Hey there,

When creating VFX, it’s easy to get carried away. However, if you don’t balance visual quality with performance - your VFX can hurt the game's experience. So, how do you strike the right balance? Let’s dive in!

Why Does Balance Matter?

Every platform has its limits. A high-end PC can push thousands of particles without breaking a sweat. But what happens when you want that same game to run smoothly on mobile devices? Or when you’re targeting a VR headset that demands ultra-smooth performance for immersion?

Know Your Platform’s Limits 🔧

Before diving into VFX creation, know the platform you're targeting!

High-end PCs/Consoles: These can handle complex shaders, high particle counts & detailed textures. You can afford a lot more VFX here!
Mobile/VR: These platforms have limited power. You’ll need to simplify particle systems, use lower-res textures & keep shaders efficient. VR especially needs to maintain smooth 90 FPS.

Optimize Without Losing Art 🎨

So how do you keep performance in check?

Simplify Particle Systems: Use fewer particles and avoid unnecessary effects like collisions or particle lights. Destroy particles when they’re no longer needed.
Minimize Overdraw: Transparent particles stacking on each other can slow down performance. Use Shader Complexity views to find and optimize overdraw.
Efficient Shaders: Use unlit materials for simpler effects. Reserve lit materials for key visual moments. Where possible, use masked blends instead of translucent.

Feedback Over Flashiness 🧪

As we discussed in our last newsletter - VFX should communicate gameplay, not just look cool. Focus on visual feedback that enhances the player's experience. Keep things simple and only add layers if necessary. Ask yourself if every effect is adding something valuable to gameplay?

Test Your VFX 🕹️

Always test your VFX on your target platform. What runs smoothly on PC may not perform well on mobile. Use profiling tools like Unreal Insights or Unity’s Frame Debugger to identify performance bottlenecks and optimize accordingly.

Your next step 🌟

Learn the platform limitations for your next project.
Keep things simple starting out.
Review your VFX and start optimizing where needed.
Use profiling tools to identify bottlenecks.

PS: 🚨 Join TheFXFrontier Discord - Connect, share knowledge, get feedback and grow with fellow VFX artists. Copy-paste this in your browser if the link doesn’t work: https://discord.gg/CRkCKUpH8R

Thanks for reading!

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