Starfield Shattered Space DLC Performance – New Patch, Familiar Frame Rates
Bethesda’s Starfield Shattered Space DLC has arrived, offering players new quests and locations, but the performance issues that plagued the base game remain. While the DLC introduces fresh content, the familiar frame rate drops, and performance limitations continue to frustrate players. This article dives into how Starfield Shattered Space DLC performance holds up, especially after the latest patch.
Performance in Starfield Shattered Space
What you can expect from the latest update
The Starfield Shattered Space DLC brings a new location and several new quests to explore. However, it’s the performance in urban areas that remains the most demanding on PCs. Just like in the base game, locations like Akila City put a heavy load on both CPU and GPU. If you're using mid-range setups, expect to see noticeable frame rate drops, especially during intense moments or complex scenes.
For testing, I used an Asus ROG Ally, an Acer RTX 4050 gaming laptop, and three desktop setups with a variety of GPUs. Even on high-end machines, frame rates didn’t push past 100 FPS in the most demanding areas, and stuttering, particularly traversal stutter, remains prevalent. The Starfield Shattered Space DLC performance may feel consistent, but it rarely reaches the level players were hoping for.
GPU and CPU Performance Issues
Testing with mid-range and high-end setups
At 1080p, Starfield Shattered Space DLC performance becomes GPU-limited on mid-range setups like the RTX 4050. Frame rates often fall below 60 FPS, especially in more detailed areas of the game. High-end GPUs like the RTX 4080 or RX 7800 XT handle 4K gaming better, but even they need upscaling to maintain stable performance at higher resolutions. Upscaling options, such as DLSS and AMD’s FSR, are vital for hitting smoother frame rates, but these come with trade-offs in terms of input lag and visual quality.
Intel’s Arc GPUs still struggle with the DLC performance, with the Arc A770 encountering frequent stuttering, making it less suitable for smooth gameplay at 1440p or higher.
Graphics Settings and Optimization Tips
Getting the best out of Starfield Shattered Space
Adjusting graphics settings remains the best way to optimize Starfield Shattered Space DLC performance. Reducing Shadow Quality, Volumetric Lighting, and GTAO Quality can offer significant frame rate improvements without heavily compromising visual fidelity. Moving from Low to Medium settings provides the most noticeable boost in graphics quality, but the performance hit is significant.
For smoother gameplay, frame generation helps, especially for mid-range GPUs. However, this introduces some input lag, which is most noticeable on handheld devices like the ROG Ally. For desktop users with powerful setups, DLSS Quality mode offers the best balance between performance and visual clarity.
Final Thoughts on Starfield Shattered Space DLC Performance
Has Bethesda resolved the performance woes?
While the Starfield Shattered Space DLC introduces compelling new content, it fails to significantly improve upon the performance issues present in the base game. Despite a year of patches and improvements, the engine still struggles to maintain consistent frame rates in demanding areas. Players will need to rely on graphics tweaks and upscaling technologies to squeeze the best possible performance out of the game, especially at higher resolutions.
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