Watch_Dogs — Improve Graphics + Performance

By modifying a few lines within the game's .xml file we see a drastic improvement in graphic yield.

Credit goes to Guru3d[forums.guru3d.com] for making this discovery, I'm simply distributing the information. Go ahead and give them a pat on the back!

Locate the .xml file

Go to your Documents > My Games > Watchdogs > xxxx > GamerProfile.xml

Once you find the single GamerProfile.xml right click on it and select "Edit" (Or open with notepad)

Change "DeferredFxQuality="console"

Press CTRL + F and find the line DeferredFxQuality="console"
Change the word "Console" to "pc" it now should look like: DeferredFxQuality="pc"
•Don't. Forget. To. Save.

Here is sample of this .xml section:


<CustomQuality> <quality ResolutionX="1920" ResolutionY="1080" EnvironmentQuality="ultra" AntiPortalQuality="pc" PostFxQuality="ultra" TextureQuality="pc" TextureResolutionQuality="high" WaterQuality="ultra" ParaboloidReflectionQuality="ultra" DepthPassQuality="pc" VegetationQuality="ultra" TerrainQuality="ultra" GeometryQuality="ultra" LodDitheringQuality="pc" ShadowQuality="ultra" ShadingQuality="high" RoadQuality="pc" EditorQuality="pc" ParticlesQuality="ultra" DeferredFxQuality="pc" HDR="1" SuperSampling="0" HighPrecisionNormal="1" RenderSplashes="1" RenderRain="1" MotionBlurQuality="pc" SSAOQuality="hbao+_high" DepthOfFieldQuality="pc" AntiAliasingQuality="temporalsmaa" id="_runtime" /> </CustomQuality>

[VariableFreedom]

@slick thank you for the info, i was wondering why that was happening. thank you!

[Slick]

By the way, for anybody who still thinks this setting does anything... it does not... kind of

The DeferredFXQuality setting has only one possible option which is "console", the "pc" setting does not exist, setting it to pc is basically the equivalent of setting it to "lol" or "thisisnotavalidsetting" or "♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥", basically anything you can think of

So what does this actually do? By setting it to "pc" you're disabling subsurface scattering which is an effect that adds redness on the character's skin when it interacts with lighting, you're basically downgrading your game by doing this, and it has no other effect

[jsp]

still works

[Katy Pear]

I followed the guide, then switched my screen options from borderless to fullscreen. It runs much smoother for me now.

[AceOfTheFool]

The reason people are unable to find "DeferredFxQuality='PC'" is because it is only visible when playing on Custom Quality. This should help y'all out :)

[nexusdoubt]

worked fine for me, was able to find it immediately and I only purchased this game a week ago.

[Fatty McBoomBoom]

as someone else mentioned: outdated guide, deferred isnt found

[GRUMPLE]

It might be a good idea to right click the file, click properties, and make sure the 'read only' box is ticked.

That will prevent the game from re writing the file to it's original state, which games sometimes do automatically when settings are changed or when they are launched again.

[reallydrained]

This doesn't seem to be an option anymore...

[lofbred]

Found it. Thx browski