Guide: How to Optimize Performance by Editing GameUserSettings.ini

If you're experiencing low FPS or performance issues, you can improve the game's performance by editing the GameUserSettings.ini file. This guide will show you how to disable RTX Ray Tracing, Lumen technology, and make other optimizations for better frame rates.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Locate the GameUserSettings.ini file:

The configuration file is located at the following path:


You can copy and paste this path into the File Explorer address bar.
Once there, find the file named GameUserSettings.ini and open it with Notepad or any text editor.

2. Modify Graphics Settings for Better Performance:

Adjust the following values in the GameUserSettings.ini file to reduce the load on your system and increase FPS.


3. Disable RTX Ray Tracing and Lumen Technology:

Ray Tracing and Lumen lighting are very performance-intensive. Disabling them will greatly improve FPS if they are enabled in the game.

Add the following lines to your configuration to disable them:


4. Disable Frame Rate Smoothing:

By default, Unreal Engine might smooth the frame rate to prevent sharp fluctuations. Disabling this can improve FPS stability.

Add the following line to the [Script/Engine.Engine] section of your GameUserSettings.ini:


5. Optional: Adjust Resolution and Frame Rate Limit:

Lowering your in-game resolution (e.g., from 2560x1440 to 1920x1080) can significantly improve FPS.
Limiting the frame rate to a specific value can also help stabilize performance.

Adjust these settings in the [ForeverWinter.FWGameUserSettings] section:

6. Save the File:

After making these changes, save the GameUserSettings.ini file and close the editor.

7. Restart the Game:

Launch ForeverWinter and check your performance. You should notice better FPS and smoother gameplay, especially in demanding areas.

Summary of Changes:

Lowered graphics settings to reduce GPU load and improve performance.
Disabled RTX Ray Tracing and Lumen technology to avoid the performance hit from advanced lighting effects.
Disabled Frame Rate Smoothing to remove artificial FPS caps and fluctuations.
Lowered resolution and frame rate limit for stable, high-performance gameplay.

By following these steps, you should experience improved performance in ForeverWinter. This guide will work for anyone playing the game on Steam, and the path to the configuration file is the same across systems.

RAW full code of GameUserSettings.ini I am using for 2k resolution: https://pastebin.com/Am4axBFe

UPD1: added more tweaks to the [System Settings]

UPD2: Suggested by u/5hifty

1. Create a separate file, Engine.ini.
The easiest way to do this is by copying your existing GameUserSettings.ini file and renaming it to Engine.ini. Once renamed, open the new file with Notepad and delete all existing variables in it.

2. Add the following lines to the file:


UPD3: Suggested by Astraxis

A few more commands, these go in Engine.ini:

3. Make Both of Files file read-only

After editing the Engine.ini and/or GameUserSettings.ini file, go to "File > Save". Then right-click the file, select "Properties > General", and check the "Read-only" box. This is important because it prevents the game from auto-deleting the file, which would force you to recreate it each time. If you would like to modify the file further after initial testing you will have to un-check read only, make variable updates, save, and then recheck read only again.