Grounded 2 offers a thrilling return to Obsidian’s backyard survival adventure, but many players are running into low FPS and stuttering issues, even on capable systems. Poor frame rates can make combat feel sluggish, cause camera jitter, and even ruin multiplayer sessions.
If your gameplay feels choppy or your FPS constantly dips, here’s a complete guide to improving performance and getting smoother frames in Grounded 2.
See also: How to Fix Grounded 2 UE Augusta Fatal Error and Startup Crash
Note: Grounded 2 is currently in Early Access, so optimization is ongoing. Expect future patches to improve performance automatically.
1. Optimize In-Game Graphics Settings
The first step is to fine-tune your in-game display settings for a balance of visuals and frame rate:
- Window Mode: Fullscreen is best for performance; use Windowed Fullscreen if you alt-tab frequently.
- Resolution: Match your monitor’s native resolution, or drop to 1080p if struggling with FPS.
- Render Scale: Keep it at 100% for clarity, but lowering to 90% can improve FPS.
- Quality Presets:
- Epic → ~20–25 FPS on high-end systems
- High → ~37–38 FPS
- Medium → ~28–29 FPS (best balance)
- Low → ~43 FPS, but can cause shadow glitches
- VSync: Off for lower latency and smoother inputs.
- Depth of Field & Motion Blur: Keep on Low; other post-processing effects like Motion Blur and Chromatic Aberration can be turned off.
- Frame Rate Limit: Set to Unlimited or match your monitor’s refresh rate.
Tip: FPS drops are most noticeable when driving Buggies, fighting insect swarms, or exploring dense foliage zones. Lowering shadows or resolution can smooth these sequences dramatically.
2. Disable Heavy Lighting via Engine.ini
Grounded 2 uses Unreal Engine 5’s Lumen lighting system, which can significantly impact performance, especially in outdoor areas with dense foliage. You can manually disable Lumen and other heavy effects to boost FPS:
- Close the Game before editing files.
- Open Config Folder: Press Windows + R → Paste
%localappdata%\Augusta\Saved\Config\- Open the Windows (or WinGDK / WinGTR) folder.
- Create/Edit
engine.iniand add: ini
[/Script/Engine.RendererSettings]
r.Lumen.DiffuseIndirect.Allow=0
r.FilmGrain=0- Save and Set to Read-Only: Right-click the file → Properties → Check Read-only.
Players report FPS gains from 30 → 50+ FPS using this tweak.
3. Reduce Shadow and Reflection Quality
Dynamic shadows and reflective surfaces are major FPS killers in Grounded 2:
- Lower Shadow Quality to Medium.
- Disable or lower Reflections and Ambient Occlusion.
- Reduce the number of dynamic light sources in player-built bases.
These changes lighten GPU load without drastically harming visuals.
4. Update Your Graphics Drivers
Outdated GPU drivers can cause frame drops, stutter, and crashes:
- Visit NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel official sites.
- Download the latest Game Ready / WHQL drivers.
- Choose a Clean Install option to remove old files.
- Restart your PC before testing the game.
5. Close Background Applications
Even powerful PCs can struggle if background apps hog CPU or RAM:
- Close browsers, Discord, or other heavy apps before playing.
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) → End non-essential processes.
- Enable Windows Game Mode: Settings → Gaming → Game Mode → On
Also disable Game Bar and overlays like GeForce Experience or Xbox Game Bar to prevent unnecessary FPS drops.
6. Adjust Power and Thermal Settings
Thermal throttling or power-saving modes can force your FPS to drop:
- Set Power Plan to High Performance or Ultimate Performance.
- Keep CPU/GPU temps below 85°C to prevent throttling.
- Avoid overclocking if instability occurs.
7. Verify Game Files and Update Everything
Corrupted or missing files can cause stutter or unstable frame rates:
- Steam: Library → Right-click Grounded 2 → Properties → Installed Files → Verify Integrity.
- Xbox/Game Pass: Manage → Repair or Update.
- Keep Windows and system drivers updated.
Quick FAQ for Grounded 2 FPS Problems
Q1: I can’t find Engine.ini. What should I do?
Create a blank text file named engine.ini in %localappdata%\Augusta\Saved\Config\Windows and make it Read-only after editing.
Q2: Why does my FPS drop outdoors but is fine indoors?
Lumen lighting and dynamic shadows are far heavier in open foliage areas. Disabling Lumen or lowering shadows fixes this.
Q3: Does this work on Linux?
Yes. Edit both Engine.ini and GameUserSettings.ini, then make them Read-only. Linux users reported 40 → 70 FPS gains.
Q4: Can I do this on Xbox or Game Pass PC?
Game Pass PC: Yes, use the same Engine.ini method. Xbox consoles can’t use custom configs.
Q5: Will lowering render scale or using TSR help?
Yes. Unreal Engine uses TSR (Temporal Super Resolution) internally. Dropping to ~66% scale can boost FPS while keeping visuals acceptable.
Q6: Do I need the original Engine.ini for backup?
Optional. You can delete the file to restore defaults, or verify game files to rebuild configs.
Q7: Why does my FPS keep resetting after I edit Engine.ini?
The game overwrites config files on exit if they are not Read-only. Set Engine.ini and GameUserSettings.ini to Read-only to preserve changes.
Q8: Is it safe to lower all ScalabilityGroups settings to 0?
Yes, but visuals will drop significantly. A mix of 0 and 1 values is recommended to keep the game playable.
Q9: I’m on RTX 4070 and get 100 FPS, why are others struggling?
Performance varies by preset and render scale. Many players unknowingly run on higher scales or Epic shadows, which tanks FPS.
Q10: Does removing the 60 FPS cap really help?
Yes. Some players reported the game felt smoother after the Engine.ini tweak removed the default 60 FPS cap, even if FPS only slightly improved.
Read More: Grounded 2 Guides
- Grounded 2 Blueberries: All Locations, Farming Tips & Blueberry Leather Guide
- Grounded 2 Beginner Tips: 24 Essential Tricks to Survive and Progress
- Grounded 2 Best Shields Guide: Crafting, Stats, and Combat Tips
- Grounded 2 Brittle Whetstone Guide: How to Farm and Upgrade Weapons
- Grounded 2 Red Soldier Ant Eggs: Locations, Retrieval & Buggy Guide
- Grounded 2 Cold Resistance Guide: How to Resist the Chill and Survive
- Grounded 2 Early Access Roadmap: New Bosses, Aquatic Bases, and More Coming
Grounded 2’s FPS issues mostly stem from heavy lighting effects and early access optimization. By lowering resolution, disabling Lumen, reducing shadows, updating drivers, and optimizing your system, you can often double your frame rate and enjoy a smoother backyard adventure.
If performance remains poor even after these tweaks, keep an eye on future patches from Obsidian, as optimization improvements are likely before full release. For the latest fixes, tips, and all gaming updates, you can also follow our own Fdaytalk Gaming page. Play Now!
