TBOOST

Poppy Playtime

Low-end PC guide: FPS boost, lag and stutter fix

Poppy Playtime FPS boost guide

Poppy Playtime config file

Free. The download link appears after a short wait.

Put it in
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Poppy_Playtime\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor
Engine
Unreal Engine 5
Replace the existing file, then start the game.

Poppy Playtime runs on Unreal Engine 5.2, so its lighting and shadows are heavy for older graphics cards. Below you’ll find a free Engine.ini that lowers the costly ones, the settings to change in the game and the steps to install the file safely.

Can you run Poppy Playtime on a low end PC?

  • CPU: Intel Core i5
  • GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, or AMD Radeon RX 580
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Storage: 20 GB

If your PC is at or above these specs, the config and the settings below should help. A PC below them can still benefit, but expect low frame rates, because the config lowers graphics work and can’t add missing hardware.

Best Poppy Playtime settings for low end PCs

Begin by lowering every graphics option, then change these:

  • Upscaler: Pick TSR. It works on any graphics card. If you still need more frames, lower the resolution scale below 100 percent with TSR turned on.
  • 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. Skip 120, 144 and No Limit.
  • V-Sync: Turn it off. It holds your frame rate to your monitor’s refresh rate and adds input lag.
  • Window mode: Pick borderless windowed. It makes switching to other apps quicker.

Poppy Playtime Engine.ini location and install

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

What the config changes

The file only changes graphics settings. It won’t fix online 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.

Unreal Engine 5 lighting and geometry

  • Lumen reflections are off, and Lumen doesn’t trace mesh distance fields.
  • Nanite detail is set lower, so geometry uses fewer triangles.
  • Virtual shadow maps use a lower resolution.

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 Poppy Playtime stuttering and FPS drops

Poppy Playtime is an Unreal Engine 5 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 20 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.

Poppy Playtime FAQ

Where is the Poppy Playtime Engine.ini file?

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

Can Poppy Playtime run on a low end PC?

Poppy Playtime's minimum graphics card is an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060, or an AMD Radeon RX 580. A PC that meets those specs with 8 GB of RAM can use this config and the settings in this guide. A weaker PC will likely struggle, since the config can't replace missing hardware.

How do I fix Poppy Playtime 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 Poppy Playtime 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 choose borderless windowed mode if you switch between apps often.

Is it safe to undo the Poppy Playtime Engine.ini changes?

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