Update #12 (Big Optimizations and Level 80 Puzzle Polish)

Lots to report on this week!

Optimization has taken a big step up across all levels with a much better AI image scaling algorithm along, DLSS integration, and better dynamic lighting optimization. Altogether, for most cards we're looking at around a 20-30 fps increase!

To go along with the optimizations we have a fair amount of additional options in settings to control DLSS, traditional Raytraced reflections, Lumen traced reflections, Lumen GI, and AI image scaling.

Additionally, Level 566 has won the Alpha 3 Level Poll! 🎉🎉🎉 (Leaks to come in the next week)

Highlights:

• Optimizations! ( + 20-30 fps through all levels)

• Level 80 final bug fixes and polish for multiple puzzles.

• Much improved VHS shader along with Intensity control.

• Improved Zoom and Auto DOF (more accurate and always in focus)

Coming Soon:

• Alpha 3 Release! (Slight pushback here, now set 9 days out! June 15th)

• Widescreen Support (Hopefully to be done in time for the Alpha 3 Release!)

• Level 566 & Level 80 Leaks! (Scheduled for June 7th, 12th, and 13th)

• Complete Menu and Options Screens Reconstruct! (Planned for release with Alpha 3!)

The Details (for nerds):

A lot of optimization success! The main booster to fps out of this week's optimizations is the much improved AI image scaler. The inside workings of AI image scaling are incredibly complex and something I myself cannot possibly begin to understand, but the results and it's implementation into UE5 allows us to make some big performance boosts! With the new Image Scaler in place we can now lower the Screen Render Percentage by a full 10% without any noticable drop in quality at all! (This basically means we are able to render 10% less pixels with essentially the same end result, and that extra saved 10% less pixels can give a major boost in processing speed) In the end, after testing multiple cards and average increase of ~25 fps was recorded for most levels. In addition to being able to save fps here we can also flip it around and increase the amount of detail by approximately 10% giving us a much more crisp image at the same resolution by down sampleing from the AI Scaled image.🎉