How To Make Black Myth: Wukong Run Better? [2024]

How To Make Black Myth: Wukong Run Better? Black Myth: Wukong is an eagerly anticipated action RPG that promises to blend stunning visuals inspired by Chinese mythology with challenging Souls-like gameplay. As with any graphically intensive game, players may encounter performance issues depending on their hardware. This guide will explore various methods to optimize your experience and make Black Myth: Wukong run better on your system.

Table of Contents

Understanding Black Myth: Wukong’s Technical Demands

Before diving into specific optimization techniques, it’s important to understand why Black Myth: Wukong might be demanding on your system.

Visually Rich Environments

The game features diverse and detailed biomes, from lush forests to intricate temples, each requiring significant graphical processing power.

Complex Combat Mechanics

The Souls-like combat system, combined with Wukong’s shape-shifting abilities, likely involves complex animations and physics calculations.

Large, Open World

The game world, inspired by East and Central Asian geography, is expected to be vast and seamless, potentially straining memory and loading times.

Mythological Creatures and Effects

The presence of various mythological beings and magical effects adds another layer of visual complexity to be rendered.

Optimizing System Settings

Before adjusting in-game options, ensure your system is optimized for gaming performance.

Update Your Operating System

For Windows users, ensure you have the latest version of Windows 10 or 11 installed.
Mac users should update to the latest version of macOS.
Restart your system after updates to ensure all changes take effect.

Update Graphics Drivers

Keeping your graphics drivers up to date is crucial for optimal performance:

For NVIDIA users, download the latest drivers from the NVIDIA website or use GeForce Experience.
AMD users can obtain the latest drivers from the AMD website or use Radeon Software.
Intel GPU users should check the Intel Driver & Support Assistant.

Optimize Power Settings

Ensure your system is set to high-performance mode:

In Windows, go to “Power & Sleep Settings” > “Additional Power Settings.”
Select “High Performance” or create a custom plan with maximum performance.

Close Background Applications

Minimize the number of programs running in the background:

Use Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to identify and close unnecessary applications.
Disable startup programs that you don’t need running constantly.

Adjusting In-Game Graphics Settings

Once your system is optimized, focus on the in-game settings to balance visual quality and performance.

Resolution

The game’s resolution significantly impacts performance:

Start with your monitor’s native resolution.
If performance is poor, gradually lower the resolution.
Consider using resolution scaling if available, which renders the game at a lower resolution but upscales to your monitor’s resolution.

Graphics Presets

Black Myth: Wukong likely offers preset graphics options:

Begin with the “Medium” preset and adjust from there.
If performance is good, try increasing to “High.”
For struggling systems, the “Low” preset can significantly boost performance.

Texture Quality

Textures affect both visual quality and VRAM usage:

High-end GPUs with 8GB+ VRAM can usually handle high texture settings.
Mid-range GPUs might need to use medium textures.
Lower-end systems may need to set textures to low for smooth performance.

Shadow Quality

Shadows are often performance-heavy:

Lowering shadow quality can significantly boost FPS.
Consider turning off advanced shadow techniques like ray-traced shadows if available.

Anti-Aliasing

Anti-aliasing smooths out jagged edges but can be demanding:

FXAA is the least demanding but also the least effective.
TAA offers a good balance of quality and performance.
MSAA provides high quality but at a significant performance cost.

Post-Processing Effects

Effects like motion blur, depth of field, and ambient occlusion add visual richness but impact performance:

Disable motion blur for a potential performance boost (and reduced motion sickness for some players).
Lower or disable depth of field for better performance.
Reduce or turn off ambient occlusion if needed.

Draw Distance

Given the game’s open-world nature, draw distance could be a significant factor:

Start with medium draw distance and adjust based on performance.
Reducing draw distance can help in large, open areas but may impact immersion.

Particle Effects

With the game’s mythological themes, particle effects might be prevalent:

If available, try lowering the quality or quantity of particle effects.
This can be especially helpful during combat with multiple enemies or boss fights.

Optimizing for Different Hardware Configurations

Depending on your specific hardware, different optimization strategies may be more effective.

Low-End Systems

For players with older or budget hardware:

Set all graphics options to low.
Reduce resolution to 720p if necessary.
Disable all non-essential visual effects.
Consider using external tools like Rivatuner Statistics Server to cap framerate at 30 FPS for more consistent performance.

Mid-Range Systems

For systems that meet the recommended requirements:

Start with medium presets and adjust individual settings as needed.
Prioritize texture quality and anti-aliasing over other effects.
Experiment with resolution scaling to find the right balance.

High-End Systems

For top-tier gaming rigs:

Max out most settings, but be prepared to make minor adjustments.
Pay attention to particularly demanding effects like ray tracing (if implemented).
Consider using DLSS or FSR if available for improved performance at high resolutions.

Optimizing Storage and Loading Times

Given the game’s vast world, optimizing storage can improve loading times and potentially in-game performance.

Install on SSD

If possible, install Black Myth: Wukong on a solid-state drive:

This can significantly reduce loading times.
May improve texture streaming and reduce pop-in in the open world.

Defragment HDD

If using a traditional hard drive:

Regularly defragment your drive to optimize file arrangement.
Consider using Windows’ built-in “Optimize Drives” tool.

Clear Disk Space

Ensure you have ample free space on your game drive:

Aim for at least 20% free space on the drive containing the game.
Uninstall unnecessary programs and files to free up space.

Network Optimization

While Black Myth: Wukong is primarily a single-player experience, it may have online features that benefit from network optimization.

Wired Connection

If possible, use a wired Ethernet connection instead of Wi-Fi:

This provides a more stable connection.
Can reduce latency for any online features.

Close Bandwidth-Heavy Applications

When playing, close applications that use significant bandwidth:

Pause any downloads or updates.
Close streaming services or file-sharing applications.

Update Network Drivers

Ensure your network adapter drivers are up to date:

Check your computer or motherboard manufacturer’s website for the latest drivers.
Update your router’s firmware if possible.

Modding and Community Patches

Once the game is released, the community may develop mods or unofficial patches to improve performance.

Research Safe Mods

Look for reputable modding communities for Black Myth: Wukong.
Read user reviews and discussions before installing any mods.

Official Mod Support

Check if the game officially supports mods:

Official support often means better stability and compatibility.
Look for developer-provided tools or guidelines for modding.

Be Cautious with Unofficial Patches

While unofficial patches can sometimes improve performance:

Only download from trusted sources.
Back up your game files and saves before applying any unofficial patches.

Monitoring and Fine-Tuning Performance

To achieve the best performance, it’s important to monitor your system while playing and make informed adjustments.

Use In-Game Benchmarks

If Black Myth: Wukong includes a benchmarking tool:

Run the benchmark after making significant setting changes.
Pay attention to both average framerate and frame time consistency.

External Monitoring Tools

Consider using external tools for more detailed performance data:

MSI Afterburner can display real-time performance metrics.
NVIDIA GeForce Experience and AMD Radeon Software offer built-in performance monitoring.

Identify Performance Bottlenecks

Use monitoring tools to identify what’s limiting your performance:

High GPU usage with low FPS suggests graphics settings are too high.
High CPU usage might indicate a CPU bottleneck.
If neither CPU nor GPU are fully utilized, check for RAM or storage bottlenecks.

Balancing Performance and Experience

While maximizing performance is important, it’s equally crucial to maintain the intended experience of Black Myth: Wukong.

Preserve Artistic Vision

When lowering settings:

Try to maintain the game’s unique art style inspired by Chinese mythology.
Prioritize settings that have the least impact on the game’s visual identity.

Combat Performance

Given the game’s Souls-like combat:

Ensure that your optimizations maintain a stable framerate during intense battles.
Consistent performance is often more important than higher but unstable framerates.

Transformation Effects

Wukong’s shape-shifting abilities are a key feature:

Try to keep particle and special effects high enough to fully appreciate these transformations.
If necessary, lower other settings to maintain the quality of transformation effects.

Staying Updated with Game Patches

As with many modern games, Black Myth: Wukong is likely to receive updates and patches post-launch.

Enable Automatic Updates

Ensure your game client (e.g., Steam, Epic Games Store) is set to automatically update the game:

This ensures you always have the latest performance improvements.
Patches may also include new graphics options or optimizations.

Read Patch Notes

When updates are released:

Read the patch notes carefully for any mention of performance improvements.
Look for new graphics options that might help with optimization.

Reassess Settings After Major Updates

After significant patches:

Re-run benchmarks if available.
Be prepared to readjust your graphics settings, as updates can change how different options impact performance.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with optimization, you might encounter specific issues. Here are some common problems and solutions:

Stuttering or Freezing

If the game stutters or freezes:

Ensure you meet the minimum system requirements.
Try lowering texture quality to reduce VRAM usage.
Check for background processes consuming system resources.

Crashes or Blue Screens

For system instability:

Verify the integrity of game files through your game client.
Check for overheating issues – clean your system and ensure proper ventilation.
If overclocking, return to stock speeds to rule out instability.

Poor Performance in Specific Areas

If certain areas of the game perform significantly worse:

These might be more demanding sections – consider dynamically lowering settings when entering these areas.
Check for game-specific forums or subreddits for advice on problematic areas.

Conclusion: Enjoying Black Myth: Wukong at Its Best

Optimizing Black Myth: Wukong for your system is a process of balancing visual fidelity with smooth performance. By following these steps and continuously fine-tuning your settings, you can ensure the best possible experience as you explore the rich, mythological world of the game.

Remember that the goal is not just to achieve the highest frame rate, but to create a stable, immersive experience that allows you to fully appreciate the game’s stunning visuals, challenging combat, and intricate storytelling. Take the time to find the right balance for your system, and don’t be afraid to revisit your settings as you progress through different areas of the game.

With its unique blend of Chinese mythology, Souls-like gameplay, and breathtaking visuals, Black Myth: Wukong promises to be a memorable gaming experience. By optimizing your system and in-game settings, you’re ensuring that you’ll be able to fully immerse yourself in this epic journey, experiencing every transformation, battle, and story moment with the fluidity and detail it deserves.