Performance Settings

[CommanderRed]

This is a topic on how to improve the games frame rate with the built in settings, while still getting descent graphics -- mostly targeting low to mid range systems, but it can be helpful for all PCs. First use task manager to make sure no undesired programs are running. Click the "fewer details" button in the lower right corner to see the programs that are safe to end. If you're already in this mode the button will, "read more details".

Now to the in-game settings. First off, open settings while in a world (the setting may appear different in the main menu). Turn on the "Profiler". This will show you the games performance. The higher the green line, the lower your FPS is as a result of your graphics card. The higher the blue line is, the lower your FPS is as a result of your processor.

Before changing the settings, note that the split-screen co-op -- added in update 4 beta -- can have a large impact on performance. If you want to play with a friend, you may have to turn the settings bellow what you would have them, alone. Also, leaving some of the GUI features open -- like the props inventory -- can also have an effect on performance.

Video Settings

Open video settings. First check if you're playing in DirectX 9 or DirectX 11. In previous updates DirectX 9 was faster for me, now DirectX 11 is a little faster. Test the two in the same area on the same world. Remember to turn "Ambient Occlusion" off while in DirectX 11 mode for as long as you are testing. As this setting is unavailable in DirectX 9. (Note: You have to exit the game for this change to take effect).

Next check what resolution the game is rendering at. If you have undesirably low frame rates and your resolution is 1920 by 1080 or higher, try turning it down. (Note: When the option to "Use Current Display Mode" or "Revert" appears, be sure to choose the "Use Current display mode"). Make sure the aspect ratio stays correct. Otherwise the game will appear too flat or too tall.

You can also try entering windowed mode. (Note: When the option to "Use Current Display Mode" or "Revert" appears, be sure to choose the "Use Current display mode"). The smaller your window is, the faster the game will likely run. This occurs because the resolution decreases along with the window size.

Make sure Vsync is off if you don't have desirable FPS. If your frame rates are lower than sixty it will slow down your FPS. Vsync is meant to sync your game's frame rate to your monitor's refresh rate, in order to avoid screen tearing. However, it can also lower FPS.

I suggest changing the texture quality from high to low. On a lower resolution there isn't much a difference in appearance, but the performance may increase a little. Now click accept and move on to "Landscape settings".

Landscape Settings

The first option is the render or draw distance. The setting can have an immense effect on performance. I recommend setting it to medium or high, but if you can get it higher than that with stable FPS, that works as well. Make sure to give the game a minute to load all the terrain before checking the frame rate on each desired setting.

The second option is setting how far transparent bricks will render before turning opaque. I recommend setting this to medium. If by the end of this you don't have acceptable frame rates, you can try turning this setting lower.

The next setting down will set how far away studs will render on top of the LEGO Bricks forming the terrain. I recommend turning this to low or medium. It can be even difficult to see the missing studs at this setting, and at higher settings the added geometry can lower FPS.

The last setting will determine if the LEGO Bricks making the terrain will cast shadows. If your need higher frame rates, I suggest turning this off. (Note: The characters and props will still cast shadows). Now click accept and move on to "Effect settings".

Effect Settings

I highly recommend turning off the "FSAA". Not only does it have a large negative impact on performance, but at a low resolution (768p or less) it also makes the game look blurry.

I recommend turning the the Shadow quality to medium. This doesn't decrease the quality much, but mostly effects the draw distance of the shadows. Turing this on high has a large impact on performance, especially if you have "Landscape shadows" on.

If you're in DirectX 9 mode, there will be a setting called "Shader quality". If you lower this setting the sun will lose its effect, I've never noticed much of a performance difference and recommend you leave it on high.

I haven't noticed much of a performance impact or visual difference with the "Depth of field" setting. However, i recommend turning it off to eliminate variables. (Note: A lot of people think that this causes the objects in LEGO Worlds to blur at a distance. However, that is mostly the FSAA).

If you're in DirectX 11 mode, there will be a setting called "Ambient occlusion". If you have terrain shadows off I recommend testing this setting to find out if the performance impact is worth the improved quality to you (Note: This setting will turn back on after you close the game).

I recommend turning on the motion blur effect. This will only effect characters, creatures, and vehicles. It will not effect the terrain. It can help frames look more in motion and less jumpy, especially if you have low frame rates. (Note: I haven't noticed much of a performance impact with this setting on, but that might not be the same for your system).

I haven't noticed much of a performance impact for having bloom. I recommend turning it on, it is what makes the illuminated bricks look bright. If you want to test the visual effect and the performance difference, the Volcanic wastelands is a good biome to be in. Now click accept and move on to Map settings.

Map Settings

If you still want higher frame rates after you've gone through all of the other settings, I recommend turning the map off. One of the first things I noticed in Update Two was lowered performance, which went away as soon as I turned off the map. If you really want the map on, I recommend turning down as many of the features as possible.

When you have altered some of the advanced setting the quality setting at the top of the menu will say "Custom". If you change it to a different setting, it will change all the advanced settings that apply to the quality you changed it to. So I suggest leaving it Custom.

Also, remember, some settings will reset themselves every time you close the game. Like "Camera mode" and "Ambient Occlusion", as well as some of the advanced map settings, and possibly more.

[SprangerDanger]

Thank you, this is really helpful!

[DrBalanced]

Thanks! Very Helpful Information!

[raven]

Is anyone able to get a solid 60 FPS while running on decent settings? I have trouble getting it to stay above 50...

[ttcrose]

A thread this helpful and detailed is worthy of a pin. Thanks CommanderRed once again for a great post.

[raven]

Originally posted by ttcrose:

A thread this helpful and detailed is worthy of a pin. Thanks CommanderRed once again for a great post.

Thanks for pinning! I was getting tired of finding it when my game started lagging...

[Pax-Ludwig]

maybe as dumb question but will there be performance optimisations?

[raven]

Originally posted by AlexIndependence:

maybe as dumb question but will there be performance optimisations?

I'd imagine so. The game is pretty taxing at the moment.

[Raki]

So I honestly don't know what it takes to make a game but I do have to say that when I first got the game at least a half a year ago, I could play the game with little to no problems. Now with everything as low as it will go on a Beast computer mind you not I can't seem to go more than about 2 steps before it's so laggy my screen freezes.

[Raki]

Also I would like to suggest that in threads the game developers state that a "fix" to a problem is only temporary. Seeing as how you are the developers and not us it is acceptable to tell us how to fix something (temporarily) but you need to also let the buyer/player know that you are working on a permanent fix as well.

[Raki]

I see threads all over about how to fix this and how to fix that but no where do I see anything about "we are working on the problem". Now I realize this is a game still in early access which is why I am on this thread instead of elsewhere (like 95% of todays society) sh*t talking the game.

[Jasper.v.K]

Originally posted by Raki:

So I honestly don't know what it takes to make a game but I do have to say that when I first got the game at least a half a year ago, I could play the game with little to no problems. Now with everything as low as it will go on a Beast computer mind you not I can't seem to go more than about 2 steps before it's so laggy my screen freezes.

My performance actually only got better and better

[,.]

I'm confused on why when I'm running an OC'd 960m with OC'd VRAM, 8gb RAM, i7-4720 that I'm getting such crappy frames. Averaging around 6fps on high. It was better before this update and averaged 35fps. I just find it odd that I can run a graphically demanding game like GTA V on high at an average of 35fps when I can't run this on it's highest settings with over 6fps. Perhaps some optimization is needed?

[,.]

Really the devs should fix these issues with poor optimization before taking on more ambitious tasks like multiplayer. I'm finding it very annoying and would like to play the game I paid for at my proper 1920x1080 with decent settings.

[CommanderRed]

What are your landscape settings? Even a powerful computer will and should have trouble running the highest render distance -- there's so much geometry.

If you used to average 35 FPS, and now only 6, otherwise something is broken, or there is some setting you didn't have on before. Based on your specs I'm guessing you're using a laptop. However, also based on your specs, you should be able to run the game with descent quality and more than 6 FPS.

Make sure to look into all the settings. You can often have quite a few of the settings on high, while a few -- like render distance, and shadows -- may need to be turned down a little.

[,.]

I'm very well aware of the settings involved. It is a laptop, but one I've engineered myself that runs most brand new AAA titles at 40fps on High. Having said that, my render distance is turned down and so are the shadows. There are many things here that need to be fixed before something like multiplayer is worked on.