Traversal stutter on PC
The PC version suffers from traversal stuttering, moving to new areas very often causes the game to stutter, this can also happen randomly from my experience. I have read 100s of reports on ResetEra ...
Forum Discussion
Alright. That was the benefit of the doubt, which was taken and burned in a fire. To not fix it could be somewhat understandable as maybe it's hard to fix. But to not even mention it? Seriously? Do you think just ignoring it will make it go away?
The only thing I can think of is that it can't be fixed with the current state of technology and the way how their engine works. The reason could be how the level and environment, including events, are dynamically loaded as you play the game. Part of this is due to the "AI director" that can dynamically change what happens next depending on your actions. The entire "streaming pipeline" can't process and catch up in time the higher the framerate. That's why it's less noticeable at lower fixed frame rates.
To fix this and make it more "scalable" they need to rework their entire engine. It could be a "physics are bound to framerate and tuned to 60hz" - type of scenario. Maybe this problem could be mitigated if they utilized "direct storage" on PC in the first place.
If you want to see how “seamless and instant level/asset streaming” is done right, check out Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PS5.
- @Der_Hutmacher The game was made with current-gen consoles and SSDs in particular in mind (If you launch it on anything but an SSD it even gives a warning saying it was designed for them and that things might break) which means they somehow managed to make the PC port without utilizing DirectStorage despite the fact that DirectStorage (or its equivalent) is the only reason the console load times are as snappy as they are.
So they knew the PC version would be SSD-only, they knew the console versions would have DirectStorage equivalents, and they still pushed ahead without it on PC. It boggles the mind. Yeah the lack of dev response to this issue is disgusting. Either they need to step up or they need to offer everyone refunds.
The thundering silence is absolutely pathetic, yes.
Keeping this issue and topic alive👆
- @Der_Hutmacher This game plays on a Steam Deck with the max tier SSD Valve sold at 60 FPS, medium settings, and FSR set to Ultra Performance. Yet, this game locks up several systems forty times more powerful than the Steam Deck, so I highly doubt the problem is with "the current state of technology" and entirely with "the way how their engine works"
Huh. Does the Steam Deck version still have the traversal stutters or is it free of those, too? I know the Steam Deck translates DirectX to Vulkan. I've tried a few wrappers for the PC version like DXVK, but I haven't had much luck. Some Valve programmers did do some work on the Steam Deck port to properly cache the shaders and improve the performance.
All of this with the assumption that the core issue stems with how Dead Space utilizes DX12, but because EA/Motive haven't really acknowledged the issue, it's pretty much guesswork.
- @GloomyGhoul451 Oh yes, the traversal stutters are even worse on Deck because it can't even fully utilize it's already slower SSD. But if they weren't there, the game would run what I'd call "extremely impressively" for a handheld, a very smooth experience barring the same stutter that ruins the game for all of us.
no depot activity for 4 days now on SteamDB ☹️
https://steamdb.info/app/1693980/depots/
EDIT: they're back at it 🙂
- @macatak I assumed they were enjoying a 3-day holiday weekend, but as EA Motive is in Canada and the holiday in question is President's Day... Seems unlikely, unless they have either a corporate set of observed holidays not aligned with their nation or perhaps their own distinct holiday that lines up with the one in the U.S.
Anyhow, I won't begrudge anyone for enjoying their weekend too much, as I don't think relentless crunch through weekends (or most other times) makes for the best product. But as said weekend is over, PLEASE FIX THE STUTTER.
Add DirectStorage if you must! I don't know how much effort or cost that would be, but it's not our fault you didn't start with it to begin with! Looks like they uploaded Title Update 3.1 final about half an hour ago. Let's hope this one addresses some real issues. The fact that it's a .1 doesn't fill me with hope, though.
Nah, it’s most certainly going to be the hotfix for the Hunter softlock in Chapter 6 and 10.
The best hope on that front is that the patch notes include any acknowledgement about this issue and that they’re planning to address it next.
Well, they sent out a survey asking what we think about this game and new remakes of 2, 3 and a new Dead Space. I put that I was very interested in all of those, but that I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, and thankfully they did eventually ask why you put your opinion. I made it very clear that the traversal stutter is bad and not acknowledging it or fixing it is even worse. If it bothers you as well and you get the survey, I recommend doing the same.
I didn't get a survey, but I have absolutely zero interest in any more of these if they can't make this one run acceptably on top-end hardware.
- @h3llf1re2012 Absolutely, which is why I'm glad they had a text box where I could present my reasoning and even if they don't fix this game (which would be, in my eyes, a huge blunder and leave the game permanently sullied, damaging Motive's reputation) at least they could fix it for the next ones, and no excuses on not having DirectStorage.
I find it funny that someone expecting a fix. They will not fix it. Like they never fixed bug with badge progression in BF2042 and then simply quetly marked it as fixed and quetly removed from Known issues while it's still there.
- @Sunlighthell Oh at this point I do not expect a fix. But that won't stop me from bugging for one. I paid full price for this game, and my goddamn money didn't stutter.
I really wish I had been sent a survey so I could have told them how disappointed I am in how they've handled the stuttering issue, ignoring it and hoping people move on is just not good enough. It's very clear they don't care about the customer or the game.
- @MrH999 I got one too, I’ll be sure to let them know our mutual dissatisfaction for you.
One week since the last branch update. The public release doesn't count since it's just the last previously worked on branch update released several days after it was finished. Is that it, Motive? You done now? This is the state you want to leave the game in?
I hope not but there is absolutely nothing from EA / Motive / Community Managers @EA_Illium to confirm there is an issue in the first place.
I've been badly burnt on this one and now past refund time.
- @spd1975 That's not entirely true, they at least opened a thread on Reddit to get information about the problem. So they acknowledged it in a way, but since then it's not very active.
https://www.reddit.com/r/DeadSpace/comments/10pgwmd/pc_stuttering/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 - @Der_Hutmacher Thank you. I wasn't aware of that reddit. As you say though EA went very quiet after opening re stutter / frame rate drop remarks.
- @Der_Hutmacher It's dead, no dev/EA are engaging anymore in the conversation.
Anyone at EA or Motive grow enough of a spine or show enough integrity to actually respond to this, hm? No one? All happy to hide behind a veil of silence like school children? Very cool.
