New Peak Update Adds New Graphics Options For Low-End Hardware

While players are still enjoying Peak’s brand-new Mesa biome, the game’s latest patch is here to address some technical concerns–specifically making it easier to run Peak on lower-powered computers.

The latest patch, which brings the game to version 1.27.a, introduces a new Texture Quality graphics setting. The new option, which Team Peak says has been much-requested, allows players with low VRAM to lower the texture quality, reducing the incidence of low framerates, missing graphics, and potential crashes. The developer notes that the lower texture quality “doesn’t even look much worse,” so it’s worth checking out for anyone who’s been experiencing performance issues in Peak.

The developer has also added support for DX11 graphics API, alongside existing options DX12 and Vulkan. “It might be better, it might be worse,” the patch notes warn, but suggest players who have had issues with the other options give it a try anyway. “We can’t really confirm which exact configurations of graphics cards this will work better with, but if it can improve it for some of you that’s fantastic!”

The performance-focused update has also made Peak’s existing Render Scale options “more dramatic,” meaning players who choose Medium or Low options should see a more obvious difference in performance.

In addition to these changes, Team Peak has added a new accessibility setting in the form of Photosensitive Mode, which dials down a number of visual effects that may impact people with photosensitivity.

The new performance options make up the bulk of this update, though a few other things have been mopped up with the small patch. In absence of a true map randomizer, the dev says Mesa and Peak will now simply alternate every other day–and because Mesa will appear less often, the secret entrance in the map will now appear 50% of the time instead of 25%.

The Peak dev has also reintroduced a known issue to the game with The Kiln’s lava–the patch notes say they failed to reproduce the issue in-house, so are re-enabling the rising lava in hopes of getting more reports about the bug and when it occurs.

Check out the full list of patch notes below:

PEAK PATCH 1.27.a:

OPTIONS

• NEW GRAPHICS SETTING: Texture Quality
  • This is actually huge. You can now lower the texture quality across the game, which is important for players with low VRAM. This can resolve issues with low framerate, missing graphics, and even crashes. Also it doesn’t even look much worse. Check it out!

• NEW GRAPHICS API: DX11
  • The game can now be launched in DX11 in addition to our DX12 and Vulkan options. For players who have had trouble with our previous two options, give this a try. It might be better, it might be worse. We can’t really confirm which exact configurations of graphics cards this will work better with, but if it can improve it for some of you that’s fantastic!
• Render Scale options are now more dramatic, you should see higher performance gains if you play on Medium or Low.
• NEW ACCESSIBILITY SETTING: Photosensitive Mode.
  • This mode changes the following:
    • Dynamite, Flare, and Scout Cannon lit fuse effects are less flashy
    • Screenshake is lessened.
    • Bright lights from the dynamite explosion are disabled.
    • Fullscreen VFX from taking various sources of damage are less intense and more gradual.
    • Fullscreen VFX from the Energy Drink, Lollipop, and Heat Pack are less intense.

FEATURES

• You can now change your sash in the Passport to any you’ve unlocked via ascents!

MAPS

• The ALPINE and the MESA will now alternate every other day.
• A secret entrance in the MESA is now open 50% of the time instead of 25%. Feels fair considering the MESA itself is now open 50% of the time as well.
• The Lava Rises again in THE KILN. Admittedly, we didn’t fix the issue with it–but since we weren’t able to reproduce the issue on our end, we figured it would be helpful to put it back up and get more reports in. If the lava becomes desynced for you, please send us a video or logs!

BALANCE

• Wait time until the lava rises increased by 1 minute.
• The time for the lava to reach the top once it starts is increased by 3 minutes.

MINOR FIXES

• Fixed an issue where you could pocket unpocketable items while climbing.
• Replaced bees sounds in Bug Phobia Mode.
• Fog walls raised in height again because apparently you could still do Cannon exploit if you did it just right.