505 Games has recently removed the review embargo for WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers, a title that has generated considerable anticipation among fans of the Souls genre. With a review code in hand, we took the opportunity to benchmark the game’s performance on PC.
Benchmarking Setup
Our testing utilized a robust setup featuring an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, complemented by 32GB of DDR5 running at 6000MHz. We assessed various graphics cards, including AMD’s Radeon RX 6900XT, RX 7900XTX, and RX 9070XT, alongside NVIDIA’s RTX 2080Ti, RTX 3080, RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090. The operating system was Windows 10 64-bit, using GeForce 577.00 and Radeon Adrenalin Edition 25.6.3 drivers.
Developed by Leenzee, the game offers a commendable array of graphics settings for players to customize, including options for Shadows, Effects, Textures, and Vegetation. However, it is worth noting that while NVIDIA DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation is supported, there is no compatibility with AMD FSR 3.0 or Intel XeSS, which raises concerns for those without an NVIDIA RTX GPU, as they will need to rely solely on Unreal Engine 5’s TSR.
Performance Insights
In our tests, we found that at 1080p with Max Settings, the AMD RX 7900XTX was the minimum requirement to achieve over 60FPS, while the NVIDIA RTX 3080 and AMD Radeon RX 6900XT struggled to reach this threshold.
Moving to 1440p with Max Settings, only the NVIDIA RTX 4090 and RTX 5090 managed to deliver a smooth gaming experience. The NVIDIA RTX 5080, AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX, and RX 9070XT consistently fell below 60FPS, making the need for upscaling technology apparent.
At Native 4K with Max Settings, no GPU achieved a stable 60FPS, with the NVIDIA RTX 5090 averaging around 54FPS. This scenario underscores the necessity of an upscaler for playable frame rates.
Graphics Settings and Frame Generation Issues
Unfortunately, the absence of support for AMD FSR 3.0 and Intel XeSS 2.0 is a significant drawback, especially given the game’s demanding nature. While NVIDIA DLSS 4 does enhance performance, its implementation is flawed; Frame Generation tends to disable during in-game events, leading to noticeable stuttering. For instance, during character dialogues, the frame rate can plummet from 110FPS down to 42FPS, rendering the game unplayable under these conditions.
Adjusting graphics settings to improve performance yielded limited results. The game primarily operates on High settings, with only Shadows adjustable to Extreme. Even when settings were lowered to Medium, achieving a smooth 60FPS at 4K on the NVIDIA RTX 5090 came at the cost of visual fidelity. On Low settings, the frame rate exceeded 84FPS, but the graphical quality suffered significantly.
It is also essential to note that changing the graphics preset alters the TSR setting automatically. Players aiming for full native resolution should be cautious with preset selections, as even the “Extreme” preset does not set TSR to its maximum.
Visual Appeal and Performance Optimization
Despite its performance challenges, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers boasts impressive graphics, thanks to its use of Lumen GI and high-resolution textures. While some low-resolution textures and minor shadow pop-ins are present, they do not detract significantly from the overall visual experience. The game exemplifies what small teams can achieve with Unreal Engine 5, showcasing a commendable level of artistry.
In summary, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is a demanding title that could greatly benefit from further performance optimizations. For those gaming at native resolutions, high-end hardware is a necessity. The lack of support for AMD FSR 3.0 and Intel XeSS 2.0 is disappointing, particularly as NVIDIA DLSS 4 struggles with Frame Generation issues. While owners of top-tier GPUs may navigate these challenges, mid-tier users may find themselves relying heavily on TSR or DLSS for an adequate experience.
