Need for Speed Unbound (shortly called NFS Unbound) is a new racing video game developed by Criterion Games and published by Electronic Arts for PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X/S. It is the twenty-fifth instalment in the Need for Speed series, the first for Criterion since 2013’s Rivals with Ghost Games and the first as the main developer since 2012’s Most Wanted. After the release, many players face FPS drop or performance issues after launching Need For Speed Unbound on their PCs.
Like all other sports games, the Need For Speed Unbound title also goes through a couple of common issues you may experience on the PC while trying to launch it or during the gameplay sessions. Meanwhile, games have conflicts with the network or server connectivity that can eventually occur several issues. Sometimes the PC-related issue, game file issue, or in-game graphics misconfiguration can drop FPS.
Now, if you’re also facing this kind of issue, you can follow this troubleshooting guide to try resolving it manually. As this is one of the common issues among PC games, you may find the mentioned workarounds quite helpful and did help others in several scenarios. Now, if we take a quick look at the reasons behind the low frame rate issue on PC games, you may find the incompatibility issue with the game and PC build.
An outdated graphics driver, an outdated game version, an outdated Windows build, issues with the game files, DirectX-related issues, in-game graphics settings, background running tasks, power options, overlay apps, and more can eventually trigger the low FPS count during the gameplay. So, without wasting any more time, let’s get into it.
1. Change High DPI Settings
Changing the high DPI settings for the game application executable file may fix frame drop issues. You can try it out.
- Launch the Steam client > Go to Library.
- Right-click on Need For Speed Unbound > Go to Manage.
- Click on Browse local files > The game installed folder will open on File Explorer.
- You’ll need to scroll down the page a bit and find the Need For Speed Unbound.exe application file.
- Simply right-click on this file > Click on Properties.
- Click on the Compatibility tab > Click on Change High DPI Settings.
- Enable/Checkmark the “Override high DPI scaling behaviour. Scaling performed by: Application” checkbox.
- Then click on OK > Click on Apply, then try rerunning the game.
If using the Epic Games Launcher, head directly to the installed game directory and right-click on the exe file. Then all the steps will be the same.
2. Disable Fullscreen Optimizations
Try disabling the fullscreen optimizations on your PC to ensure nothing conflicts with the game launching or gameplay.
- Launch the Steam client > Go to Library.
- Right-click on Need For Speed Unbound > Go to Manage.
- Click on Browse local files > The game installed folder will open on File Explorer.
- Here you’ll need to scroll down the page a bit, and you’ll find the Need For Speed Unbound.exe application file.
- Simply right-click on this file > Click on Properties.
- Click on the Compatibility tab > Disable Fullscreen Optimizations to enable/checkmark it.
- Finally, click on Apply and then OK to save changes.
3. Update Graphics Drivers
It’s recommended to check out graphics driver updates on your PC so games and other graphics-intensive programs can run properly. To do so:
- Right-click on the Start Menu to open up the Quick Access Menu.
- Click on Device Manager from the list.
- Now, double-click on the Display adapters category to expand the list.
- Then right-click on the dedicated graphics card name.
- Select Update driver > Choose Search automatically for drivers.
- If an update is available, it’ll automatically download and install the latest version.
- Once done, make sure to reboot your computer to change the effects.
Alternatively, you can manually download the latest graphics driver version and install it directly from the official website respective to your graphics card manufacturer. Nvidia graphics card users can update the GeForce Experience app via the Nvidia official site. Meanwhile, AMD graphics card users can visit the AMD website for the same.
4. Run the game as an administrator
You should also run the Need For Speed Unbound game executable file as an administrator to avoid user account control-related privilege issues. To do this:
- Right-click on the Need For Speed Unbound exe shortcut file on your PC.
- Now, select Properties > Click on the Compatibility tab.
- Make sure to click on the Run this program as an administrator checkbox to checkmark it.
- Click on Apply and select OK to save changes.
5. Close Background Running Tasks
Sometimes unnecessary background running tasks or programs can also consume a higher amount of CPU or Memory resources on the system which may cause crashes, lags, stutters, FPS drops, etc issues whatsoever. To do that:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open up the Task Manager.
- Now, click on the Processes tab > Click to select tasks that are unnecessarily running in the background and consuming enough system resources.
- Click on End Task to close it > Do the same steps for all unnecessary tasks one by one.
- Once done, restart your system to apply changes.
If in case, your Windows system is running on the Balanced mode in Power Options that means the system and hardware aren’t running to their full potential. For the intense gameplay, you can simply set the High-Performance mode for better results. However, the high-performance mode will gonna consume higher battery usage if you’re using a laptop. To do this:
- Click on the Start Menu > Type Control Panel and click on it from the search result.
- Now, go to Hardware and Sound > Select Power Options.
- Click on High Performance to select it.
- Make sure to close the window and fully shut down your computer. To do this, click on the Start Menu > Go to Power > Shut Down.
- Once your computer is fully turned off, you can power it on again.
7. Enable Game Mode
Sometimes the game system requires a dedicated game mode feature to be turned on. In that case, your game may run properly without any kind of interrupting notifications which can also improve the frame rate count.
- Press Windows + I keys to open Windows Settings.
- Click on Gaming > Open the Game Mode option.
- Make sure to enable the Game Mode toggle.
8. Run Need For Speed Unbound in the Compatibility Mode
Sometimes issues with the compatibility mode of your game file to run on the PC may also cause screen resolution conflicts. You should always run the game in compatibility mode if your Windows OS version is much higher. To do that:
- Right-click on the Need For Speed Unbound exe shortcut file on your PC.
- Now, select Properties > Click on the Compatibility tab.
- Make sure to click on the Run this program in compatibility mode for: checkbox under the Compatibility mode option to enable it.
- You can select Windows 7/8 from the drop-down menu and click on Apply.
- Finally, click on OK to save changes.
9. Enable Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling
It’s also worth recommending enabling the Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling option on your Windows computer (if available). To do so:
- Press the Windows + I keys on the keyboard to open Windows Settings.
- Now, go to System > Click on Display > Head over to Multiple Displays.
- Select Graphics settings > Turn on the Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling option.
- Finally, reboot the system to apply changes.
10. Adjust In-Game Graphics Settings
By adjusting the in-game graphics settings, you’ll be able to fix graphical glitches, stutters, and frame drops up to some extent. To do so:
- Launch the Steam or Epic Games Launcher on your PC > Open the Need For Speed Unbound game.
- Once you’re in the gameplay, press the Escape key to go back to the main menu.
- Now, click on Options > Go to Video > Under the Basic tab, set Display Mode to Windowed or Fullscreen.
- Set the display resolution to recommended one whatever resolution is supported by your monitor or display device.
- Try turning off the Vertical Sync (V-Sync) option or vice versa to cross-check the performance.
- Next, head over to the Advanced tab > Select Medium or High or Ultra High to Choose Preset depending on the PC specification.
11. Increase the Virtual RAM
Another thing you can simply do is to increase the virtual RAM on the PC manually to improve the FPS count up to some extent. Though some players may not find it useful in some scenarios, you should try it out as a workaround.
- Go to This PC (My Computer) and right-click on it from the Desktop/File Explorer.
- Then click on Properties.
- Click on the Advanced system settings option from the left sidebar.
- Then click on Performance Options under the Advanced tab.
- Go to the Advanced tab > Click on Change under Virtual Memory.
- Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives option.
- Select the drive where you’ve installed the game. (For example C drive)
- Then click on the Custom size option > Type 20000 on both the Initial & Maximum size fields.
- Finally, click on Set and then click on OK.
- Once done, restart your PC and try to launch the game.
12. Update Need For Speed Unbound
Most of us make a mistake by not checking for the latest game patch updates and installing them periodically. If in case, you’re one of them, make sure to install the latest available or pending updates to get better stability and improvements. To do so:
For Steam:
- Open the Steam client > Go to Library.
- Click on Need For Speed Unbound from the list of installed games at the left pane.
- Now, the client will automatically search for the available update.
- If there is an update available, you’ll see the Update option > Just click on it.
- Wait for a couple of minutes to complete the update process.
- Once done, make sure to close the Steam client.
- Finally, reboot your PC to apply changes, and launch the game again.
For Epic Games Launcher:
- Open the Epic Games Launcher > Head over to Library.
- Now, click on the three dots icon of Need For Speed Unbound.
- Make sure the Auto Update option is turned on.
13. Enable Game Mode, Game Bar, and Disable Capture
Make sure to turn on Xbox Game Mode on your Windows PC whether you’re using Windows 10 or Windows 11. It’ll eventually boost the gaming experience during the gameplay. To do so:
- Just press the Windows + I keys on the keyboard to open Windows Settings.
- Click on Gaming > Select Game Mode.
- Then select Turn it on. By doing so, you’ll be able to optimize your PC for play by turning things off in the background.
- Next, go back to the Gaming section again > Turn on Xbox Game Bar. [If it’s already enabled then try turning it off and check for the issue]
- You’ll need to turn off Captures to improve gaming performance a bit.
14. Select Dedicated GPU
It’s worth recommending selecting a dedicated graphics card if you’re using an external GPU. Selecting the dedicated GPU for games will allow PC gamers to gain higher frame rates and a better graphical experience than an integrated GPU.
- Click on the Start menu > Search for Graphics Settings and get into it.
- Inside this, make sure that the Desktop app is selected > Click on Browse.
- File Explorer window will open and head over to the installed Steam or Epic Games Launcher folder.
- Click on the Steam or Epic Games Launcher application exe file and add it to the list.
- Now, click on Options of Steam or Epic Games Launcher > Click on High Performance.
- Click on Save then try launching the game again to check for the issue.
15. Verify and Repair Game Files
Maybe your game files become corrupted or missing due to unexpected reasons and trouble you a lot. You should follow the steps below to easily verify and repair the problematic game files via the Steam or Epic Games Launcher. To do that:
For Steam:
- Launch the Steam client > Click on Library.
- Right-click on Need For Speed Unbound from the list of installed games.
- Now, click on Properties > Go to Local Files.
- Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.
- You’ll have to wait for the process until it gets completed.
- Once done, just restart your computer.
For Epic Games Launcher:
- Open the Epic Games Launcher > Click on Library.
- Click on the three-dots icon next to Need For Speed Unbound.
- Click on Verify, and it’ll start verifying the game files.
- Wait for the process to complete and restart the launcher.
- It should fix the Need For Speed Unbound FPS drop issue on your PC.
16. Set Need For Speed Unbound Task as a High Priority
Sometimes your Windows system may not recognize the resource-hungry game application and the unnecessary background running processes may take a lot of system resources like CPU & RAM without your permission. That means whenever your game needs a higher amount of CPU & RAM resources to run smoother, the Windows system fails badly. Therefore, you should manually set the specific game task as a High Priority in Task Manager. To do so:
- Press the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys to open Task Manager.
- Now, click on the Details tab > Right-click on the Need For Speed Unbound game task to expand it.
- Then click on Set Priority > Select High.
17. Reinstall Need For Speed Unbound
If none of the methods worked for you then try uninstalling and reinstalling the Need For Speed Unbound game on your PC.
For Steam:
- Open the Steam client > Go to Library > Right-click on Need For Speed Unbound from the left pane.
- Click on Uninstall and follow the on-screen prompts to complete it.
- Once done, make sure to close Steam, and reboot the PC.
- Finally, launch Steam and install the game again.
For Epic Games Launcher:
- Open the Epic Games Launcher > Head over to Library.
- Now, click on the three dots icon of Need For Speed Unbound.
- Click on Uninstall and wait for the process to be completed.
- Once done, close everything, and restart the PC.
- Finally, open the Epic Games Launcher, and install the game once again.
That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.
