Are Modern PC Games Badly Optimized

Are Modern PC Games Badly Optimized?

As a gamer with a rig that meets the recommended specs for most new games, I’ve noticed that some titles still struggle to run smoothly. This raises the question: are game developers not optimizing their games properly, or is it time for me to upgrade my hardware?

A Blast from the Past

I recall my first computer, a Commodore Amiga 500, which had a mere 512KB of RAM. To play the best games, I needed to upgrade to 1MB of RAM. One game that still amazes me is SWIV, a shoot-em-up that rivaled modern indie titles despite being released in 1991. The developers, The Sales Curve, achieved this by thinking outside the box and using innovative techniques such as sprite-based level editors and adaptive difficulty levels.

Modern Games’ Optimization Issues

Compare this to modern games like Gotham Knights, which requires a powerful CPU, GPU, and 16GB of RAM to run smoothly. Despite meeting these specs, I experienced CPU optimization issues and frame rate drops. Other games, like Starfield, have also been plagued with optimization issues, with some players experiencing inconsistent frame rates and micro stuttering.

Big-Name Developers’ Optimization Issues

Even big-name developers like Bethesda have struggled with optimization. Starfield, one of their newest open-world MORPGs, has been criticized for its poor optimization. Players have reported issues despite meeting the recommended specs, and the game’s high dependence on CPU power has been cited as a possible cause.

Conclusion

Poorly optimized games can be frustrating for players, and it’s not just a matter of meeting the recommended specs. Developers need to prioritize optimization to ensure that their games run smoothly on a variety of hardware configurations. As a gamer, I hope that developers will take this issue seriously and strive to create games that are both visually stunning and well-optimized.