The Immortals of Aveum: Is It Time for Developers to Prioritize Optimization?

Immortals of Aveum Runs Poorly On Even The Best PC

Introduction

The highly anticipated fantasy-themed first-person shooter, Immortals of Aveum, developed by Ascendant Studios, was released on August 22nd. However, the game has faced significant performance issues, leaving players frustrated. Immortals of Aveum, which is rooted in magic rather than guns, is struggling to deliver a smooth gaming experience on PCs, especially when running on the ambitious Unreal Engine 5.1. This article explores the reasons behind the game’s performance issues, the impact on players, and the challenges faced by the developers.

Performance Issues and Hardware Requirements

The performance issues in Immortals of Aveum stem from the game’s demanding hardware requirements. According to Ascendant Studios, the game aims to be a “truly next-generation experience on a technical level.” As a result, it requires high-end graphics cards, such as the 2019-era AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT or Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super, for a smooth gameplay experience at 1080p, 60fps. For those aiming to play at 4k or 120fps, only the latest AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX or Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU will suffice.

However, these hardware specifications have been referred to as “aspirational” by reviewers and even deemed somewhat unreasonable. The prevalence of these high-end graphics cards among gamers is relatively low, with only 0.68 percent of users reported to have the RX 5700 XT and 0.62 percent owning the RTX 2080 Super, according to Steam’s ongoing 2023 hardware survey.

The demanding hardware requirements, while accurate to achieve optimal performance, have left many players unable to enjoy Immortals of Aveum due to low frame rates, stuttering, and crashing. Some users have expressed frustration at the game’s implementation of frame generation features, which negatively impacts the user interface and overall gameplay experience.

Development Decisions and Challenges

Ascendant Studios made a conscious decision to prioritize technical advancements and graphical detail over supporting older video cards and previous console generations. In an Electronic Arts blog post, Mark Maratea, Ascendant’s chief technology officer, justified this decision by emphasizing the studio’s commitment to creating a truly next-generation experience.

While this approach allowed Ascendant Studios to push the boundaries of graphical fidelity and provide an immersive experience, it also limited the game’s accessibility to a wider audience. By focusing on cutting-edge hardware, Ascendant Studios restricted the potential player base and potentially alienated users who do not possess the latest high-end systems.

Moreover, the proximity of Immortals of Aveum’s release date to Starfield, a highly anticipated blockbuster game set to launch on September 6, added to the challenges faced by Ascendant Studios. Releasing so closely to a major title from a different studio puts pressure on Immortals of Aveum to compete for players’ attention and engagement.

Editorial and Advice

The performance issues of Immortals of Aveum highlight the delicate balance between pushing technical boundaries and ensuring an optimized gaming experience for a wider audience. While it is commendable that Ascendant Studios aims to create a next-generation gaming experience, it is crucial to consider the practicality of hardware requirements and reach a balance that allows a larger portion of the player base to enjoy the game without sacrificing graphical fidelity.

To address the performance issues, Ascendant Studios should consider optimizing the game for a broader range of hardware configurations. This would not only improve the gaming experience for existing players but also attract a larger audience and generate more positive reviews.

Additionally, developers must carefully plan release dates to avoid competing directly with major titles from other studios. By spacing out release dates, developers can increase the chances of capturing players’ attention and foster a more supportive gaming community.

As for players experiencing performance issues with Immortals of Aveum, it is crucial to provide feedback to Ascendant Studios and report any technical issues. Communicating problems constructively can help the development team identify and address the root causes of these performance setbacks.

In conclusion, the performance issues in Immortals of Aveum highlight the challenges faced by developers striving for technical excellence while maintaining accessibility for a broad audience. By finding the right balance, optimizing for a range of hardware configurations, and strategic release planning, developers can deliver both a visually stunning experience and smooth gameplay, enhancing the overall satisfaction of players.