[Dev Feedback] Mobile Experience Optimization Special Q&A

Hello, Pathfinders!

Since the mobile launch, we have received considerable feedback about performance, graphics, and controls. We have carefully read your discussions and are advancing related optimizations based on actual experience.

This issue of [Dev Feedback] selects the issues you care about most and introduces the adjustments coming in the S1 season "Departure with the Wind: Part 2", as well as the optimization directions for future versions. We welcome you to continue sharing your experiences and suggestions to help us make the mobile experience even better.

Thank you for telling us about your actual experiences and the issues you encounter. We will continue to use your feedback to drive related optimizations.

If there are other questions you would like to know about, please keep leaving comments. We will continue to collect your feedback and discuss it in future Q&As.

I. S1 "Departure with the Wind: Part 2" Season Update: Mobile Experience Optimizations

Basic Experience

Q1: What optimizations have been made to the mobile download and update experience?

A: In response to your feedback about slow download speeds and long update wait times, we have completely rebuilt the resource download process.

We have systematically added support for background silent downloads (Android + iOS), reducing the inconvenience of needing to keep the game in the foreground during downloads.

We have optimized the resource download process to improve overall download speed and reduce the amount of resources required for a single update.

We have optimized the resource verification mechanism to resolve resource errors after updates.

Tip: This update may require reserving some phone storage for downloading, storing, and verifying the integrity of game resources.

Q2: Some device models have compatibility and adaptation issues. What improvements have been made this time?

A:For device incompatibility issues, we have continued to expand the device compatibility list, improved the experience of entering and running the game on related device models, and fixed image stretching when switching to a smaller view on some Android phones.

For freezing and black-screen issues on some device models during gameplay, this version reduces freezes during Story quests on Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 devices, during game-entry loading on some devices, and in certain system interfaces. It also fixes black screens in Mistwoods on some iPads and occasional in-game graphical corruption on some Huawei devices.

For rendering errors on some devices, this version fixes visual issues including abnormal smoke effects in the Sanctum in Operation: Egg Heist, rendering anomalies on Pixel 10 series and other device models, hair color differences between mobile and PC, color bleeding on Prismana Fulmintis, abnormal distant water rendering, and abnormal display of Home scene components on some Huawei devices.

For crash issues, this version fixes occasional crashes in certain scenes on Dimensity 9600 and crashes when entering the Aniilog interface on the Huawei Mate 70 Zhuoyitong version.

Q3: Some device models have overheating and lag issues. What improvements have been made this time?

A: We have been continuously optimizing game performance, including overheating and lag. This includes but is not limited to:

Optimized frequent disconnects and reconnects on mobile.

Rebuilt the in-game shadow system to reduce performance overhead.

Optimized the overhead of anti-aliasing and global illumination to reduce overheating.

Optimized point lights in the Operation: Egg Heist Sanctum to reduce rendering overhead and alleviate lag when there are many light sources.

Optimized frame rate performance on some device models and reduced lag and response delay when tapping UI interfaces.

Optimized lag, freezing, and crashes that may occur in certain scenes.

After the update, we will continue to monitor actual performance on different device models and further reduce overheating.

Graphics Improvements

Q4: Character close-ups and cutscenes are somewhat blurry. Will this version improve the visuals?

A: In response to your feedback about blurry character close-ups and cutscenes and flickering facial shadows on characters, this version will make the following adjustments:

1. Improved detail for certain NPC close-ups: improved model precision and rendering quality to improve detail when viewed up close.

2. Improved clarity and frame rate for certain cutscenes: increased resolution and frame rate to make the image clearer and playback smoother.

3. Open-world character facial optimization: reduced flickering and blurriness caused by insufficient shadow precision under medium and low graphics settings.

Optimizations for hair, vegetation, and the face customization interface are still in progress. Related progress is described below.

Q5: What optimizations have been made to the open world's distant view?

1. Aligned scene color grading between mobile and PC, and improved color grading quality on mobile in certain scenes.

2. Optimized the appearance of caves in the distance and fixed light leaks in certain caves, making cave lighting and shadows more coordinated and natural with the surrounding environment.

3. Optimized the display count and distribution of distant Aniimo, making distant ecological scenes richer and improving overall presentation.

Control Optimizations

Q6: What optimizations have been made to the mobile combat control feel in this version?

A:

In response to the issue where, after using an Ultimate, you need to touch the direction key again to continue moving, this update optimizes the transition of movement operations to make the combat experience smoother.

This update will enable long-press and drag casting for certain skills. You can hold the skill button and drag to choose direction and position for more precise casting.

Fixed the target selection issue in combat. This version supports tapping a model to manually lock a target. You can enable "Tap Model to Lock Target" in Settings to use this function.

Q7: In Operation: Egg Heist, the movement speed after Twining into an Aniimo Egg is inconsistent. Will this be fixed?

A: Aniimo Egg movement is based on physics simulation calculations and is affected by device frame rate. Different phones have different simulation sampling intervals, resulting in differences in Egg movement speed. This update will dynamically adjust the simulation sampling frequency based on the phone's actual frame rate to compensate for movement speed and minimize movement speed differences as much as possible.

>>Whether the Egg Heist talent "Swift Egg" is activated also affects Egg movement speed. Pathfinders, please take note~

II. Future Version Plans: Optimization Progress Update

Q8: Character hair has a lot of noise. Will it continue to be optimized later?

A: We are testing a new shadow and anti-aliasing solution that can address hair noise to a certain extent.

Q9: Will the visual presentation of open-world vegetation be adjusted later?

A: In response to floating grass issues in certain scenes, we are adjusting the vegetation presentation in the corresponding areas to improve the related visuals.

Q10: Is there still room for optimization in the skin and lighting effects of the face customization interface?

A: In response to the poor rendering of lighting and materials in the face customization interface, we are optimizing the mobile pipeline lighting system and materials to match PC rendering quality as closely as possible and improve character details and overall appearance.

Q11: After this update, will device adaptation continue to be followed up?

A: For compatibility and runtime stability issues that still exist on different device models, we will continue to expand device compatibility support and follow up on freezing, black screens, overheating, and crashes. Issues not covered by this update will also continue to be investigated and handled. Some new devices, such as iPhone Duo, are also planned to be adapted in Season 2.

If you still encounter related anomalies after the update, you can report them through in-game "Support". The specific device model, OS version, and problem screenshots will help locate the issue. We will continue to investigate based on feedback and share subsequent progress.

Q12: What are the future plans for performance optimization?

A: Performance optimization has always been our top priority. Going forward, we will continue to refine solutions around the mobile experience, mainly advancing in three directions:

Reducing device load: optimizing multi-core cooperation and rendering methods, reducing power consumption, and reducing overheating.

Reducing lag and frame drops: optimizing the game's serialization structure to alleviate lag during gameplay.

Balancing graphics and smoothness: exploring shadow solutions with lower performance overhead and researching more image clarity improvement technologies, striving to make images clearer and shadows more natural on different devices while maintaining smoothness.

Q13: Will we be able to adjust the buttons in frequently used control areas to suit our preferences? What are the plans?

A: To address the fixed positions of control areas and accidental taps caused by different grip styles, a future version will add a feature to adjust the margins around frequently used control areas, allowing you to reposition the buttons to suit your preferences.

That is all for this mobile optimization content. We sincerely thank every Pathfinder for your continued support. The current optimization is only a stage, and we will not stop iterating. We will continue to refine the mobile experience and share the latest progress with everyone in a timely manner. We also welcome you to continue giving us feedback and sharing ideas so that we can make the mobile experience even better together. Finally, wishing all Pathfinders a happy adventure!