Fix Atomfall Low FPS Drops on PC and Boost Performance

Atomfall is a 2025 action survival game developed and published by Rebellion Developments. It is set in an alternate-history 1960s where the Windscale nuclear disasters turned much of Northern England into a radioactive quarantine zone. While the game offers a rich and immersive open-world experience, some PC players have encountered performance issues like low FPS, stuttering, and frame drops.

If you’re struggling with these issues, don’t worry—you’re not alone. This guide will walk you through several troubleshooting methods to boost your game’s performance and get the best experience possible.

Fix: How to Improve Performance in Atomfall on PC

Follow the solutions below in order, and test the game after each step to see if performance improves.

1. Check System Requirements

Before troubleshooting, confirm that your PC meets or exceeds the game’s system requirements.

Minimum Requirements:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 10 or later
• Processor: Intel CPU Core i5-9400f or equivalent
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: Nvidia 2060 6GB or equivalent
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 60 GB available space

If your PC struggles to meet these requirements, you may need to lower your in-game settings or consider upgrading your hardware.

2. Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated or corrupt GPU drivers can lead to poor performance, stuttering, and FPS drops. Keeping your drivers up to date is essential.

To Update Your GPU Drivers:

1. Right-click on the Start Menu and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Display adapters category.
3. Right-click on your GPU and select Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for drivers.

Alternatively, download and install the latest drivers manually from the official websites:

• NVIDIA Users: Download GeForce Experience
• AMD Users: Download AMD Radeon Software

Once updated, restart your PC and launch the game to check if performance improves.

3. Optimize In-Game Graphics Settings

Running the game on high or ultra settings when your PC isn’t capable can drastically reduce FPS. Adjust the settings for better performance:

Recommended Graphics Settings for Better FPS:

• Texture Quality – Set to Medium or Low
• Shadow Quality – Set to Low
• Ray Tracing – Disable it for better FPS
• V-Sync – Turn off (unless screen tearing occurs)
• DLSS / FSR – Enable (if available, for improved FPS)
• Screen Mode – Set to Fullscreen

After adjusting these settings, restart the game and see if it runs smoother.

4. Close Background Applications

Unnecessary background apps consume CPU, RAM, and disk resources, slowing down the game.

To Close Unneeded Tasks:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click on the Processes tab.
3. Identify high CPU/RAM-consuming tasks.
4. Right-click each unnecessary process and select End Task.

Ensure that programs like Google Chrome, file downloads, and streaming applications are closed before launching the game.

5. Set the Game to High Priority

Setting Atomfall to High Priority forces Windows to allocate more system resources to it.

Steps to Set High Priority:

1. Launch the game and keep it running in the background.
2. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
3. Go to the Details tab.
4. Right-click on Atomfall.exe and select Set Priority > High.

6. Enable High-Performance Mode in Windows

Windows defaults to Balanced Mode, which may limit CPU and GPU performance.

To Enable High Performance Mode:

1. Open the Control Panel and go to Power Options.
2. Select High Performance Mode.

If you’re using a laptop, keep it plugged in while gaming for maximum performance.

7. Disable Overlay Applications

Overlays from software like Steam, Discord, NVIDIA GeForce Experience, and Xbox Game Bar can reduce FPS.

How to Disable Overlays:

Disable Steam Overlay:

1. Open Steam > Go to Library.
2. Right-click Atomfall and select Properties.
3. In the General tab, uncheck “Enable Steam Overlay while in-game”.

Disable Discord Overlay:

1. Open Discord.
2. Go to Settings > Game Overlay.
3. Toggle Enable in-game overlay OFF.

Also, disable GeForce Experience, MSI Afterburner, and Xbox Game Bar if you have them enabled.

8. Update Windows & DirectX

Running an outdated version of Windows or DirectX can cause performance issues.

To Update Windows:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Click Update & Security > Windows Update.
3. Click Check for updates and install if available.

To Update DirectX:

1. Download the latest DirectX Web Installer from Microsoft’s website.
2. Install it and restart your PC.

9. Verify Game Files (Steam & Epic Games)

If Atomfall has missing or corrupted files, verifying them can help.

For Steam Users:

1. Open Steam and go to Library.
2. Right-click on Atomfall and select Properties.
3. Go to Local Files > Click Verify Integrity of Game Files.

For Epic Games Users:

1. Open Epic Games Launcher and go to Library.
2. Click the three-dot menu next to Atomfall.
3. Select Verify and wait for the process to complete.

10. Reinstall the Game

If all else fails, reinstalling the game may be necessary.

Steps to Reinstall:

1. Uninstall Atomfall via Control Panel > Programs & Features.
2. Delete the game’s installation folder manually.
3. Restart your PC.
4. Reinstall the game from Steam or Epic Games.

Final Thoughts

Performance issues like lag, stuttering, and frame drops can take away from the immersive world Atomfall sets out to deliver—but most of these problems are fixable. Whether it’s updating your GPU drivers, tweaking in-game graphics settings, or optimizing your system for gaming, the solutions in this guide should help you get smoother, more stable gameplay.

If you’re still facing problems after trying everything, keep an eye out for official patches or performance updates from Rebellion. Game optimization often improves over time, especially following community feedback. In the meantime, stay safe out there in the quarantine zone—and enjoy the game!