Hi, I just hope someone sees this post!
Ever since beyond light launched my framerate has dropped for about 40% maximum and 20% on average and I have noticed a number of players having the same issue on PC with a wide range of specs. I have done some experiments these few days and have figured that, at least for me,
-The relative fps drop (~40% lower after Beyond Light), does not seem to decrease when I lower the resolution (even to 25% render percentage at the lowest possible resolution settings, when destiny 2 literally looks like a 8 bit game) wiithout lowering the graphic settings, or lowering the graphic settings to the lowest without lowering the resolution. This indicates that the performance issue is caused by something relatively independent of rendering resolution, and relatively independent of all graphic settings offered.
-When my fps drops, my GPU hits 100%, which indicates this is a GPU related issue and therefore is more likely to be related to the newly implemented shader/lighting system revamp.
-My fps only drops when I am looking at a certain object/angle when I observed its fluctuation at different points of the map, indicating this drop is more likely linked to a new effect that is (1) implemented after version 3.0.0.1 and (2) not ambiently active in the world like the general contrast/satuation tweak.
-My fps drops the hardest in the EDZ, the Tangled Shores and the lobby of Braytech Exosience on Europa. In all of these locations I noticed a fog/haze that was not there before Beyond Light. I then confirmed that, yes, when turning my FOV around when standing still, my fps has indeed dropped the hardest when I look at the new foggy effects. I have then done a series of tests changing my relative position to a light source in the game and the fog, and have then come to a conclusion that the framerate drops the most when a light source is behind this volumetric effects I mentioned.
I have also confirmed that this fog effect would not be disabled on all graphic settings offered, even at the lowest. The EDZ, the Tangled Shore and some areas in Braytech Exoscience were covered with these new effects, therefore my framerate dropped the most, while on ourdoors Europa a very clear comparison can be seen. At Cadmus Ridge, if I looked at any light on the Vex structure through the fog, my fps will drop. If there were no light source in my FOV at the same exact location looking at nearly the same angle (e.g. I move my FOV a little bit, so that all light sources JUST leaves the edge of my view), my framerate bursts to a healthy stable 60fps.
According the the forementioned research, I highly suspect the culprit for the drop is either the new fog effect itself, or some weird interaction of light through this volumetric fog. I dont know exactly if this is intended (maybe next-gen consoles have better optimisation for these effects?) or has a possibility to fix. What I am asking is just an confirmation if this is intended, or an option to swith off only the fog in the graphic settings in a future update.
Other than that, Beyond Light is so very good and I enjoyed every bit of it. Thank you!
Your friendly neibourhood titan
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it also seems to drop significantly when there are enemies nearby, even just 1 enemy decreases it by a bunch