THQ Nordic has just lifted the review embargo for Alone in the Dark. Powered by Unreal Engine 4.27.2.0, it’s time to benchmark it and examine its performance on the PC platform.
For our benchmarks, we used an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, 32GB of DDR5 at 6000Mhz, AMD’s Radeon RX580, RX Vega 64, RX 6900XT, RX 7900XTX, NVIDIA’s GTX980Ti, RTX 2080Ti, RTX 3080 and RTX 4090. We also used Windows 10 64-bit, the GeForce 551.61, and the Radeon Adrenalin Edition 24.2.1 drivers. Moreover, we’ve disabled the second CCD on our 7950X3D.
Pieces Interactive has included a respectable amount of graphics settings. PC gamers can adjust the quality of Volumetrics, Ambient Occlusion, View Distance, Textures, Shadows and more. The game also a FOV slider, as well as options for Chromatic Aberration, Motion Blur and DOF. There is also support for DLSS 2 and FSR 2.0.
Alone in the Dark does not feature any built-in benchmark tool. So, for our tests, we benchmarked the following area. This appeared to be a demanding scene (at least in the early parts of the game).
To see how the game runs with different types of CPUs, we simulated dual-core, quad-core, and hexa-core CPUs. And from what we could see, the game does not require a high-end CPU. Our simulated dual-core system was able to get an average of over 120fps, even without Hyper-Threading/SMT. However, Alone in the Dark suffers from MAJOR traversal stutters. These stutters are easily noticeable and can drop performance by almost 100fps when gaming at high framerates. They are really annoying and awful, and it’s something that the devs will have to somehow resolve. We’ve already informed them (these stutters are present with the day-1 patch), so here is hoping that they’ll do something about them via a post-launch update. And yes, there are also shader compilation stutters.
At 1080p/Epic Settings, you don’t really need a high-end GPU to get a 60fps experience. Again, though, your gaming experience will be ruined by the traversal stutters. For instance, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 can push an average of 82fps, but it can drop to below 60fps due to these stutters.
At 1440p/Epic Settings, our top five GPUs were able to provide high framerates. As for Native 4K/Epic Settings, our AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 were able to provide framerates higher than 60fps at all times.
Graphics-wise, Alone in the Dark looks a bit average. The environments look OK, but there is very limited environmental interactivity. I could also spot numerous pop-in issues, even on Epic Settings. The character models are also serviceable. The only thing that really stood out was the fact that your flashlight can cast dynamic shadows. This is a nice touch, and it can enhance the game’s presentation. Other than that, though, there is nothing worth mentioning. Oh, and before closing. The game’s Motion Blur can introduce visual artifacts, even in its Ultra setting. I’ve showcased this in the video above. So, make sure to disable it.
All in all, Alone in the Dark does not require a high-end PC system. However, the game suffers from major traversal stutters, as well as shader compilation stutters. These stutters can completely destroy your gaming experience. Seriously, they are THAT bad in this title. So, let’s hope that the devs will do something about them!
John is the founder and Editor in Chief at DSOGaming. He is a PC gaming fan and highly supports the modding and indie communities. Before creating DSOGaming, John worked on numerous gaming websites. While he is a die-hard PC gamer, his gaming roots can be found on consoles. John loved – and still does – the 16-bit consoles, and considers SNES to be one of the best consoles. Still, the PC platform won him over consoles. That was mainly due to 3DFX and its iconic dedicated 3D accelerator graphics card, Voodoo 2. John has also written a higher degree thesis on the “The Evolution of PC graphics cards.”
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The slam dunk combo of Unreal Engine, traversal stutters and shader compilation stutters.
Just tested the game. I think John didn’t test enough. This game is so f$%ed even if you stand at a particular place, the 99% fps will fluctuate like 158 to 137 in a matter of a second. And it happens all the time. The developers must be fired immediately.
The devs said Day 1 patch will have shader compilation thing, we will see.
Funny how devs need to do a day 1 nowadays, they already delayed this game multiple times yet still has issues, I find it abhorrent, they should’ve tinkered out any necessary game breaking things
It’s the fault of physical console editions and consoles. Playstation and retailers want a set-in-stone release date.
didnt know that. That really f*king sucks
when i saw the game i was like “yes haunted mansion to explore” but then i saw some gameplay trailer in which they open a door in the mansion and teleport to a street and i was like “nope, i want to be able to map the games map in my head and explore, not to have magic doors that sent you to dream sequences, that killed visage for me.
So is the game like resident evil 1 and the alone in the dark new nightmare?
This.. I had the same thing with Visage as well.. It felt so out of place.
John, when a game is not on UE 5 and does not have lumen and nanite
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/70ce0f070c29b2530c29dea76c8e894a1b5c2d0b7888f0ebc2f032df5a4442c9.jpg
The game runs way better in DX12, as all UE4 games do. After you get through the PSO shader stutters, it’s fine.
John, I’ve noticed that you are doing this every time.
What happens when you run any game with both CCDs still active on Windows?
The Linux CPU scheduler is smart enough to always pick the correct cores for any given task, meaning that no tinkering is needed for optimal performance, as you can see here:
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4ae4a53832ffa615e4dd8610ab7d52ceaeea3a0846cdaeda97784c4e5c53f968.png
I’m guessing that is not the case on Windows?
It’s time to let go unreal engine fetish. This engine has only proven to be the shittiest of all game engines thus far. Worst visuals, worst performance.
It’s time to let go unreal engine fetish. This engine has only proven to be the shittiest of all game engines thus far. Worst visuals, worst performance.
or perhaps it’s time for you to get a new rig and stop expecting new games to work on decade old hardware?
My rig is fine, and stutters doesn’t have anything to do with better hardware. Don’t be a luddite and watch some digital foundry about stutters to see for yourself
I think stutters are blown out of proportion. gamers, especially us PC gamers are whiny little wimps and we throw a tantrum over the most benign things, we expect absolute perfection in an industry that is still developing. A matter of taste, but I prefer beautiful graphics over some stutters mate. UE4 is ugly and dated AF. I’m ready for next gen, with all its downsides
Getting rid of stutters isn’t a matter of perfection. It’s a bad symptom of industry wide malpractices. It hurts both pc gamers and console gamers.
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This UE4 engine should be banned because the developers are unable to use it normally. (except in Gears of War 4,5)
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Well how About – Epic vs highest setting aka Cinematic???
Not a single word about highest setting, and – IF – it look much better and are worth it???