505 Games has officially lifted the review embargo for the highly anticipated game, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers. This title is generating significant excitement among Souls game fans. With a review code provided by the publisher, we decided to rigorously benchmark the game’s performance on PC.
For our performance tests, we utilized a powerful setup featuring an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor, paired with 32GB of DDR5 RAM clocked at 6000 MHz. Graphics performance was evaluated using a range of GPUs, including AMD’s Radeon RX 6900XT, RX 7900XTX, and RX 9070XT, as well as NVIDIA’s RTX 2080Ti, RTX 3080, RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090. The system operated on Windows 10 64-bit, using the GeForce 577.00 and Radeon Adrenalin Edition 25.6.3 drivers for optimal performance.
Developed by Leenzee, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers offers a commendable array of graphics settings. Players can customize options such as the quality of Shadows, Effects, Textures, and Vegetation. Notably, the game supports NVIDIA DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation. However, it lacks support for AMD FSR 3.0 and Intel XeSS, which is a significant drawback for non-NVIDIA GPU users. This absence raises concerns about performance optimization, particularly for players without access to advanced upscaling technologies.
We conducted our benchmarks in the game’s first open-world area, which provides a representative insight into overall performance. At 1080p with max settings, players will need at least an AMD RX 7900XTX to achieve over 60 FPS. Unfortunately, the NVIDIA RTX 3080 and AMD Radeon RX 6900XT struggled to maintain this frame rate.
When testing at 1440p with max settings, only the NVIDIA RTX 4090 and RTX 5090 managed to deliver a smooth gaming experience. Other GPUs, including the NVIDIA RTX 5080 and AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX, consistently fell below 60 FPS. Transitioning to Native 4K settings revealed that no GPU could sustain 60 FPS. The NVIDIA RTX 5090 only managed a minimum of 47 FPS and an average of 54 FPS, underscoring the necessity of an upscaling solution for playable performance.
The integration of NVIDIA DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation does offer some performance benefits. With DLSS 4 set to Quality mode, players can achieve a steady 60 FPS on the NVIDIA RTX 5090. However, it’s worth noting that DLSS 4 Quality tends to produce more aliased shadows compared to DLAA, a peculiar observation for a modern game. Consequently, experiencing WUCHANG on the NVIDIA RTX 5090 is best done at 4K with DLAA and MFG X4.
Despite the advantages of DLSS 4, the Frame Generation feature is marred by a bug that causes it to disable during in-game events. For instance, character dialogues can trigger a drop in frame rates from 110 FPS at 8K down to 42 FPS, resulting in stuttering gameplay. We have notified both NVIDIA and Leenzee about this issue, and we hope for a timely fix.
Regarding the ability to tweak graphics settings for better performance, the results are mixed. The game predominantly runs on High settings, with Shadows being the only option available for Extreme quality. This limitation means that switching between High, Ultra, or Extreme settings yields minimal performance differences. Lowering graphics settings to Medium allows for a smoother 60 FPS experience on the NVIDIA RTX 5090 at 4K, although the visual quality takes a noticeable hit. On Low settings, frame rates exceed 84 FPS, but the graphics become subpar.
It's essential to note that the in-game graphics presets automatically adjust the TSR setting. Thus, players seeking to maintain full native resolution should avoid using these presets, as even the "Extreme" setting does not set TSR to 100%.
Despite some traversal stutters, which are less severe than those found in Oblivion Remastered, players may still notice them during gameplay. Fortunately, the game does not suffer from shader compilation stutters, as it pre-compiles shaders upon launch. Built on Unreal Engine 5.1.1.0, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers does not benefit from the enhancements introduced in later versions like UE 5.5 or UE 5.6.
Graphically, the game excels, showcasing the capabilities of small development teams using Unreal Engine 5. With impressive Lumen global illumination and numerous high-resolution textures, it presents a visually stunning world, despite the occasional low-res texture and shadow pop-ins.
In conclusion, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is a demanding title on PC that could greatly benefit from further performance optimizations. For gamers looking to play at native resolutions, high-end GPUs are a must. The lack of support for AMD FSR 3.0 or Intel XeSS 2.0 is disappointing, particularly considering the current performance challenges. While NVIDIA DLSS 4 proves useful, the buggy Frame Generation feature detracts from the overall experience. Players with mid-tier GPUs may struggle without relying on TSR or DLSS to enhance their gameplay.
