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Is unreal engine grainy and blurry by default?

A growing number of developers are raising issues with Unreal Engine 5's default visuals. Complaints about graininess, flickering, and a general lack of clarity are converging online, leading to further inquiry into how these visuals can be improved without extensive technical adjustments.

By

Mark Johnson

May 3, 2025, 03:21 AM

Edited By

Omar Ali

Updated

May 5, 2025, 06:56 AM

Snappy read

A side-by-side comparison showing grainy and blurry textures in Unreal Engine 5 versus clear visuals in another software.

Recent User Insights Highlight Visual Concerns

Many users switching over from other platforms have echoed discontent with Unreal's appearance. One commented, "It looks odd when I turn around quickly," further validating complaints about grainy and flickering visuals.

Recent forum discussions introduce fresh viewpoints:

  • Performance Settings: Users indicated that default rendering options, specifically Lumen and related graphics settings, often lead to grainy visuals. A user noted that many of these settings run poorly, stating, "They load a bunch of graphics options that just run like ass."

  • Graphic Adjustments Required: It was suggested that disabling certain features, such as Lumen Global Illumination and TSR Anti-Aliasing, could enhance visual clarity. One commenter remarked, "These things are on by default and cause grain or flickering."

  • Upscaling Quality: Conflicting opinions surfaced regarding the engine's quality presets, notably that typical settings hover around 66% for upscaling. One user hinted that Unreal Engine 5 is more demanding than it should be, claiming, "Itโ€™s at least 30% more demanding than it has any right to be."

"Lumen looks and performs great, even with lower settings, compared to heavier solutions," emphasized another commenter, reflecting the variability in user experiences.

Noted Trends from User Comments

  • ๐Ÿ”ง Adjust default rendering settings to reduce visual artifacts.

  • ๐Ÿ’ป Disable Lumen and Anti-Aliasing to improve clarity.

  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ Upscaling presets may not meet expectations in all scenarios.

The discourse highlights a mix of frustration and constructive feedback regarding Unreal Engine's default settings. As developers evaluate performance, many are calling for changes in future updates, pushing for a balance between rapid development and visual fidelity. Will Epic Games heed this call? Time will tell.