Clever Rain Trick in Starfield Revealed - Rain Only Falls Around Player to Optimize Performance

Reddit user discovered that in Starfield, rain only falls around the player character, not across the whole game world.
This is a common technique in games to optimize performance rather than simulate rain everywhere.
Attaching rain and other effects to the camera rather than the game world is less performance intensive.
Learning how these video game tricks work can ruin the immersion for some players.
Other examples of clever developer tricks include Fallout 3's metro train NPC and BioShock's hidden invincibility frames.

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Relevant topic timeline:

9/4/2023

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9/11/2023

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9/16/2023

Starfield's Vast Universe Includes Over 1,000 Planets and Familiar Faces Like Halo's Reach

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9/27/2023

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10/3/2023

Starfield's Vast Galaxy Delights and Frustrates in Equal Measure

Starfield, the highly anticipated space RPG by Bethesda, has received positive reviews but also faced criticism for its shallow narratives and repetitive environments, leaving some uncertain about its future success and whether it can match the enduring popularity of Skyrim and Fallout. However, with its vast scale, growing modding community, and planned updates and story expansions, Starfield's journey has only just begun.

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Posted 9/27/2023, 11:47:37 AM