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The Callisto Protocol

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

The Callisto Protocol FPS boost guide

The Callisto Protocol config file

Free. The download link appears after a short wait.

Put it in
%LOCALAPPDATA%\CallistoProtocol\Saved\Config\WindowsNoEditor
Engine
Unreal Engine 4
Replace the existing file, then start the game.

The Callisto Protocol runs on Unreal Engine 4.27, and the game mostly uses about two CPU cores, so a weak processor can hold back your frame rate. This guide gives you a free Engine.ini that turns down the heavy graphics settings, plus the in-game settings to change first.

Can you run The Callisto Protocol on a low end PC?

  • CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600
  • GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • DirectX: 11
  • Storage: 75 GB

If your PC meets these specs, the config and the settings below should give you a smoother game. If it is below them, expect low frame rates. The config reduces graphics work, but it can’t replace missing hardware.

Best Callisto Protocol settings for low end PCs

Change these in the graphics settings:

  • Upscaling: Pick FSR 2.1 or TAAU. Both work on any GPU. If you use FSR 2.1, keep anti-aliasing on TAA, because any other anti-aliasing option turns FSR off.
  • Ray tracing: Turn it off. It adds ray-traced transmission, shadows and reflections, and it only runs on DirectX 12.
  • Frame rate cap: Set it to 60. If your PC can’t hold 60 frames per second, set it to 30. Leave the 120 option off on a low end PC.
  • V-Sync: Turn it off. With V-Sync on, the game can drop to a fraction of your monitor’s refresh rate when it misses a frame.
  • Window mode: Pick borderless windowed. It makes switching between apps quicker.

The Callisto Protocol Engine.ini location and install

  1. Download the zip with the button above. Unzip it and find the Engine.ini file.
  2. Close The Callisto Protocol completely, including any launcher that is still running.
  3. Press Windows + R, paste %LOCALAPPDATA%\CallistoProtocol\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. This 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 and loading settings. It doesn’t touch network settings, so 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.

The streaming settings turn on async loading and turn off forced garbage collection. That can help loading go more smoothly when you move between areas.

How to fix The Callisto Protocol stuttering and FPS drops

The Callisto Protocol is an Unreal Engine 4 game, and its shaders are precompiled, so you shouldn’t have to wait on shader compiles at first launch.

If you can, install the game on an SSD. It needs 75 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.

Known issues

  • Slow performance on DirectX 11. The game uses only about two CPU cores, and DirectX 11 makes it even more CPU limited, so frame rates drop further. Stay on DirectX 12, the default.

Undo the changes

Delete Engine.ini from the folder. If you made a backup, rename Engine.ini.bak back to Engine.ini instead. The file header says that deleting it returns the game to its defaults.

The Callisto Protocol FAQ

Where is the Callisto Protocol Engine.ini file?

The Callisto Protocol keeps it in %LOCALAPPDATA%\CallistoProtocol\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 The Callisto Protocol run on a low end PC?

The minimum spec is an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580, with an Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600, 8 GB of RAM and 75 GB of storage. Below those specs, expect low frame rates, even with this config.

How do I fix The Callisto Protocol FPS drops?

Install the config, cap the frame rate at 60 and turn off ray tracing. Pick FSR 2.1 or TAAU for upscaling and stay on DirectX 12. If your PC can't hold 60, use a 30 frame cap instead.

Is it safe to undo The Callisto Protocol Engine.ini changes?

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