Atomfall Low FPS Drops on PC and Boost Performance: “Atomfall, an action survival game slated for release in 2025, is crafted and published by Rebellion Developments. The game transports players to an alternate 1960s timeline, where the Windscale nuclear incidents have rendered large parts of Northern England a radioactive quarantine zone.
While it boasts a captivating and expansive open-world environment, many PC gamers have reported encountering performance challenges, including low frame rates, stuttering, and frame drops.
If you find yourself facing these performance issues, rest assured that you’re not the only one. This guide aims to provide you with various troubleshooting techniques to enhance your gaming experience and optimize performance.”
Fix: How to Improve Performance in Atomfall on PC
To enhance your gaming experience, follow the steps outlined below sequentially, testing the game after each one to monitor any improvements in performance.
Verify System Specifications
Before diving into troubleshooting, ensure your computer meets or surpasses the game’s specified system requirements.
Minimum Specifications:
- A 64-bit processor and operating system are necessary.
- Operating System: Windows 10 or a later version.
- Processor: At least an Intel Core i5-9400f or a comparable model.
- Memory: A minimum of 16 GB of RAM is required.
- Graphics: Nvidia 2060 with 6GB or an equivalent graphics card.
- DirectX: Must be version 12 or higher.
- Storage: At least 60 GB of free space is essential.
If your system does not meet these specifications, consider adjusting your in-game settings to lower levels, or think about upgrading your hardware for an improved gaming experience.
2. Update Graphics Drivers
Using outdated or faulty GPU drivers can significantly affect your gaming experience, causing issues like lag, stuttering, and drops in frames per second (FPS).
Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure your drivers are current.
Here’s how to update your GPU drivers:
- Right-click the Start Menu and choose Device Manager.
- Locate and expand the Display adapters section.
- Right-click on your graphics card and select Update driver.
- Opt for the option that says Search automatically for drivers.
Alternatively, you can manually download and install the latest drivers from the manufacturers’ official sites:
- For NVIDIA users, obtain GeForce Experience.
- For AMD users, download AMD Radeon Software.
After the update is complete, restart your computer and launch your game to see if there’s an improvement in performance.
3. Optimize In-Game Graphics Settings
If your PC struggles to handle high or ultra graphics settings, you may experience a significant drop in frames per second (FPS). To enhance your gaming performance, consider optimizing your graphics settings as follows:
Optimized Graphics Settings for Improved FPS:
- Texture Quality: Choose Medium or Low for better efficiency.
- Shadow Quality: Set this to Low to lighten the graphical load.
- Ray Tracing: Disable this feature to boost FPS.
- V-Sync: Turn it off unless you encounter screen tearing issues.
- DLSS / FSR: Activate this option if available, as it can enhance FPS.
- Screen Mode: Switch to Fullscreen for a more stable performance.
Once you’ve made these adjustments, restart the game to check for any improvements in performance.
4. Close Background Applications
Background applications that are not essential can utilize CPU, RAM, and disk resources, which may hinder the performance of your game.
To terminate unneeded processes, follow these steps:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to access the Task Manager.
- Navigate to the Processes tab.
- Look for tasks that are consuming a significant amount of CPU or RAM.
- Right-click on any unnecessary processes and choose ‘End Task.’
Be sure to close programs such as Google Chrome, any ongoing file downloads, and streaming services before starting your game to optimize performance.
5. Set the Game to High Priority
To ensure that Atomfall receives optimal system resources, you can designate it as a high-priority application within Windows.
Here’s how to adjust its priority:
- Start Atomfall and let it run in the background.
- Access the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
- Navigate to the Details tab.
- Locate Atomfall.exe, right-click on it, and choose the option to Set Priority, then select High.
This adjustment allows Windows to allocate additional resources to enhance your gaming experience.
6. Enable High-Performance Mode in Windows
By default, Windows operates in Balanced Mode, which might restrict the performance of your CPU and GPU.
To activate High Performance Mode, follow these steps:
- Access the Control Panel and navigate to Power Options.
- Choose the High Performance setting.
If you’re gaming on a laptop, ensure it is connected to a power source for optimal performance.
7. Disable Overlay Applications
Software overlays from platforms such as Steam, Discord, NVIDIA GeForce Experience, and Xbox Game Bar may lead to a decrease in frames per second (FPS) during gameplay.
Steps to Disable Overlays:
Disabling the Steam Overlay:
- Launch the Steam application and navigate to your Library.
- Find Atomfall in your game list, right-click on it, and select ‘Properties.’
- In the General section, uncheck the option that says “Enable Steam Overlay while in-game.”
Disabling the Discord Overlay:
- Open the Discord application.
- Navigate to Settings and select ‘Game Overlay.’
- Turn off the toggle for ‘Enable in-game overlay.’
Additionally, if you are using NVIDIA GeForce Experience, MSI Afterburner, or Xbox Game Bar, make sure to disable those overlays as well to enhance your gaming performance.
8. Update Windows & DirectX
Using an older version of Windows or DirectX may lead to various performance challenges.
Updating Windows:
- Open the Settings menu by pressing Win + I simultaneously.
- Navigate to Update & Security, then select Windows Update.
- Click on the “Check for updates” option, and if updates are found, proceed with the installation.
Updating DirectX:
- Visit Microsoft’s official website to download the latest DirectX Web Installer.
- Run the installer and restart your computer to complete the update.
9. Verify Game Files (Steam & Epic Games)
Should you encounter issues with missing or corrupted files in Atomfall, performing a verification process can resolve the problem.
For Steam Players:
- Launch the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
- Right-click on Atomfall and choose “Properties” from the context menu.
- In the Properties window, head to the Local Files section and click on “Verify Integrity of Game Files.”
For Epic Games Players:
- Open the Epic Games Launcher and access your Library.
- Locate Atomfall and click on the three-dot menu adjacent to the title.
- Select “Verify” and allow the process to finish to ensure all game files are intact.
10. Reinstall the Game
In the event that other troubleshooting methods do not resolve the issue, you may need to consider reinstalling the game.
Here’s how to proceed with the reinstallation:
- Navigate to Control Panel and select Programs & Features to uninstall Atomfall.
- Manually remove the game’s installation directory from your system.
- Restart your computer to ensure all changes take effect.
- Finally, download and reinstall the game through either Steam or Epic Games.
Final Thoughts
Performance issues like lag, stuttering, and frame drops can take away from the immersive world Atomfall sets out to deliver—but most of these problems are fixable.
Whether it’s updating your GPU drivers, tweaking in-game graphics settings, or optimizing your system for gaming, the solutions in this guide should help you get smoother, more stable gameplay.
If you’re still facing problems after trying everything, keep an eye out for official patches or performance updates from Rebellion. Game optimization often improves over time, especially following community feedback. In the meantime, stay safe out there in the quarantine zone—and enjoy the game!
Overwatch 2 FPS Drop on Nintendo Switch | Increase Performance: How to FIX