How to Fix Assassin’s Creed Shadows Optimization Issues on NVIDIA GPUs

Image Credit: Ubisoft, Assassin’s Creed Shadows

If you’re playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows on PC with an NVIDIA GPU and wondering why your frame rates are tanking or why the game feels like it’s running through molasses, you’re not alone. Many players have reported major optimization issues, particularly on NVIDIA hardware, even with high-end GPUs like the RTX 5090. The good news? There are ways to improve performance—but you’ll need to tweak a few settings.

Here’s a simple guide to help get the game running smoother on your NVIDIA setup.

1. Use DLSS 4 (Super Resolution + Frame Generation)

Let’s be blunt: DLSS 4 is not optional if you want decent frame rates, especially at 1440p or 4K.

• Enable DLSS 4 Super Resolution and set it to Quality or Balanced, depending on your resolution.

• Enable DLSS Frame Generation if you’re already getting 60 FPS or higher. This will boost your FPS significantly—but don’t enable it if you’re under 60 FPS, as it can cause input lag.

2. Lower Ray-Traced Global Illumination (RTGI) Settings

RTGI looks beautiful, but it crushes NVIDIA GPUs in this game.

• Go to Graphics Settings > Ray-Traced Global Illumination

• Set RTGI to “Diffuse – Hideout Only” (this keeps it active in the hub area only, saving your GPU from suffering).

• Ray Tracing Quality: Set to Medium or Low for better performance without much visual loss.

3. Use Upscaling – Even at 1080p

Yes, even 1080p players need to use upscaling. This game is GPU-bound even at low resolutions.

• For NVIDIA users, DLSS 4 Quality is your best bet.

• For older GPUs without DLSS 4, try FSR 3 Quality.

• Enable Frame Generation only if your base FPS is already stable.

4. Drop These Key Settings to Medium

These three settings hit performance the hardest:

• Shadow Quality: Medium

• Virtual Texture Quality: Medium

• Hair Strands: Player Only or Off

Dropping these can give you 20-30% more FPS with barely any visible difference.

5. Turn Off Motion Blur & Depth of Field

These are pure eye candy that cost performance. Disable them for a cleaner, faster game.

6. Optional: Cap FPS or Use V-Sync with VRR

If you’re on a VRR-capable monitor, enable V-Sync + VRR to smooth out frame pacing, especially when FPS dips below 60.
Otherwise, cap FPS to 60 or 120 depending on your system.

Quick Fix Recap:

• DLSS 4 Quality + Frame Generation

• RTGI: Hideout Only

• Shadow, Texture, Hair: Medium

• Motion Blur: Off

• Cap FPS or use VRR

Final Blurb

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is not friendly to NVIDIA GPUs right now, but with DLSS, reduced RT settings, and some strategic tweaks, you can get solid performance without sacrificing too much visual quality. Until Ubisoft patches the optimization—or NVIDIA releases a driver fix—this is the best way to keep your frame rates stable and avoid feeling like your $1,000 GPU is taking a nap.

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