttering with similar readouts, but now the game actually starts to
It's the most bizzare thing I've ever seen. Usually RTSS+Vysnc saves the day in every other game I've ever played.
I've tried recording my experiences but of course the easiest method, GFE, changes performance in the game.
Abilidebob
Member
Cross posting from the other thread:
On STEAM forums
Niiice. Pretty impressive how quickly people are fixing the game. And here I thought Denuvo would be an impediment for those fixes.
capylikesgames
Banned
My rig cost about 550$ and it runs it at PS4 Pro settings and performance. The extra cost is fairly justified by all the things a PC can do, so I'm definitely not regretting it, especially not over one game.
HoodWinked
Member
i dunno if its a bad port since the problem is in both versions. its more of an issue with the base game. but there are many pc games with micro stuttering and judder like every Bethesda game.
but i get why they point it out in this game since its a heavy action game while other games get a pass.
but i get why they point it out in this game since its a heavy action game while other games get a pass.
Pretty soon you'll just need to have a toaster to run this game at 1080p.
Clear
CliffyB's Cock Holster
If Pro is anything to judge by its not action heavy scenes that are an issue, its during extended periods of movement. The game actually holds up pretty well during the heaviest action moments, so its not like its any real impediment to the gameplay.
That's essentially the same as the PC stuttering too. Battles do not suffer from it at all.
sixteen-bit
Member
Just fine @ 160p
SomedayTheFire
Member
So, same as PC?
copelandmaster
Member
I just checked again. Slow down isn't accurate. With the cap+Vysnc on my FPS drops to 40 briefly before going back up. I had to turn the camera while running around the pillar area to force this behavior. Plenty of 60fps, 16.6ms+stuttering to be had, all round. It's aggravating.
EDIT: The double pillar area by the lake is a serious problem area. Turned Vysnc off. RTSS gives me clean readings, and isn't reporting FPS drops. And yet the stuttering is insane here.
cap+Vysnc off or on - there is no winning solution. I am at a complete loss right now.
EDIT: The double pillar area by the lake is a serious problem area. Turned Vysnc off. RTSS gives me clean readings, and isn't reporting FPS drops. And yet the stuttering is insane here.
cap+Vysnc off or on - there is no winning solution. I am at a complete loss right now.
Ricerocket
Member
That's a proper priority for this game, while the engine is suffering when moving around with the popins and could be improved but essentially, it's not really broken or bad. You can play the game just fine.
GhostTrick
Banned
Yeah sure. I dont remember paying my R9 290 based rig for more than 500 dollars... in 2014. For better performances than a 400 dollars PS4 Pro... in 2016.
Game runs as the same on PS4 Pro than it does on an equivalent PC GPU.
JetSetRadio
Banned
Pro seems ok, would like to see a patch but knowing platinum it'll hit 9.99 first.
Just too many games really this year.
Just too many games really this year.
People have explained what the problems are and why they exist. If you refuse to understand, and choose instead to idiotically make sarcastic remarks we cannot help you.
RTSS doesn't work for all users though, like me. It has no effect on games like dmc4, dying light, and killing floor 2 where I get stutters.
Man you're coming at this like it was some kind of Koei-Tecmo port.
lmimmfn
Member
Lol, this