Quick answer
[Official] Update to version 3.5.3 first: its notes say a low-spec performance regression caused by maps added in updates was fixed. Then enable Performance Mode, which was introduced in version 3.3.0, and test the same map again before changing individual options.
The 3.5.3 notes warn that this fix may cause minor freezing when the game starts. This guide was last verified on 2026-08-07; no benchmark results are claimed.
Establish a repeatable baseline
- Install version 3.5.3 and restart the game.
- Open the game settings and enable Performance Mode.
- Use one repeatable scene or map and note the resolution, display mode, and approximate frame rate before and after the change.
- If stutter remains, lower one graphics option at a time and repeat the same test instead of changing every setting together.
- Restart once and confirm that the selected graphics settings persist; update 3.3.0 also fixed graphics settings not being saved.
Test the Sub-Zero label carefully
[Community report] In one Steam discussion, players warn that the label Sub-Zero may represent a demanding setting rather than the lowest setting. Another participant in that thread specifically associates Global Illumination at Sub-Zero with severe FPS loss and stutter.
Treat this as a setting to compare, not a confirmed fix for every PC. Change only Global Illumination, repeat the same scene, and keep the lower-cost result only if it improves your own frame time.
Know the evidence limit
[Community reports] Separate discussions describe very low frame rates and stutter even with settings that players believed were low. These reports establish that the symptom recurs, but they do not establish one best preset across different GPUs, resolutions, maps, or player counts.
For a useful performance report, include the CPU, GPU, RAM, resolution, map, player count, settings, and frame rate before and after Performance Mode.