Code Vein 2 has finally arrived on PC, but for many players, the first boss fight isn’t against a Horror — it’s against stutters, frame drops, and long load times. Even high-end rigs with RTX 3080s report inconsistent performance, and Unreal Engine 5’s stunning visuals come at a steep cost.
In this 2026 guide, we go beyond “it runs fine” and provide real-world benchmarks, tiered hardware performance data, and actionable optimization tips. Whether you’re on a mid-range GPU or a top-tier machine, you’ll learn how to fix stuttering, maximize FPS, and enjoy smooth 1080p–4K gameplay.
This post is the perfect follow-up to our previous guides on PC performance, SSD load times, and system requirements, giving you everything you need for a flawless Code Vein 2 experience.
Your comprehensive data‑driven guide to understanding framerate, hardware impact, and real‑world optimization.
Following our previous deep dives into Code Vein 2 performance settings, SSD impacts, and system requirements, it’s time to look at real benchmark data, how technologies like DLSS and FSR affect performance, and why this game demands so much — even at 1080p. This post brings together measured performance figures, community reports, and tested optimization advice from early access to help you squeeze the best experience out of your PC.
๐ฎ Why Data Matters: Real Early Access Performance Feedback
Code Vein 2 launched into early access with a “Mixed” Steam review score, and a recurring theme among players and reviewers is performance inconsistency — even on capable hardware.
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Players report frequent frame dips and stutters, especially in open areas and combat transitions.
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Even high‑end GPUs sometimes struggle to maintain 60 FPS when settings are maxed.
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Unreal Engine 5’s dynamic lighting and effects are a double‑edged sword — beautiful visuals, but demanding performance.
This makes benchmarking and targeted optimization essential, instead of vague “it runs well” statements.
๐ง What Official Requirements Really Mean
According to the official Steam page, Code Vein 2 hardware recommendations target 1080p at ~60 FPS on High settings, which sets a higher bar than many action RPGs.
Minimum Specs (1080p / 30 FPS Target):
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CPU: Intel Core i5‑9600K / AMD Ryzen 5 3600
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GPU: GTX 1660 Super / RX 5700
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RAM: 16 GB
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OS: Windows 11
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Storage: 70 GB available
Recommended Specs (1080p / 60 FPS Target):
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CPU: Intel Core i7‑12700KF / Ryzen 7 7800X3D
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GPU: RTX 3080 / RX 6800
This is telling: even the recommended tier leans toward upper midrange to high‑end hardware — and that’s before graphical quality, upscaling, or advanced effects. The Unreal Engine 5 foundation, while powerful, increases baseline requirements because of dynamic lighting, advanced shadows, and complex particle effects.
๐ GPU Benchmarks: What the Numbers Show
Benchmark aggregators give us a clearer picture of performance potential across a range of GPUs at popular resolutions:
๐น 1080p Average FPS (Max Presets)
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~25 FPS average on Radeon RX 6700 XT / RTX 3060‑level GPUs — too low for smooth gameplay.
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60 FPS+ average achieved by Radeon RX 7800 XT / RTX 4070 class cards.
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GPUs stronger than that trend above 70–80 FPS with room for upscaling.
๐น 1440p Average FPS
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Moderate GPUs fall below comfortable 60 FPS without upscaling.
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RX 7900 XTX / RTX 4080 class GPUs manage ~60 FPS at higher fidelity, showing how much GPU power influences playable framerate at resolution.
๐น Ultra Preset Demos (Unofficial Benchmark Runs)
Independent demo tests showed very high framerates (100 + FPS) on top‑tier GPUs like RTX 4080 and RTX 5070 Ti at 1080p Ultra in benchmark simulators — but these may not reflect open world streaming and combat complexity.
What this means:
If you’re on mid‑tier hardware, expect under 60 FPS without tuning or upscaling. High‑end GPUs will perform better but may still dip in complex scenes.
๐พ Storage & CPU: The Hidden Performance Factors
SSD performance not only shortens load times — it also improves texture streaming and reduces hitching in open world areas. PCs running the game from NVMe SSDs experience fewer pop‑ins and faster asset streaming than those on SATA SSDs or HDDs.
Community testers also highlight CPU bottlenecks: even powerful GPUs like RTX 4080 sometimes sit underutilized while the CPU pushes high load, which can throttle framerate.
๐ Tip: If GPU utilization rarely hits maximum while CPU usage is consistently high, your framerate might be CPU bound, meaning graphical tweaks alone won’t fix dips.
๐ How DLSS, FSR & Upscaling Help
Upscaling tech like NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a practical way to boost FPS:
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DLSS and FSR render at a lower internal resolution then upscale to native, freeing GPU resources for smoother gameplay.
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This is especially effective at 1440p and 4K, where raw rendering costs skyrocket.
Even if Code Vein 2 doesn’t expose advanced frame generation in its menus, community mods and config tweaks (like engine ini edits) have enabled features that mimic this behavior. That gives players frame rate uplifts well beyond stock settings, although results vary by hardware.
๐️ Settings That Have the Greatest Impact
From real user feedback and tuning tests, the following settings are disproportionately impactful on framerate:
High Impact Tweaks
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Global Illumination / UE5 Lumen – One of the biggest FPS sinks.
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Shadow Quality – Heavy at high settings, big FPS gains on Medium/Low.
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Post‑Processing & Effects – Reduces particle induced dips.
Moderate Impact Tweaks
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Texture Quality – Depends on your VRAM.
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Anisotropic Filtering / Anti‑Aliasing – Smaller impact; adjust based on taste vs performance.
A practical way to optimize:
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Lower GI and shadows first
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Enable DLSS/FSR (Quality/Balanced)
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Adjust post-processing before textures
User experiences show that even with powerful rigs, turning these down can make the difference between steady 60 FPS and frequent dips.
๐ง Real User Cases & Community Insights
Players on Reddit share varied performance experiences:
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One 4080 user sees frequent dips into the 40–50 FPS range, especially in combat and open areas, despite powerful hardware. Tweaking global illumination helped visuals and consistency.
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Some users report capping framerate at 30 FPS gives a more stable experience, especially when raw 60 FPS is inconsistent — and even makes some combat inputs feel easier to time.
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Others highlight that the game currently lacks native frame generation support, and that workarounds (engine ini edits, mods) can help but are unofficial.
These insights give your guide human context — readers appreciate tangible cases from real rigs.
⚙️ Quick Optimization Checklist
Use this list to systematically improve performance:
Before Launch
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Update GPU drivers
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Install on NVMe SSD
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Close background apps & overlays
In‑Game
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Lower Global Illumination (Lumen)
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Reduce Shadow & Effects quality
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Enable DLSS / FSR
Advanced
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Use mods for upscaling features not exposed in settings
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Cap framerate to stabilize inconsistent FPS
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Consider manual engine tweaks if community configs are trusted
❓ FAQ — Quick Answers
Is Code Vein 2 CPU or GPU bound?
Both. High CPU usage can bottleneck even powerful GPUs in certain scenes.
Can mid‑tier hardware hit 60 FPS?
Only with tuned settings and upscaling. Without those, average FPS may fall below 60 at higher resolutions.
Does storage type matter?
Yes — NVMe SSDs improve texture streaming and reduce hitching.
๐ Final Thoughts
While Code Vein 2 delivers exciting gameplay and deep systems, its Unreal Engine 5 demands and current optimization state make benchmarking and tuning essential for PC players who want smooth performance. By combining real benchmark data, smart hardware awareness, and targeted tweaks, you can greatly improve your play experience — even before patches and post‑launch support arrive.
Stay tuned for updated patches and benchmarks as the game evolves, and check out our follow‑up guides for storage, requirements, and advanced tweaks.
๐ Next recommended reads:
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