Grounded

Grounded runs on Unreal Engine 4.27, and its minimum graphics card is an Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 Ti. This guide gives you a free config file that turns down the heavy graphics settings, the in-game settings to change first, and fixes for stutter on a weak PC.

Can you run Grounded on a low end PC?

• OS: Windows 10
• CPU: Intel Core i3-3225
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 Ti
• RAM: 4 GB
• Storage: 8 GB

If your PC is at or above these specs, the config and the settings below should help. If it is below them, expect low frame rates and stutter even with this config. The config reduces graphics work, but it can’t replace missing hardware.

Best Grounded settings for low end PCs

Start with the lowest graphics options the game offers, then change these:

• Frame rate cap: Set it to 60. If your PC can’t hold 60 frames per second, set it to 30. A steady 30 is smoother than a 60 that drops in and out.
• V-Sync: Turn it off. It can hold your frame rate to your monitor’s refresh rate and add input lag.
• Window mode: Pick borderless windowed if you switch between apps often.

Grounded Engine.ini location and install

1. Download the zip with the button above. Unzip it and find the Engine.ini file.
2. Close Grounded completely, including any launcher that is still running.
3. Press Windows + R, paste %LOCALAPPDATA%\Maine\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor and press Enter. If the folder doesn’t exist, start Grounded once, close it, and try again.
4. If the folder already has an Engine.ini, rename it to Engine.ini.bak. This is your backup.
5. Copy the new Engine.ini into the folder.
6. Start the game.

What the config changes

The file changes only the settings listed here. It doesn’t touch network settings, so it won’t change multiplayer lag.

Post-processing

• Motion blur is off.
• Depth of field is off.
• Color fringing at the edges of the screen is off.
• Lens flares are off.
• Light shafts are off.
• Film grain is off.
• Sharpening is set to 0.6.

Lighting and reflections

• Ambient occlusion, screen space reflections, subsurface scattering, contact shadows and capsule shadows are off.
• Volumetric fog uses a coarser grid.

Shadows

• Shadow quality is set to 2.
• Shadow resolution is capped at 1024.
• Shadows reach a shorter distance.
• Small objects cast shadows less often.

Draw distance and foliage

• View distance is set to 80 percent of the default.
• Detail mode is set to 1.
• Anisotropic filtering is set to 4.
• Grass and foliage density is set to 60 percent.

The streaming settings turn on async loading and turn off forced garbage collection, for smoother loading and fewer hitches when you move between areas.

How to fix Grounded stuttering and FPS drops

Grounded is an Unreal Engine 4 game. The first launch compiles shaders, so let that finish and expect hitches for the first few minutes.

If you can, install the game on an SSD. It needs at least 8 GB of storage.

Then work through the basics on Windows:

• Close background apps, such as browsers and overlays from launchers.
• Update your GPU driver from the official site: Nvidia, AMD or Intel.
• On a laptop, plug in the power cable and set the power mode to best performance.

Undo the changes

Delete Engine.ini from the folder. If you made a backup, rename Engine.ini.bak back to Engine.ini instead. The game rebuilds its defaults.

Grounded FAQ

Where is the Grounded Engine.ini file?

Grounded keeps it in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Maine\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor. Press Windows + R, paste that path and press Enter. If the folder isn't there, start Grounded once, close it and check again.

Can Grounded run on a low end PC?

Grounded's minimum spec is an Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 Ti with an Intel Core i3-3225 and 4 GB of RAM. A PC that meets those specs can use this config and the settings in this guide. A PC below them will likely struggle, because the config can't replace missing hardware.

How do I fix Grounded stuttering and FPS drops?

Let the first launch finish, since the game compiles shaders then and you'll see hitches for a few minutes. Install it on an SSD if you can. Close background apps, update your GPU driver and use the best performance power mode on a laptop.

What frame rate cap should I use for Grounded on a low end PC?

Set the frame rate cap to 60. If your PC can't hold 60 frames per second, set it to 30 instead. Turn V-Sync off, and pick borderless windowed mode if you switch between apps often.

Is it safe to undo the Grounded Engine.ini changes?

Yes. Delete Engine.ini from the folder, or rename your Engine.ini.bak backup back to Engine.ini. The file says that deleting it returns the game to its defaults.