Deep Rock Galactic runs on Unreal Engine 4. While the in-game settings provide a “Particles” slider, it doesn’t allow for granular control over the engine’s internal “Emitter” pools. By accessing the Engine.ini, you can force the game to cull distant particles (like environment steam or floating dust) and limit the number of active sprites per second. This guide focuses on a “Combat Priority” configuration that keeps essential gameplay cues visible while stripping away the visual clutter that causes FPS drops.
Hardware Compatibility & Expectations
- Steam Deck & Handhelds: Essential for maintaining a stable 60 FPS in dense biomes like the Hollow Bough or Azure Weald.
- Low-to-Mid Range CPUs: Reducing particle overhead significantly lowers the CPU’s “Draw Call” burden during swarms.
- Visibility Note: These tweaks make the game look “cleaner,” allowing you to see glyphid weak points more easily through the smoke and fire of a Driller’s flamethrower.
Backup and Preparation
Modifying Unreal Engine configuration files is safe, but a backup is required to revert settings after a game update.
- Completely exit Deep Rock Galactic.
- Navigate to the AppData folder (path below).
- Right-click Engine.ini, select Copy, and save a backup to your desktop.
- Open the original file with Notepad++.
File Location
The configuration file is located in your local AppData directory: %LocalAppData%\FSD\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor\Engine.ini
Best Config Settings
Open Engine.ini and scroll to the bottom. Add the following block to optimize the rendering pipeline and particle management:
[/Script/Engine.RendererSettings]
r.SceneColorFringeQuality=0
r.MaxParticleVertexMemory=1024
r.ParticleLODBias=2
r.GPUParticle.MaxConcurrentParticles=10000
[SystemSettings]
fx.MaxParticles=500
fx.MaxCPUParticlesPerFrame=100
r.ViewDistanceScale=0.8
r.ParticleLightQuality=0Key Parameters Explained
| Parameter | Recommended Value | Impact |
| fx.MaxParticles | 500 | Caps the total number of active sprites; prevents lag during mass explosions. |
| r.ParticleLODBias | 2 | Forces particles to switch to lower-detail versions much earlier. |
| r.SceneColorFringeQuality | 0 | Disables Chromatic Aberration, which sharpens the image and saves GPU cycles. |
| r.ParticleLightQuality | 0 | Stops particles from casting light on the environment, providing a massive FPS boost. |
| fx.MaxCPUParticlesPerFrame | 100 | Limits how many particles the CPU can calculate per frame, stabilizing 1% lows. |
In-Game Settings vs. Config
To complement your Engine.ini edits, use these in-game “Graphics” settings:
- Anti-Aliasing: Set to NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR 2.0 (Quality). These are far superior to the native TAA for clarity.
- Texture Filtering: Set to High. This has a minimal impact on performance but keeps the cave walls looking sharp.
- Effects Volume: Set to Low. This controls the density of smoke and steam, which synergizes with our particle cap.
- NVIDIA Reflex / Low Latency: Set to On + Boost if available to reduce input lag during high-stress moments.
Troubleshooting & Common Fixes
- Invisible Effects: If you can’t see the “Frost” effect on enemies, increase
fx.MaxParticlesto 1000. - Settings Resetting: If the game reverts your changes, right-click Engine.ini, select Properties, and check Read-only.
- DirectX 11 vs. 12: For most users, DX12 provides better performance in DRG, but if you experience crashing with these tweaks, revert to DX11 via the Steam launch options.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does this affect the “Flare” light?
No. Flares use dynamic lighting, not the particle system cap. You will still be able to see clearly in the dark.
Is this considered cheating in multiplayer?
No. These are standard Unreal Engine optimization parameters. Thousands of players use similar .ini tweaks to improve performance.
Why disable Particle Light Quality?
In DRG, every ember from a fire grenade tries to cast light on the floor. In a big room, this creates hundreds of dynamic lights, which is the primary cause of GPU lag. Setting this to 0 removes that calculation entirely.
Conclusion and Expected Results
By manually refining your Engine.ini, you are preparing your hardware for the most intense missions Hoxxes IV can throw at you. You can expect rock-solid frame rates during swarms, improved visual clarity through explosions, and a cooler-running PC during long mining sessions. Rock and Stone!