I just tried the new Grounded 2 update, and it boosted my frame rate by 26%

Grounded 2 update 0.1.3 is out now, and we've taken it for a spin. Listed under the major bug fixes is the promise of "significant improvements to game stability" alongside the mention of a "30% performance gain" compared to the previous patch. Our fresh testing suggests this number is somewhat overestimated, but it will differ depending on the specs of your gaming PC.

When we first tested the best Grounded 2 settings, we found that we couldn't push the game beyond the medium graphics preset without risking performance issues. Following patch 0.1.3, Grounded 2 does run better on our RTX 4070 testing rig, but we're not seeing the full estimated 30% improvement.

You can check the graph below for a breakdown of our performance stats before and after the update to see the improvements.

The post-patch results produce an improvement of 9%, 13%, and 26% in the average frame rate across the resolutions we tested. Based on these results, it seems to suggest that this patch has aided performance more at higher resolutions, while 1080p still receives a fair boost of almost 10% too on our RTX 4070.

Bear in mind that these results were all achieved using the same setup we used to test the game when it was released, using the Medium graphics preset. You basically only get graphical presets in the menu, and you're unable to tinker with much in the way of advanced settings beyond depth of field.

Despite the frame rate boost, however, texture pop-ins are still quite noticeable, and frame rate drops still occur when moving between big areas, when engaging in combat, and sometimes just when you're interacting with items in the game world.

While the improvement to the frame rate is welcome, there is clearly still work to be done for a game that doesn't have either Nvidia DLSS or AMD FSR support included, with just a generic resolution upscaling slider. While the Grounded 2 system requirements didn't set off alarm bells when they were released, I do wonder how those with less powerful gaming PCs are coping, given the initial performance hiccups.

Thankfully, developer Obsidian is aware that there is still more to do because, following the line about the estimated 30% performance improvement, it states that "as we are in early access, we will continue to improve this throughout development."

Grounded 2 is a game that thrives when the atmosphere is just right, so make sure you check out our guide to the best gaming headset so you can experience the fantastic sound design in this survival game.

Have you given the new Grounded 2 update a go? Let us know if it improved your performance over on our Discord server.