In the realm of modern gaming, titles such as Black Myth: Wukong, Frostpunk 2, Palworld, Stalker 2, Tekken 8, Silent Hill 2, and Avowed share a common thread: they are all crafted using the renowned game development package, Unreal Engine 5 (UE5). However, a recurring theme among these games is their inconsistent performance on PC platforms. While social media often points fingers at UE5 for these issues, my week-long experience with Avowed leads me to question whether Epic’s software is truly at fault.
Avowed, developed by Obsidian Entertainment, showcases a myriad of peculiarities, including erratic 1% low frame rates and unconventional upscaling techniques. Despite these quirks, the game presents a visually stunning experience and generally operates smoothly. It’s advisable to focus on the overall feel rather than fixating on specific frame rates. Obsidian is no stranger to Unreal Engine, having previously developed titles like The Outer Worlds and Grounded, albeit with an earlier version of the engine.
When examining Silent Hill 2, one can appreciate its impressive visuals, yet its launch performance was marred by numerous bugs and inconsistencies. Although Blooper Team has rolled out patches to address many of these issues, traces of jankiness persist. Interestingly, both Obsidian and Blooper Team possess substantial experience with Unreal Engine, which raises questions about the underlying causes of these performance discrepancies.
Critics often cite games like Doom Eternal and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle as benchmarks for superior game engines, arguing that if Id Tech 7 can produce such high-quality, well-performing games, it must be inherently better than UE5. However, Id Tech 7 is a proprietary engine developed by Id Software and MachineGames, both subsidiaries of ZeniMax Media. This close-knit relationship allows for extensive customization and familiarity with the engine, which is not always the case for developers using Unreal Engine.
Unreal Engine’s Versatility and Challenges
Unreal Engine stands out as a versatile development tool, applicable not only in video game creation but also in film and television visual effects. Its accessibility makes it a popular choice among developers; even those with limited experience can grasp its fundamentals. However, the leap from simple projects to full-fledged AAA games is monumental, akin to comparing the construction of a paper airplane to that of a commercial jet.
Epic Games acknowledges the common issues faced by UE-based games, particularly shader compilation stutter and traversal stutter. The company is actively working to address these challenges through numerous updates to Unreal Engine 5. Yet, the prospect of recompiling millions of lines of code with each new version is daunting for large developers, who must balance time constraints with the risk of introducing new issues.
Despite its flaws, Unreal Engine’s capabilities are largely acceptable given its broad applications. The crux of the problem often lies in the time constraints imposed on game publishers. The need to meet release schedules and recover substantial investments leads to games launching in less-than-ideal states, with the expectation that performance can be patched later when resources allow.
Avowed, like many titles before it, may experience similar post-launch adjustments. The preview version I tested exhibited various quirks, but the core gameplay was engaging and enjoyable, suggesting that many of its issues could be rectified after release. However, the extent of these fixes may depend on the developers’ satisfaction with the current state of the game and the commercial success it achieves. With Obsidian also developing a sequel to The Outer Worlds using UE5, their resources for addressing Avowed’s performance may be limited.
Ultimately, the real challenge appears to be time—a commodity that comes at a cost. As players, we must consider whether we are willing to invest more in our favorite games to enable developers to hire additional staff, ensuring that PC projects run flawlessly upon release. This ongoing debate remains a topic for future discussion.
