Trying to find the optimal Fortnite settings can be a bit challenging, especially if you’re unsure where to begin or what your gaming PC or laptop can truly handle. Fortunately, we’ve thoroughly tested this iconic battle royale game and discovered a range of graphics settings that offer an excellent starting point.
While having a top-tier graphics card might seem like the ultimate solution, optimized settings are actually the true key to success in Fortnite – and that’s precisely what we’re here to help with. If your in-game settings are too demanding for your PC, you might encounter frustrating frame rate issues. This can be easily prevented, but it’s always a good idea to review Fortnite’s system requirements before even launching the game, just to ensure your setup is ready for action.
Quick Navigation:
- PC Settings
- Steam Deck Settings
- Graphics Presets Explained
- Our Testing Methodology
- SSD Recommendation
- Performance Monitoring
Optimized Fortnite Settings for PC
- 3D Resolution: 100%
- Anti-Aliasing & Super Resolution: Off
- Nanite Virtualized Geometry: On
- Virtual Shadows: High
- Global Illumination: Lumen High
- Reflections: Lumen High
- View Distance: Far
- Textures: High
- Effects: High
- Post Processing: High
- Hardware Ray Tracing: Off
- Nvidia Reflex Low Latency: On
When we tested these settings on our RTX 4070 rig, we achieved an impressive average frame rate of 115fps, with 1% lows staying at a solid 78fps. This setup delivered a buttery-smooth experience, making it ideal for competitive play, in-game festivals, and even solo runs in the Lego survival game modes.
(Image: Data illustrating Fortnite frame rate performance.)
If you notice inconsistent frame rates or your overall performance isn’t quite hitting the mark, a good first step is to check your internet connection. Sometimes, network issues can significantly impact in-game fluidity.
Should performance still be a concern after checking your connection, we recommend a gradual approach: begin by reducing the global illumination setting, then move on to reflections, shadows, and textures. This methodical adjustment allows you to instantly observe the frame rate impact during matches, helping you pinpoint the most effective changes. For competitive players, another successful strategy is to start with the lowest possible settings and incrementally increase graphical and lighting details until you strike the perfect balance between visual quality and peak performance.
Fortnite on Steam Deck: Recommended Approach
Unfortunately, playing Fortnite natively on the Steam Deck via SteamOS isn’t currently an option because of its anti-cheat software. However, there are two viable workarounds. One involves installing Windows on your Steam Deck, but a much simpler method exists.
The easier alternative is to download the GeForce Now app directly to your Steam Deck. From there, you can link your Epic Games account and enjoy Fortnite through cloud streaming. While premium subscription tiers are available, even a free GeForce Now account allows for up to an hour of playtime per session, which is usually plenty for a few exciting matches.
True native play on the Steam Deck will only become a reality if Epic Games decides to adjust its anti-cheat software to be compatible with Linux-based operating systems.
Understanding Fortnite’s Graphics Presets
Fortnite offers four distinct graphics presets:
- Low
- Medium
- High
- Epic
While the game allows you to automatically set your graphics upon first launch or at any point through the settings menu, this automated tool isn’t always the best for maximizing performance. You can also experiment by cycling through these presets during a live match to see how each one impacts your frame rate and overall gameplay experience.
Our Fortnite Testing Methodology
Here at PCGamesN, we rely on dedicated gaming setups to rigorously test and identify the ideal settings for optimal performance and gameplay in new releases. For our Fortnite testing, the setup included an Intel Core i7-11700F processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 12GB graphics card, 32GB of DDR4 3,200MHz RAM in a dual-channel configuration, and an MSI B560 motherboard. All tests were conducted on Windows 11 64-bit.
We initiate our testing at 1,920 x 1,080 resolution to pinpoint the best settings for this common entry-level display. Subsequently, we repeat the process at 2,560 x 1,440 and 4K resolutions using the same hardware to thoroughly assess performance variations. To meticulously capture frame data and compare testing sessions, we utilize specialized benchmarking software.
Is an SSD Essential for Fortnite?
While Fortnite doesn’t strictly require an SSD, we highly recommend upgrading to one if you’re still using a traditional mechanical hard drive. Without an SSD, you’ll likely experience significantly longer loading times, which can interrupt your gameplay flow.
Equipping your gaming PC with a solid-state drive will drastically cut down on game loading screens and also speed up the download process for Fortnite’s substantial 130GB game file.
Monitoring Your Fortnite Performance
Keeping tabs on your in-game performance is crucial, and we have simple methods that work whether your PC is powered by an Nvidia or AMD graphics card.
For Nvidia users, make sure the Nvidia App is installed and its in-game overlay is active. Then, simply press ALT + R during gameplay to bring up your performance monitor. If you’re an AMD user, you can enable performance monitoring through the Radeon overlay by using the CTRL + SHIFT + O shortcut.
As an alternative, several free software tools like CapFrameX or Nvidia FrameView offer a streamlined and intuitive benchmarking experience that is compatible with any graphics card.
For handheld gaming PCs, most feature a dedicated button that grants quick access to a menu where you can enable or view real-time performance monitoring data.
Should you encounter any difficulties accessing Fortnite, remember to check the Fortnite server status. This will help you confirm whether you’re attempting to log in during scheduled maintenance or an unexpected outage.