In the realm of the challenging soulslike games, Lords of the Fallen took the Steam gaming community by storm but not for the reasons its creators hoped. The initial reception was marred by complaints about its subpar performance.
While some players experienced a relatively smooth gameplay experience, others faced issues such as low frame rates, stuttering, and even crashes, with some players unable to access the main menu at all.
In response to the player feedback, the game’s publisher, CI Games, posted troubleshooting tips to address the issues. They also rolled out several small patches in an attempt to remedy the situation. However, the most recent patch, which takes the game to version 1.1.203, has grabbed the community’s attention.
Developer Hexworks has claimed to have “begun to implement more substantial performance improvements” aimed at providing additional resources for GPUs operating at the brink of their capabilities. Hexworks reassured players that this effort might take some time but emphasized their commitment to maintaining the game’s visual quality.
The response to this patch on Reddit stands in stark contrast to the “mixed” user rating on Steam. While not all players are entirely satisfied, the general sentiment towards Hexworks’ ongoing efforts has been overwhelmingly positive.
Lampbearers, we’re delighted to see so many of you journeying through the dual realms of Mournstead.
Join us at 7pm cet Thursday on Twitch, for a live Q&A and 'top tips' from our Head of Studio, Saul Gascon, hosted by @Fightincowboy
Ready thy questions below…… pic.twitter.com/UD3HGzOPRI
— LORDS OF THE FALLEN (@lotfgame) October 18, 2023
One Reddit user expressed their astonishment by saying, “I don’t know what they are feeding the guys at Hexworks, but these are pretty big patches coming almost on a daily basis. I think we can all agree their response to post-launch feedback and issues has been amazing.”
Another player commented, “It’s been great. I haven’t had as much time to play since the release, but every time I do, there’s been an update, and the game runs better. Honestly, it’s fine at max settings for me now.”
A third user chimed in with, “I have never seen this speed from any developer ever. A lot of things I [dislike] got fixed, and I hope a lot more will come. Kudos to them.”
With such positive feedback, there is hope that the game’s Steam rating will quickly improve.
In addition to these developments, Hexworks announced that studio head Saul Gascon will engage in a live Q&A session on Twitch on October 19th at 10 am PT/1 pm ET/7 pm CET, allowing players to gain further insight into the game’s development and ongoing improvements.
The full patch notes for Lords of the Fallen 1.1.203 include significant stability and performance enhancements, as well as various fixes and balancing adjustments. Notable changes include fixing crashes during NPC dialogues, optimizing textures and materials to reduce VRAM usage, enhancing the gameplay experience with additional dialogue for an NPC named Sparky, and making significant balancing adjustments for NG+ bosses and regions.
Further improvements include collision fixes, visual effects enhancements, and UI adjustments, making the gaming experience more seamless and enjoyable.
With these consistent and substantial updates from Hexworks, Lords of the Fallen appears to be on the path to redeeming itself in the eyes of players who were initially disappointed with its performance. Players can now look forward to a more polished and enjoyable gaming experience.
