Fixed Days Gone FPS Drops? Proven Fixes

Yes, Days Gone FPS drops can be fixed in most cases by addressing the game’s known CPU bottleneck, adjusting graphics settings, and updating drivers. This article explains the common causes and provides step-by-step fixes that have worked for many players on both PC and PS4/PS5.

Why Days Gone Stutters and Drops FPS

Days Gone is an open-world action game set in a post-apocalyptic Oregon. It was initially a PlayStation 4 exclusive, later ported to PC in 2021. The game is demanding, but many players experience sudden frame rate drops even on powerful hardware. The most common culprit is a CPU bottleneck, especially in areas with many enemies or when riding the motorcycle at high speed. The game’s engine struggles to stream in new assets quickly, causing hitches. Other factors include high graphics settings that exceed your GPU’s memory, outdated drivers, and background processes consuming system resources.

How the Game Engine Affects Performance

The game uses an in-house engine developed by Sony Bend Studio. It is designed for console hardware, and the PC port has known optimization issues. The engine often fails to utilize multiple CPU cores efficiently, leading to a single core being maxed out while others are idle. This creates a bottleneck where the GPU waits for the CPU to send data, resulting in frame drops. The problem is most noticeable in areas with dense vegetation, large hordes of enemies, or when the game auto-saves. Understanding this helps you target the right settings: reducing CPU load is more effective than simply lowering resolution.

Step-by-Step Fixes for PC

If you are playing on PC, try these fixes in order. Most players find the first two solve the majority of stutters.

1. Update your graphics drivers. Go to the website of your GPU manufacturer (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and download the latest driver. Days Gone has had specific driver optimizations since release.
2. Set the game’s priority to High. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), go to the Details tab, find DaysGone.exe, right-click it, and set priority to High. This tells Windows to give the game more CPU time.
3. Disable fullscreen optimizations. Right-click DaysGone.exe in your Steam library, go to Properties, then the Compatibility tab, and check “Disable fullscreen optimizations.” This is a known fix for stuttering in many Unreal Engine games.
4. Lower the graphics preset to Medium. The difference between High and Medium is often subtle, but it can significantly reduce CPU and GPU load. Pay special attention to these settings:
   • Texture Streaming: Set to Medium or Low to reduce asset loading stutter.
   • Shadow Quality: Lower to Medium.
   • Cloud Quality: Lower to Medium.
5. Cap the frame rate. Use the in-game limiter or a tool like MSI Afterburner to cap at 60 FPS or your monitor’s refresh rate. This prevents the GPU from rendering extra frames that the CPU can’t keep up with.
6. Verify game files. In Steam, right-click the game, select Properties, Local Files, then Verify Integrity of Game Files. This fixes corrupted data that can cause random stutters.

Console-Specific Fixes (PS4/PS5)

On PlayStation, the game runs better, but you can still see frame drops, especially on the base PS4. If you are on PS4 Pro or PS5, make sure you have installed the latest patch. On PS5, the game runs at a locked 60 FPS in performance mode, but some players report drops when fighting large hordes. A simple fix is to rebuild the database: turn off the console, then hold the power button for 7 seconds until you hear a second beep. Connect a controller via USB and select “Rebuild Database.” This does not delete your saves, but it can improve performance. On PS4, you can also try lowering the resolution to 1080p in the system settings if you have a Pro.

Common Misconceptions

Many players believe that lowering resolution always fixes FPS drops. While it helps if your GPU is the bottleneck, it does nothing if the CPU is the problem. In Days Gone, lowering resolution may actually make the CPU bottleneck worse because the GPU can render frames faster, outpacing the CPU. Another misconception is that the game is poorly optimized for all hardware. In reality, it runs well on many systems after applying the fixes above. Also, some players think that disabling the Steam overlay helps, but this rarely has an impact.

Comparing Performance Across Platforms

Here is a quick comparison of typical performance:

• PS4 Base: 30 FPS target, often drops to 25 in heavy areas.
• PS4 Pro: 30 FPS with better resolution, but still occasional drops.
• PS5: 60 FPS in performance mode, stable in most areas.
• PC (mid-range): 60 FPS on Medium/High settings, but stutters if CPU is weak.

If you have a PC with a modern 6-core CPU and a GPU with 8GB of VRAM, you should be able to achieve a stable 60 FPS at 1080p with the fixes above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Days Gone drop FPS when I ride the motorcycle?

The game streams in the world as you move, and riding fast forces the engine to load assets quickly. If your storage drive is slow (especially an HDD), this causes stutters. Install the game on an SSD to reduce this issue.

Does disabling the Steam overlay help?

Generally, no. The overlay can cause a small performance hit, but it is not the cause of major FPS drops. If you are desperate, you can disable it, but the other fixes are more effective.

Is Days Gone more CPU or GPU intensive?

It is both, but the CPU bottleneck is more common. The game’s engine is not well optimized for multi-core CPUs, so a single core can become a limiting factor. If you have a high-end GPU but a mid-range CPU, you will see drops.

Will a 3060 Ti run Days Gone at 60 FPS?

Yes, a 3060 Ti is more than enough for 1080p/1440p at high settings. If you still get drops, it is likely your CPU. Pairing a 3060 Ti with an older quad-core CPU will cause stutters. Use the fixes above to mitigate.

Should I lower texture quality to fix stutter?

Yes, but only if your GPU has less than 6GB of VRAM. The game uses a lot of memory for textures, and running out causes severe hitches. Lowering Texture Streaming to Medium is a good trade-off.

When to Seek Further Help

If you have tried all the fixes and still experience frequent drops, your hardware may not meet the minimum requirements. Check the game’s official system requirements. If you meet them, consider checking your CPU temperatures for thermal throttling. Use a tool like HWMonitor to see if your CPU is reaching 90°C or higher. If so, clean your fans and reapply thermal paste. If the problem persists, you may need to wait for a future patch or use a third-party tool like the Special K mod, which some players report helps, but it is not officially supported.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0 | 100000
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2