Squad: Best GameUserSettings.ini for Competitive Advantage

The primary challenge in Squad is spotting “bush-camping” enemies or distant silhouettes through the engine’s heavy post-processing. Unreal Engine 5’s global illumination and temporal anti-aliasing (TAA) can make the game look “cinematic” but incredibly blurry during movement. This guide focuses on stripping away the visual “slop” by fine-tuning your configuration file to prioritize raw pixel data and high-contrast edges.

Hardware Compatibility & Expectations

• Competitive Infantry Players: Prioritizes lowest input lag and maximum object clarity for long-range engagements.
• Mid-Range Systems: Essential for maintaining a stable 60–90 FPS during heavy artillery and smoke-filled pushes.
• High-End GPUs (RTX 4000/5000): These settings allow you to maintain high refresh rates while utilizing NVIDIA Reflex to its fullest.

Backup and Preparation

Squad updates frequently, and major patches (like the v9.0 UE5 update) often reset these files.

1. Completely close Squad and the Steam Launcher.
2. Navigate to your local app data.
3. Right-click GameUserSettings.ini, select Copy, and save a backup to your desktop.
4. Open the original with Notepad++.

File Location

Squad’s configuration is tucked away in your local AppData folder: %LocalAppData%\SquadGame\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor\GameUserSettings.ini

Best Config Settings

Open the file and look for the [ScalabilityGroups] and [/Script/Squad.SquadUserSettings] sections. Update the values as shown below for a competitive advantage:

[ScalabilityGroups]
sg.ResolutionQuality=100
sg.ViewDistanceQuality=3 // High/Epic is vital for spotting players at distance
sg.AntiAliasingQuality=1 // Low AA removes the "smearing" effect
sg.ShadowQuality=1 // Medium shadows are necessary to see enemy silhouettes
sg.PostProcessQuality=0
sg.TextureQuality=3
sg.EffectsQuality=0
sg.FoliageQuality=0 // Removes extra clutter to help spot prone enemies
sg.ShadingQuality=0

[/Script/Squad.SquadUserSettings]
MasterSharpening=1.000000
ScreenSharpening=1.000000
MotionBlur=False
Vsync=False
AmbientOcclusion=False
EyeAdaptation=False

Key Parameters Explained

Parameter	Recommended Value	Impact
sg.ViewDistanceQuality	3	Forces high LODs for player models, preventing them from disappearing at range.
sg.AntiAliasingQuality	1	Disables heavy TAA, which is the primary cause of “ghosting” when you turn your camera.
sg.FoliageQuality	0	Strips away non-essential environmental grass/debris, making player movement obvious.
MasterSharpening	1.0	Essential for “re-capturing” detail lost to the engine’s internal upscaling.
sg.ShadowQuality	1	Medium is the “sweet spot” to still see shadows of enemies around corners.

In-Game Settings vs. Config

To maintain the visibility gained from these tweaks, ensure these are set in-game:

• NVIDIA Reflex: On + Boost (Critical for reducing the “clunky” gunplay feel).
• Uncap Texture Pool Size: Enabled if you have 8GB+ VRAM. This prevents “blobby” textures during fast-paced movement.
• Field of View (FOV): 90 is recommended. Higher FOV makes distant targets smaller and much harder to spot.
• Scope Clarity: Set to Clarity (If available) to ensure your crosshairs remain sharp during movement.

Troubleshooting & Common Fixes

• Game Looks Too Grainy: If sg.AntiAliasingQuality=1 is too sharp for you, try setting it to 2 but increase MasterSharpening to compensate.
• Settings Resetting: Squad’s launcher often overwrites this file. Once saved, right-click GameUserSettings.ini, go to Properties, and check Read-only.
• Flickering Textures: This can occur with sg.ShadingQuality=0. If it’s distracting, increase it back to 1.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion and Expected Results

By manually refining your GameUserSettings.ini, you eliminate the cinematic filters that usually give your enemies the upper hand. You can expect higher framerates, zero motion blur, and sharper silhouettes across all maps. This is the definitive “low-drag” setup for serious Squad players.