Optimize Performance While Keeping Visual Quality

Identify Performance Bottlenecks

Open your shader settings and look for options labeled shadow quality, reflection detail, or wave complexity. These features create the most visual impact but also demand the most GPU power. Start by reducing shadow resolution or disabling shadow filtering to see immediate performance gains.

Balance Quality and Frame Rate

Lower the water wave detail setting to reduce the complexity of surface animations without completely removing them. Disable or reduce rain particle effects if you're experiencing frame drops during storms. Consider turning off ambient occlusion or reducing its intensity—this darkens crevices but impacts performance significantly.

Test and Adjust

Make one change at a time and observe frame rate impact. Disable advanced features like screen-space reflections if your system struggles. Many players find acceptable visual quality at medium settings rather than maximum. Keep shadow casting enabled even at lower quality—it's crucial for the shader's cinematic feel and doesn't require maximum settings to look good.