Stuttering / FPS Drops
Bandai Namco Elden Ring
Severity: MinorWhat Does This Error Mean?
Stuttering in Elden Ring on PC is a well-known issue caused by the game compiling shaders on the fly as you encounter new effects. This is most noticeable the first time you visit a new area. Installing the community shader pre-compilation fix (Elden Ring FPS Fix mod) and updating GPU drivers resolves most stuttering permanently.
Affected Models
- Elden Ring (PC via Steam — primary platform with this issue)
- Elden Ring (PlayStation 4 — frame rate drops in dense areas)
Common Causes
- Shader compilation stutter — the game compiles shaders in real time causing brief freezes
- Outdated GPU driver lacking Elden Ring optimisations
- Frame rate cap not set — uncapped frame rates cause instability on some hardware
- Running the game from a slow HDD instead of an SSD
- Background apps competing for CPU and RAM resources
How to Fix It
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Update your GPU driver. For NVIDIA, use GeForce Experience or nvidia.com. For AMD, use Radeon Software or amd.com. A driver update from the game's launch year to current makes a significant difference.
GPU manufacturers release driver updates that include specific optimisations for major game releases. An outdated driver from before Elden Ring's launch will stutter on hardware that a current driver handles smoothly.
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Install the Elden Ring FPS Fix mod from NexusMods. This community mod pre-compiles shaders so they do not stutter during gameplay.
Search for Elden Ring FPS Fix on nexusmods.com — it is one of the most widely used mods for the game and is safe to use in offline mode. Do not use mods in online mode as they may trigger anti-cheat.
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Cap the frame rate at 60 FPS in the game settings. Uncapped frame rates can cause physics instability and stuttering on some hardware configurations.
Elden Ring's engine was designed for 60 FPS. Running above 60 FPS works but requires extra GPU load and can cause micro-stutters as the engine tries to keep up.
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If running from a hard disk drive (HDD), move the game to a solid-state drive (SSD). Open and close Windows properties on your Elden Ring installation folder to check which drive it is on.
Elden Ring loads a large number of assets as you move through the world. An HDD is 5-10 times slower than an SSD at this task, which causes loading stutters that are often mistaken for performance issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Elden Ring stutter on console too?
The PC version has the most notable stutter issues. On PS5 and Xbox Series X, the game runs at a stable 60 FPS in performance mode with minimal stutter. PS4 and Xbox One have occasional frame rate drops in graphically dense areas, but no shader stutter.
Will stuttering get better as I play longer in the same area?
Yes — once shaders are compiled for an area, revisiting it is stutter-free. The first pass through any new area causes the most stutter. The FPS Fix mod eliminates this by pre-compiling all shaders before you play.