Why Does Elden Ring Run Like Dogshit

Caroline Mae

2 min read

·

06-01-2025

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Let's be honest, Elden Ring, despite its critical acclaim and widespread popularity, has a significant performance problem on a variety of systems. While the game's breathtaking open world is undeniably stunning, the inconsistent frame rates and frustrating glitches have left many players feeling less than thrilled. But why is this happening? Let's delve into the potential causes.

The Engine and Optimization: A Rocky Road

FromSoftware, the developers behind Elden Ring, are renowned for their challenging gameplay, not necessarily their cutting-edge game engines. The engine used for Elden Ring, while capable of producing a beautiful game world, appears to struggle with optimization, particularly in densely populated areas or during intense combat sequences. This results in frame rate drops, stuttering, and overall performance issues that detract from the experience. The sheer scale and ambition of the open world likely contributed to these difficulties.

Specific Issues & Their Causes

• Poor Memory Management: Many players report issues with memory leaks, where the game progressively consumes more RAM over time, eventually leading to crashes or significant performance degradation. This is a common problem in large open-world games, and often requires substantial optimization efforts to resolve.

• CPU Bottlenecks: On some systems, the CPU (central processing unit) struggles to keep up with the demands of the game, resulting in lower-than-expected frame rates, especially on lower-end hardware. This points to inefficient use of processing power within the game's code.

• Poor Draw Distance Management: Elden Ring's expansive world is beautiful, but rendering vast distances at high detail places considerable strain on the system. The game's apparent struggles with optimizing draw distance are a significant contributor to performance issues.

• Unoptimized Assets: The game's assets (textures, models, etc.) might not be fully optimized for various hardware configurations. This means that even high-end systems might experience performance drops in certain areas, simply because the assets themselves are demanding.

Solutions and Workarounds (What You Can Try)

While a complete fix might require patches from the developers, there are some things players can do to mitigate the performance issues:

• Update Graphics Drivers: Ensuring that you have the latest graphics drivers installed is crucial for optimal performance. Outdated drivers are a frequent source of game-related problems.

• Lower Graphics Settings: Reducing graphical settings like shadow quality, texture resolution, and draw distance can significantly improve frame rates. Experiment to find a balance between visuals and performance.

• Close Background Applications: Close any unnecessary applications running in the background to free up system resources for the game.

• Mod Support (Use with Caution): Some mods are available that aim to improve performance, but use them cautiously as they may be unstable or even harmful to your game files. Always check the mod's reputation before installation.

The Future of Elden Ring's Performance

Ultimately, the long-term solution to Elden Ring's performance issues lies with FromSoftware's continued efforts to optimize the game through patches and updates. While the workarounds listed above can provide some relief, a more comprehensive fix from the developers is essential to ensure a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience for all players. Only time will tell how effectively they address these issues.