Digital Foundry has published a detailed technical analysis of the PC version of ARC Raiders, a cooperative shooter from Embark Studios, known for The Finals. The game offers smooth and stable gameplay, which is rare for projects on Unreal Engine 5, where shader stuttering and performance drops are common.
The secret to success lies in abandoning three key UE5 technologies: Lumen (dynamic global illumination), Nanite (automatic geometry detail management), and Virtual Shadow Maps (accurate shadows). Their exclusion made it possible to achieve a uniform frame rate and minimize freezes associated with shader compilation.
Digital Foundry notes that small slowdowns when loading areas remain, but they can be reduced by limiting the frame rate. There are minor visual flaws in shadows and lighting due to the lack of UE5 technologies, but the overall visual style remains cohesive and clear, which is important for online competitive mode.
ARC Raiders also scales perfectly. Experts recommend reducing Dynamic RTXGI and GI Resolution from Ultra to High, which increases FPS by up to 24% without noticeable loss of quality.
