Digital Foundry Reports Monster Hunter Wilds PC Performance Issues Due to Extensive DLC Checks in Specific Scenarios

Frame Rate Drops in Monster Hunter Wilds PC: A Deep Dive

In recent reports, it has emerged that players of Monster Hunter Wilds on PC may experience significant frame rate drops linked to the game’s frequent checks for downloadable content (DLC) ownership. This situation can be particularly troubling since the game features a multitude of cosmetic DLCs, and it appears that the fewer DLCs a player owns, the more pronounced the impact on performance.

Identifying the Issue

The issue was first highlighted by modder de_Tylmarande, who discovered that the game was performing excessive DLC checks, which heavily impacted frame rates. Recognizing the problem, Nexus Mods user Vaeux promptly released the ‘Less DLC Checks’ mod. This mod is compatible with praydog’s REFramework, which serves to enhance and resolve various technical challenges present in CAPCOM’s RE Engine-powered titles.

Digital Foundry’s Findings

To better understand the issue, tech analysts at Digital Foundry delved into the performance of the game. Their investigation corroborated that players’ systems were under strain due to processing ‘thousands’ of DLC checks, primarily driven by non-player characters (NPCs) that manage the DLC menu functionalities.

Performance Improvements with the Mod

Testing conducted using a Ryzen 5 3600 CPU revealed fascinating insights regarding the performance improvements provided by the Less DLC Checks mod. Richard Leadbetter from Digital Foundry reported varying performance boosts under different graphical settings:

Max Graphics Settings (1440p Ultra, RT, DLSS Balanced): An increase of 11.4% in performance.
High Settings with RT: A 20% performance improvement.
Lowest Settings (DLSS Ultra Performance, No RT): An impressive 25.6% performance enhancement.

Looking Forward

Fortunately, the frame rate issues predominantly affect Monster Hunter Wilds performance under specific conditions. Nevertheless, it is critical for CAPCOM to address this problem swiftly. It’s surprising that such a significant oversight remained undetected for nearly a year following the game’s launch.

For players experiencing these performance issues, the Less DLC Checks mod presents a viable solution, though it’s a reminder of the importance of ongoing game maintenance and optimization by developers.

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