Meta Beta Gaming Podcast

Episode 134 - Why Unreal Engine 5 Games Feel So Badly Optimized

Matthew Juarbe and Paris Woods Season 3 Episode 134

 Why do so many Unreal Engine 5 games look incredible but run terribly on PC? In this episode of Meta Beta Gaming, we dig into the truth behind UE5’s performance struggles. From Nanite’s CPU overhead to Lumen’s heavy lighting demands and the rise of Metahumans, we break down why developers are leaning too hard on UE5’s flashy features without thinking about balance. We also dive into the “Buffet Problem” how some studios throw every tool into their games and spotlight titles like Fortnite, RoboCop: Rogue City, and Tekken 8 that prove UE5 can run well when used smartly. If you’ve ever wondered why your GPU is chilling while your CPU is on fire, this is the episode for you.