Lightyear Frontier FPS Drops on PC: How to Fix Performance?

Lightyear Frontier FPS Drops on PC: In March 2024, FRAME BREAK and Amplifier Studios successfully launched the online co-op farming simulator, Lightyear Frontier, featuring mechs, and it has quickly gained popularity among Windows and Xbox gamers.

Players are enjoying the captivating gameplay and impressive graphics the game offers. However, it’s important to note that the Early Access version has been experiencing significant performance issues, particularly related to frame rates.

As is common with online cooperative games, Lightyear Frontier is facing challenges such as lag and frame rate drops during play sessions. This is not unusual, especially given that many players have reported experiencing FPS drops on PC, even when their systems meet the required specifications. While the developers are aware of these issues and are actively working on fixes, it may take a few updates before stability is achieved.

It’s essential for players to understand that FPS drops can occur for various reasons. Identifying these factors can be beneficial before attempting any troubleshooting steps.

Steps to Fix Lightyear Frontier FPS Drops on PC

It is quite possible that your PC is struggling to meet the minimum system requirements necessary for optimal gameplay in Lightyear Frontier.

Various factors could be contributing to performance issues, including an outdated version of the game, an outdated graphics driver, corrupted game files, software conflicts, an incompatible DirectX version, conflicts with overlay applications, failure to utilize the high-performance graphics card, temporary system glitches, or even a corrupted Steam library.

Additionally, your graphics card may not support the Direct3D Hardware Feature Level 11.0, which can hinder performance.

Other culprits may include unnecessary background processes, conflicts with startup applications, issues with security software, problems related to the shader cache, insufficient virtual memory, and difficulties with Steam’s cloud services.

These factors can significantly impact frame rates and overall gameplay experience for many users on Windows computers.

Fortunately, we have compiled a list of troubleshooting steps that may prove helpful in addressing these issues. We recommend going through each method systematically until the problem is resolved. Let’s dive in and explore the solutions available to enhance your gaming experience.

1. Power Cycle the PC

We recommend that our readers utilize the power cycle method or perform a standard system reboot to address any potential system glitches. Occasionally, Windows updates may install in the background while leaving the system in a state that requires a restart. To resolve this, it’s advisable to carry out a power cycle on your PC by following these steps:

1. Open the Start menu and select the Power option.
2. Choose Shut Down to turn off your computer.
3. Disconnect the power cable from the outlet.
4. Allow at least one minute to pass.
5. Reconnect the power cable to the outlet.
6. Finally, turn your computer back on and launch the game.

This process can help refresh your system and improve performance.

2. Check for System Requirements

It’s quite likely that your PC’s specifications could fall behind or become incompatible with the system requirements of the game.

To assist you, we have outlined the minimum system requirements below so you can verify whether your PC meets them. Be aware that compatibility issues can frequently result in decreased performance.

OS: Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core i3-4170 / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
Memory: 12 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1050 / AMD Radeon RX 460
Storage: 10 GB available space
Additional Notes: Low settings, 720p, 30 fps

3. Check for the Graphics Driver Update

One effective approach to enhance your gaming experience is to ensure that your graphics driver is up-to-date. Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can lead to performance issues, including frame rate drops and visual glitches, especially in demanding video games. Here’s how you can update your graphics driver:

Automatic Update Process:

1. Open the Start menu and type “Device Manager” in the search bar, then select it from the results.

2. In the Device Manager window, locate and expand the “Display Adapters” section.

3. Find your dedicated graphics card, right-click on it, and choose “Update Driver.”

4. Select “Search automatically for drivers.” If an update is available, it will be downloaded and installed automatically.

5. After the installation is complete, restart your computer to apply the changes.

Manual Update Process:

If no updates are found using the automatic method, you can manually check for updates by visiting the official website of your graphics card’s manufacturer.

Locate the latest driver corresponding to your specific graphics card model, download it, and run the installer. After the installation is complete, make sure to reboot your PC. For further assistance, you can refer to the link provided below:

4. Run Lightyear Frontier as an Administrator

It’s quite possible that many PC gamers are facing issues due to a lack of system administrator permissions for their game applications. Without these permissions, the game may not function correctly or may experience performance problems. To resolve this, you can grant system administrator access to your game by following these steps:

1. Launch the Steam client on your computer.
2. Navigate to your Library section.
3. Locate and right-click on “Lightyear Frontier.”
4. Select the “Manage” option from the context menu.
5. Click on “Browse local files” to access the game files.
6. Find the installed game directory on your PC.
7. Right-click on the file named “LightyearFrontier.exe.”
8. Choose “Properties” and then switch to the “Compatibility” tab.
9. Enable the option that says “Run this program as an administrator.”
10. Finally, click “Apply” and then “OK” to confirm your changes.

By following these steps, you should be able to enhance the performance and stability of your game.

5. Update Lightyear Frontier

To ensure optimal performance for your game, it’s important to verify if there are any updates available on your PC. An outdated game patch can negatively impact your gaming experience. Follow these instructions to check for updates:

1. Launch the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
2. Select Lightyear Frontier from the list on the left.
3. If an update is available, click on the Update button.
4. After the installation is complete, restart your PC to apply the changes.

By keeping your game up to date, you can enhance its performance and enjoy a smoother gaming experience.

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6. Verify the Integrity of the Game Files

Corrupted or missing game files can often hinder a player’s ability to run a game smoothly on their PC. To address these issues, it’s advisable to verify the integrity of your game files through Steam. Follow the steps outlined below to ensure everything is in order:

1. Open the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
2. Locate Lightyear Frontier in your game list and right-click on it.
3. Select Properties, then head to the Local Files section.
4. Click on “Verify Integrity of Game Files.”
5. Allow the verification process to finish, and then restart your PC.
6. Finally, launch the game and see if the problem persists.

This process can help resolve any glitches you may be experiencing.

7. Use High-Performance Graphics

If you’re utilizing a dedicated external graphics card on your Windows computer, it’s essential to ensure that it’s being used for specific games, particularly if you want to maximize performance. By doing so, you can leverage the capabilities of your dedicated graphics card rather than relying on integrated HD graphics. Many gamers have found this approach beneficial for enhancing their gaming experience. To set this up, follow the instructions below based on your GPU type.

For Nvidia Graphics Cards:

1. Right-click on your desktop.
2. Select the NVIDIA Control Panel from the menu.
3. Navigate to the 3D Settings section and choose “Manage 3D Settings” from the left sidebar.
4. Go to the “Program Settings” tab.
5. Locate and select Lightyear Frontier from the list of applications.
6. Choose the “High-performance NVIDIA processor” option.
7. Save your changes and restart your computer to ensure the new settings take effect.

For AMD Graphics Cards:

1. Right-click on your desktop.
2. Choose AMD Radeon Settings from the context menu.
3. Click on “System” and then select “Switchable Graphics.”
4. Save your changes and restart your computer to apply the updates.

By following these steps, you can optimize your gaming performance by ensuring that your dedicated graphics card is utilized for your favorite games.

8. Remove Recently Installed Windows Updates

If you’ve recently applied a software update or a security patch on your Windows system, it’s possible that the new version may have introduced some bugs. To determine if the update is the cause of any issues you’re experiencing, you can manually uninstall that specific patch by following these steps:

1. Open the Start menu and select Settings.
2. Navigate to Windows Update on the left sidebar.
3. Click on Update History to review your installed updates.
4. Scroll down and choose the option to Uninstall Updates.
5. You will see a list of recently installed updates. Locate the one you want to remove.
6. Click Uninstall next to the update you wish to remove.
7. Confirm your choice and allow some time for the uninstallation process to complete.
8. Your system will automatically restart once the process is finished.
9. After rebooting, launch the game to see if the issue has been resolved.

By following these steps, you can assess whether the recent update is affecting your system’s performance.

9. Delete the Temporary Files from your PC

To ensure optimal performance while playing the game, it’s essential to clear out temporary files that may be interfering with the system. Follow these steps to effectively eliminate those files:

1. Press the Win+R keys simultaneously on your keyboard to launch the Run dialog box.
2. Enter the command %temp% and hit Enter to access the Temporary folder.
3. To select all the files within this folder, use the Ctrl+A shortcut.
4. Then, press Shift+Delete to permanently remove the selected files from your system.
5. It’s possible that some temporary files might not be deletable; this is completely normal, and you can simply leave those behind.
6. After completing these steps, restart your computer to see if the issue has been resolved.

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10. Close Background Running Processes

One effective way to improve your system’s performance is to manually terminate any unnecessary background applications. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Open the Task Manager by pressing the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys simultaneously.
2. Navigate to the Processes tab, where you will see a list of running applications.
3. Identify and select any third-party processes that are not essential for your current tasks.
4. Click on “End Task” to close these selected applications.
5. Repeat this for each non-essential task, ensuring that you avoid terminating any system processes.
6. After you have finished, restart your computer to implement the changes.

By following these steps, you can free up system resources and potentially enhance your computer’s overall efficiency.

11. Disable Overlay Applications

If you’re experiencing performance issues while gaming, it may be beneficial to manually disable certain unnecessary overlay applications on your PC.

This can enhance your overall gaming experience and potentially boost your frame rates. Below are detailed instructions on how to disable various overlays:

### Disabling Game Mode:

1. Press **Win + I** to access the Windows Settings.
2. Navigate to **Gaming** and select **Game Mode**.
3. Toggle the **Game Mode** option to **Off**.
4. Restart your PC to ensure the changes take effect.

### Turning Off Steam In-Game Overlay:

1. Open the **Steam client** and go to your **Library**.
2. Locate **Lightyear Frontier**, right-click on it, and select **Properties**.
3. Under the **General** tab, uncheck the option that says **Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game**.
4. Restart your PC for the changes to be applied.

### Disabling Xbox Game Bar:

1. Access Windows Settings by pressing **Win + I**.
2. Click on **Gaming** and select **Game Bar**.
3. Switch off the option labeled **Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using the Game Bar**.

### Disabling Discord Overlay:

1. Launch the **Discord app**.
2. Click on the gear icon located at the bottom to open **User Settings**.
3. Select **Overlay** from the **App Settings** section.
4. Make sure the **Enable in-game overlay** option is switched on.
5. Go to the **Games** tab, find **Lightyear Frontier**, and toggle **Enable in-game overlay** to **Off**.
6. Restart your PC to implement the changes.

### Turning Off Nvidia GeForce Experience Overlay:

1. Open the **Nvidia GeForce Experience** application.
2. Click on the gear icon (Options) in the top right corner.
3. Disable the **In-Game Overlay** feature.
4. Launch the game to see if the performance has improved.

By following these steps, you should be able to optimize your gaming setup and enhance performance. Be sure to restart your computer after making these adjustments to ensure they take effect.

12. Turn Off Antivirus

To enhance your gaming experience, we suggest that our readers add an exception for the game in their antivirus software. This will prevent the security features from interfering with game performance. To temporarily disable antivirus protection, please follow the steps outlined below:

1. Press the Windows key + I to access the Settings menu.
2. Navigate to the Privacy & Security section.
3. Select Windows Security from the options available.
4. Click on Virus & Threat Protection.
5. Locate and click on Manage Settings.
6. Disable the Real-time Protection option.
7. Turn off the Dev Drive Protection setting.
8. Also, disable the Cloud-delivered Protection feature.
9. Finally, turn off the Tamper Protection setting.

After completing these adjustments, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect. You can then launch the game to see if there are any improvements in frame rate performance.

13. Update Windows

It may be necessary to install any outstanding Windows updates, as they can resolve system conflicts and bugs. Each new update typically introduces enhancements and features that address various issues. To manually check for updates on your PC, follow these steps:

1. Press the Win+I keys to access the Windows Settings.
2. Navigate to the Windows Update section.
3. Click on the option to Check for updates.
4. If updates are found, select the Download and Install option.
5. Allow the update process to complete.
6. Once the update is finished, restart your computer to implement the changes.

14. Disable Startup Apps (Clean Boot)

Certain applications and their services may initiate automatically when your system starts up, potentially consuming significant amounts of internet bandwidth and system resources. If you’re experiencing similar issues, it’s advisable to perform a clean boot on your computer to diagnose the problem. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Press the Windows key + R to bring up the Run dialog box.
2. Type in “msconfig” and hit Enter to access the System Configuration window.
3. Navigate to the Services tab, and check the box that says “Hide all Microsoft services.”
4. Click on “Disable all,” then apply the changes and exit the menu.
5. Next, head over to the Startup tab and select “Open Task Manager.”
6. In the Task Manager, switch to the Startup tab.
7. Identify any applications with a significant startup impact, select them, and click “Disable” to prevent them from launching at startup.
8. Repeat this process for any other high-impact programs you wish to disable.

After completing these steps, restart your computer to implement the changes. Some common programs that might be worth disabling include Microsoft Edge Startup Boost, Adobe Updater, OneDrive, Razer Synapse, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft To Do, Phone Link, MSEdge, Steam, Telegram Desktop, WhatsApp, Spotify, and Logitech software. Disabling these can help optimize your system’s performance at startup.

15. Turn Off Steam Cloud

The Steam platform automatically enables the Cloud backup feature, which you can customize for each individual game. If you have this feature activated for Lightyear Frontier, it’s important to turn it off manually.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Launch the Steam client.
2. Navigate to the Steam menu located in the upper left corner.
3. Select the Settings option from the dropdown menu.
4. In the left sidebar, find and click on the Cloud tab.
5. Finally, disable the “Enable Steam Cloud” option by toggling it off.

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16. Repair the Steam Library Folders

Issues with Steam library folders, such as missing or corrupted files, can lead to various conflicts when running games. To manually resolve these issues, follow the steps outlined below to repair your Steam library folders.

1. Launch the Steam client and navigate to the top-left corner to click on the Steam tab.
2. From the dropdown menu, select Settings, then proceed to the Downloads section.
3. In the Downloads settings, locate and click on Steam Library Folders.
4. Find the directory for the Lightyear Frontier game, right-click on it, and choose the option to Repair Library Folder.
5. If prompted, grant the necessary permissions to initiate the repair process.
6. Allow some time for the repair to complete.
7. After the process is finished, restart your computer to apply the changes immediately.

Following these steps should help restore the functionality of your Steam library folders.

17. Run the DirectX Installer

To enhance your PC’s performance and mitigate FPS drops, it is advisable to obtain the DirectX installer from the official Microsoft website. Simply download the installer and execute it to update your system to the latest version of DirectX. This update can significantly improve your gaming experience.

18. Force Run DirectX 11 on Steam

To enhance your gaming experience, it’s advisable to manually launch Lightyear Frontier using the DirectX 11 version through a specific command option. This approach can help identify and resolve any issues related to an outdated DirectX 11 installation on your computer.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open your Steam client and navigate to your LIBRARY.
2. Locate Lightyear Frontier and right-click on it.
3. Select ‘Properties’ from the context menu.
4. In the left sidebar, click on the ‘GENERAL’ tab.
5. Find the Launch Options section and enter -dx11 in the provided text box.
6. Once you’ve added the command, return to the main menu and start the game.

By following these steps, you can ensure that the game runs using DirectX 11, optimizing your performance and minimizing potential issues.

19. Try Increasing the Shader Cache Size

Every video game creates a shader cache upon startup to ensure that the game files operate smoothly. However, if the shader cache becomes corrupted, you may experience performance issues.

To address this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu on your computer.
2. Access the Nvidia Control Panel.
3. Navigate to “Manage 3D Settings” in the left sidebar.
4. Switch to the Global Settings tab on the right.
5. Scroll down to find the options.
6. Locate and select “Shader Cache Size.”
7. If it is disabled, choose either “Driver Default” or set it to “10GB.”
8. Click “Apply” to confirm your changes.
9. Launch the game to see if there are any frame rate drops.

If you continue to experience issues, proceed to the next troubleshooting method.

20. Increase the Virtual Memory

If the previous solutions did not resolve your issue, you may want to consider increasing the virtual memory on your Windows computer. Insufficient physical RAM can lead to various performance problems while gaming, so adjusting the virtual memory settings could be beneficial.

Important: Ensure you are logged in as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group to perform this adjustment. Additionally, be aware that network policy settings may also impact performance if your computer is connected to a network.

Here’s how to increase your virtual memory:

1. Open the Start menu and select **Control Panel**.
2. Navigate to **Performance and Maintenance**, then click on **System**.
3. In the **Advanced** tab, click on **Settings** under the **Performance** section.
4. Within the **Advanced** tab, find and click on **Change** under **Virtual Memory**.
5. Select the drive that contains the paging file you wish to modify under **Drive [Volume Label]**.
6. For **Paging file size for the selected drive**, choose the option for **System Managed Size**.
7. Click on **Set**, and then select **Custom size** for the paging file.
8. In the **Initial size (MB)** and **Maximum size (MB)** fields, input values that are 1.5 to 2 times greater than your physical RAM.
9. Enter your desired paging file size in megabytes.
10. Click on **Set** to confirm your changes, then save your settings.
11. Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

By following these steps, you can enhance your system’s performance and potentially improve your gaming experience.

21. Reinstall Lightyear Frontier

To wrap things up, it’s advisable to manually uninstall and reinstall the Lightyear Frontier game on your PC by adhering to the steps outlined below. Corrupted game files can often lead to significant FPS drop issues during gameplay, so refreshing the installation may resolve this problem.

1. Begin by closing the Steam client.
2. Access the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
3. Navigate to the Start menu, search for the Control Panel, and open it.
4. Click on Programs, then select “Uninstall a program.”
5. Find Lightyear Frontier in the list and click on it.
6. Choose Uninstall and follow the prompts to proceed with the uninstallation.
7. After the uninstallation is complete, restart your PC to ensure all changes take effect.
8. Once your system is back up, launch the Steam client again.
9. Reinstall the Lightyear Frontier game, preferably on a different drive.
10. Finally, start the game and check if the FPS drop issue persists.

We hope you find this guide helpful! If you have any further questions, feel free to leave a comment below.