The August 21, 2025 patch for Marvel Rivals (v20250821) wasn’t just about hero balance—it brought key technical updates aimed at improving performance and stability. With faster hero-switching, new FPS cap options, and shader preloading improvements for PC, the goal was clear: make Season 3.5 smoother for everyone. But has it worked? Community reactions are mixed, and the conversation around stutters, matchmaking, and stability is still heating up.
This guide breaks down the technical changes, what they mean for your gameplay, how to tune your system, and what players are actually experiencing.
TL;DR (What Changed)
Faster hero switching: Long-press reduced from 1.0s → 0.5s for snappier swaps.
New FPS cap options: Adjustable caps in settings for steadier frame pacing.
Shader preloading improvements (PC): Faster startups, fewer compilation hitches.
Bug fixes & stability: Alongside balance changes (covered in our other posts).
What This Means (and How to Use It)
1) Faster Hero Switching (0.5s vs 1s)
The long-press window is now just 0.5 seconds, making mid-fight swaps noticeably faster—especially useful in objective-heavy modes. No setup required: you’ll simply feel it in gameplay.
2) FPS Cap Options (Why You Might Want a Cap)
Capping FPS helps stabilize frame times (less micro-stutter) and reduce system strain. On VRR monitors (G-Sync/FreeSync), set a cap slightly below your display’s refresh rate (e.g., 118 on a 120Hz monitor). You’ll find the option in Settings ▸ Video ▸ Frame Rate Limit.
3) Shader Preloading (PC)
This update improves how shaders compile, reducing first-match hitches. If you’ve noticed stutter when casting abilities for the first time, this is meant to address it.
Best practices after a patch:
Update GPU drivers, then let the game compile shaders at launch if prompted.
Avoid alt-tabbing during compilation.
If issues persist, clear shader cache (via game settings or GPU control panel) and relaunch.
Community Pulse: Did It Actually Help?
Positive reports: Some players are seeing smoother pacing and quicker loads.
Critical feedback: Others claim shader preloads take longer and stutter still occurs, especially in Season 3.5.
Bug megathreads: Reports of lingering crashes, stutters, and quirks remain active.
Matchmaking concerns: While not directly tied to FPS, matchmaking frustration colors perceptions of performance. NetEase reiterated no EOMM, but skepticism continues.
Bottom line: improvements are there, but results vary by system.
Practical Tuning Guide (PC)
Lock a Sensible FPS Cap
Try 118 FPS for 120Hz or 58 FPS for 60Hz setups.
If spikes persist, cap slightly lower via GPU driver.
VRR + V-Sync
On G-Sync/FreeSync monitors, test V-Sync ON in-game, OFF in driver (or the reverse). Avoid double V-Sync.
Shader Cache Hygiene
Clear cache after big patches.
Disable overlays (Discord, GPU metrics) during first compile.
CPU & Background Apps
Close browser videos/recording apps during shader compilation.
Upscaling & Resolution
Use DLSS/FSR/XeSS (Quality mode) first.
Drop resolution before lowering effects.
Troubleshooting Stutter (Checklist)
Stutters after compile? Clear caches → reboot → relaunch.
Only first match stutters? Play a bot/custom match to “warm up” shaders.
Severe drops mid-fight? Disable overlays, check recording apps.
Console hitching? Use Performance mode and free up storage.
Is Matchmaking “Fixed”?
Not directly tied to FPS, but session quality shapes overall experience. NetEase continues to stress no engagement-based matchmaking (EOMM), though skepticism remains. If your frustration feels more about match balance than stutter, you may need to wait for future transparency updates.
Our Verdict (Week 1)
✅ Clear wins: Faster hero swapping feels great. FPS cap options are a welcome stability tool.
⚖️ Work in progress: Shader preloading helps some players, hurts others—likely candidate for hotfix tuning.
We’ll keep monitoring community feedback and update this guide with best practices per GPU tier.
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