The Blood of Dawnwalker Stuttering and Low FPS: Which Fix Applies to You

Run these in order before changing anything else.

1. Switch from Windowed / Borderless to Full Screen

   This is the official workaround for stutter in Windowed or Borderless mode. It is the single highest-value change for that symptom.

2. Update the game

   Hotfix 1.0.5 improved shader compilation, and 1.0.4 fixed the GameInput FPS drop. Testing on an older build invalidates the result.

3. Update the GPU driver

   Shader compilation runs on the driver, so an outdated driver keeps the stutter that 1.0.5 was meant to reduce.

4. Check which controller software you are using on Steam

   The 1.0.4 FPS drop was caused by connecting a controller through outdated GameInput software. Update it, or disconnect the controller and compare.

The symptom decides the fix. Match yours before you spend a session on settings.

1. Stutter on the first launch after a patch

   Shader compilation. Expected behaviour while shaders build. Let it finish instead of restarting the game.

2. Stutter that gets better the longer you play

   Also shader compilation. Play a bit longer in the same area before concluding the fix failed.

3. Stutter only in Windowed or Borderless

   Display mode. Use Full Screen; this is the officially acknowledged case.

4. Sudden FPS drop with a controller connected

   GameInput. Steam-specific, fixed in Hotfix 1.0.4 — update and retest.

Consistent across several players, but not part of any official note.

1. Wait before judging a fix

   Reported repeatedly: stutter in a new area settles after a few minutes of play. A fix tested for thirty seconds will look like it failed.

2. Compare with frame generation off

   Reported to smooth frame pacing for some players. Change only this, so the result means something.

3. Cap the frame rate below your monitor maximum

   Reported to even out pacing. Not confirmed as a cause of the stutter itself.

Try these last, and only if the official steps above are already done.

1. Delete the shader cache

   Forces a full recompile. It may clear a corrupted cache, and it will definitely make the next launch slower.

2. Disable background capture and overlays

   Reported to help on some systems. Not confirmed as a cause.

3. Lower shadow and view-distance settings

   A blunt workaround. It reduces load without identifying what is actually stuttering.

Do Not Do This First

Each of these makes the result harder to read.

• Do not judge a fix from the first thirty seconds of play.
• Do not change the display mode and the driver at the same time.
• Do not treat a shader-compilation stutter as a broken install.

Other symptom guides

• Crashes →
• Stuttering →
• Controller →
• Quest progress →
• Diagnose saving →