How to Fix Atomfall Stuttering, Lag, and Freezing on PC

Atomfall, the 2025 action-survival title from Rebellion Developments, plunges players into a chilling alternate-history version of 1960s Northern England—where the Windscale nuclear disaster has left the region in a state of radioactive lockdown. With its rich open-world setting and intense survival mechanics, Atomfall promises a gripping experience.

However, as with many graphically demanding PC games, performance issues can hinder immersion. Many players have encountered stuttering, frame rate drops, lag, and freezing—making it difficult to enjoy the game as intended.

If you’re facing any of these problems, don’t worry—this guide offers effective, step-by-step solutions to help you boost FPS, reduce lag, and achieve a much smoother and more stable gameplay experience.

Check System Requirements

Before troubleshooting, ensure your PC meets the minimum or recommended system requirements for the game. If your system struggles to meet these requirements, adjusting settings or upgrading hardware may be necessary.

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

Fix: Improve Performance & Boost FPS in Atomfall

1. Adjust Launch Options for Better Performance

Using custom launch options can optimize how the game runs.

For Steam Users:

1. Open Steam and go to Library.
2. Right-click on Atomfall and select Properties.
3. Under the General tab, locate Launch Options.
4. Enter the following command:
   -fullscreen -high -USEALLAVAILABLECORES

5. Close the window and launch the game.

This command forces fullscreen mode, prioritizes the game in system resources, and ensures all CPU cores are used effectively.

2. Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated GPU drivers can cause FPS drops and performance issues in Atomfall. Updating your drivers ensures better compatibility and smoother gameplay.

For NVIDIA Users:

1. Open NVIDIA GeForce Experience.
2. Go to the Drivers tab and click Check for Updates.
3. If an update is available, click Download and Install.

For AMD Users:

1. Open AMD Radeon Software.
2. Go to Updates and check for new drivers.
3. If an update is available, install it and restart your PC.

3. Run the Game as an Administrator

Granting administrator privileges can prevent permission-related issues that may affect game performance.

1. Right-click on Atomfall.exe (or its shortcut).
2. Select Properties > Go to the Compatibility tab.
3. Check “Run this program as an administrator.”
4. Click Apply and OK.

Repeat the same steps for Steam/Epic Games Launcher to prevent permission conflicts.

4. Set High Priority in Task Manager

This step ensures Windows allocates more CPU power to Atomfall.

1. Launch Atomfall and minimize it.
2. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
3. Go to the Processes tab and locate Atomfall.exe.
4. Right-click it and select Set Priority > High.
5. Close Task Manager and continue playing.

5. Verify Game Files (Fix Corrupt Files)

Missing or corrupted game files can lead to stuttering and FPS drops. Verifying the game files can help fix this.

For Steam Users:

1. Open Steam and go to Library.
2. Right-click on Atomfall and select Properties.
3. Go to Local Files and click Verify Integrity of Game Files.
4. Wait for the process to complete, then restart your PC.

For Epic Games Users:

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

6. Optimize GPU Settings for Maximum Performance

Tweaking your GPU settings can significantly improve FPS and reduce stuttering.

For NVIDIA Users:

1. Right-click on the desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel.
2. Go to Manage 3D Settings > Program Settings.
3. Add Atomfall to the list and apply these settings:
   • Power Management Mode: Prefer Maximum Performance
   • Texture Filtering – Quality: High Performance
   • Threaded Optimization: On
   • Vertical Sync (V-Sync): Off

For AMD Users:

1. Open AMD Radeon Software.
2. Go to Graphics settings and select Atomfall.
3. Apply these settings:
   • Radeon Anti-Lag: Enabled
   • Texture Filtering Quality: Performance
   • V-Sync: Off

7. Disable Fullscreen Optimizations

Disabling fullscreen optimizations can improve stability and boost FPS.

1. Right-click on Atomfall.exe and select Properties.
2. Go to the Compatibility tab.
3. Check “Disable Fullscreen Optimizations.”
4. Click Apply and OK.

8. Install the Latest Game Patch

Developers frequently release performance updates to fix lag, bugs, and stuttering.

For Steam Users:

1. Open Steam and go to Library.
2. Right-click on Atomfall and select Properties.
3. Enable Automatic Updates under the Updates tab.

For Epic Games Users:

1. Open Epic Games Launcher and go to Library.
2. Click the three dots next to Atomfall.
3. Enable Auto-Update to install patches automatically.

9. Lower In-Game Graphics Settings

If you’re still facing FPS drops, lower some graphical settings in the game.

1. Open Atomfall and go to Settings > Graphics.
2. Adjust the following:
   • Texture Quality, Shadow Quality, and Ray Tracing: Set to Medium or Low.
   • Disable Motion Blur and Depth of Field.
   • Enable DLSS (for NVIDIA) or FSR (for AMD) for an FPS boost.

Final Thoughts

Tackling performance issues in Atomfall might seem frustrating at first, but with the right tweaks—from updating your GPU drivers to adjusting in-game settings or closing background processes—you can significantly enhance your gameplay experience.

Be sure to keep your system updated and check for any upcoming game patches from Rebellion, as post-launch updates often address performance concerns. Until then, applying the steps outlined in this guide should help you explore the eerie, post-disaster world of Atomfall with better stability and responsiveness. Happy surviving!