# Significant FPS loss from environment detail above low image quality

**URL:** <https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/significant-fps-loss-from-environment-detail-above-low-image-quality/289263>\
**Category:** IV - Report a Bug\
**Created:** [September 4, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/significant-fps-loss-from-environment-detail-above-low-image-quality/289263 "2026-09-04T20:09:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kames](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/kames/32/214660_2.png) [@kames](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/kames)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/significant-fps-loss-from-environment-detail-above-low-image-quality/289263/1 "2026-09-04T20:09:32Z")

</div>

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## Build Number: 16.3.11308.0
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## Platform: Steam
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## Operating System: Windows 10

> ## Issue:

When **Image Quality** is set above **Low** (Medium or High), the environment has a disproportionately large impact on performance.

This is especially noticeable on maps with dense foliage, many trees, and ambient environmental effects, such as tropical maps. In some cases, changing Image Quality from Low to Medium results in an FPS loss of up to 100 FPS.

The visual improvement to the environment does not appear proportional to the performance cost. Because Image Quality controls multiple settings at once, players cannot lower environment detail independently while retaining clearer unit textures and readability.

This is also related to my previous feature request regarding individual graphics settings:

> [@\[Feature Request\] Allow individual graphics settings when image quality is set to low](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/feature-request-allow-individual-graphics-settings-when-image-quality-is-set-to-low/289261/1):
>
> Hello, I would like to request more flexibility in the game’s graphics settings. Currently, when the overall Image Quality is set to Low, nearly all individual graphics settings become unavailable, except for Shadows. This makes it difficult to optimize the game for competitive play, where unit visibility and readability are especially important. Games such as StarCraft II and Warcraft III allow players to keep most settings on Low while setting texture quality higher. This improves unit clar…

> ### Repro Steps:

1. With **Image Quality** set to **Low** , start a match on a map with dense foliage, trees, and ambient effects, preferably a tropical map, such as Waterlanes.

2. Note the FPS during gameplay.

3. Change **Image Quality** to **Medium** (this requires restarting the game).

4. Start another match on the same map and compare the FPS.

5. Observe the significant performance decrease, which can reach up to 100 FPS in some cases.

> ### Expected Result:

Environment detail should have a more reasonable performance impact, and players should be able to reduce it independently of texture and unit-detail settings.