Fumito Ueda Knows You're Worried About Gen Atlas's Framerate
Fumito Ueda, the acclaimed director behind Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Last Guardian, is no stranger to criticism about performance. Following the release of the Gen Atlas trailer at Summer Game Fest, fans and critics alike were quick to point out the game’s framerate issues. While many were thrilled to see a new Ueda project — his first in over a decade — others couldn’t help but notice the choppy visuals in the preview. It’s a familiar pattern for the director, who has historically pushed hardware to its limits in pursuit of artistic vision.
A Legacy of Performance Challenges
Ueda’s previous games have often been praised for their breathtaking visuals and immersive worlds, but they’ve also been known to struggle with performance. Shadow of the Colossus (2005) famously pushed the PlayStation 2 to its limits, frequently running below 30 frames per second. Even The Last Guardian (2016), which launched on PlayStation 4, required a workaround to run at a stable 60 fps on PlayStation 5 due to its demanding graphical fidelity. This history of performance challenges makes the framerate concerns surrounding Gen Atlas all the more understandable — and perhaps even expected.
In an interview with PC Gamer, Ueda acknowledged the criticism, stating, “Our team is well aware that parts of the trailer were not fully optimized, so I'm not surprised to hear and see those comments.” He emphasized that the trailer was meant to showcase the game’s world and set the tone for what Gen Atlas could be, even if it wasn’t fully polished.
A New Era for Ueda’s Vision
The biggest change this time around is that Gen Atlas is being developed for PC, a platform known for its flexibility and power. PC gamers are used to adjusting settings, upgrading hardware, or using upscaling techniques to improve performance. Ueda expressed confidence that the development team, supported by Epic Games, would eventually deliver a game that meets the high standards of both performance and artistry.
“We did our best we could in delivering this trailer for this moment,” Ueda said. “In-development games always go through this phase of what can we show and how much.”
While the trailer may have left some fans worried about the game’s performance, Ueda’s track record suggests that these early concerns are likely to be addressed as development progresses. And if not, the PC community is well-equipped to help — modders are already known for stepping in to enhance games long before they reach their full potential.
Looking for all the announcements from this year’s PC Gaming Show? Visit the show’s Steam page to wishlist your most anticipated games!
