Fix: Returnal Stuttering and Lagging on PS5

Housemarque and Sony Interactive Entertainment have developed a third-person shooter roguelike video game called ‘Returnal’ only for PlayStation 5 that was released in April 2021. Though it was one of the much-anticipated video games, many players encountered issues like stuttering, freezing, or lagging on PS5 consoles during the Returnal gameplay.

If you’re also one of the victims of such an issue, you can follow this troubleshooting guide to resolve it completely. In-game lags and stutters are quite common in video games, no matter which platform you’re using. However, the chances are high that console games somehow have a minimized version of bugs or issues compared to the PC version. Unfortunately, the Returnal game has some issues.

1. Use Another Graphics Mode

It’s expected to occasionally encounter frame drops in some games, even if you’re using the next-gen PS5 console. Make sure to try using another graphics mode in the game settings menu to cross-check whether the higher graphics settings are conflicting with the system performance or not. Sometimes changing the graphics mode or reducing the graphics quality up to some extent (depending on your need) may fix such an issue.

2. Reboot the PS5 Console

If, in case, you’re one of the PlayStation 5 console users and having issues with the system performance or even the in-game performance, then make sure to reboot the PS5 console to refresh the system. Sometimes a simple restart of the console may fix the issue with the game crashes or lags or stutters, etc.

3. Update PS5 Firmware

It’s recommended to update the PS5 system software to avoid graphical glitches or lags. You can follow the steps below to install the update.

Head over to Settings > Hit System.
Select System Software > Hit System Software Update and Settings.
Select Update System Software > Select Update Using Internet.

4. Update Returnal

If you haven’t updated the Returnal video game on your PlayStation 5 console for a while, then make sure to update it by following the steps below:

Turn on your PS5 console > Go to the Home screen.
Now, navigate to the main menu on top.
Head over to the Games tab.
Scroll down to Returnal and highlight it.
Press the Options button on your controller.
Finally, choose to Check for Update from the drop-down menu.

5. Power Cycle your PS5

It seems that sometimes any system glitch or cache issue can cause errors, crashes, lags. By power cycling your console, you can simply clear the temporary cache or glitch to improve the performance.

First, shut down your console completely.
Next, remove the power cable from the console.
Wait for around 30 seconds and plug back the cable in.
Finally, turn on the PS5 console and check for the issue again.

6. Keep PS5 in a well-ventilated area

In some scenarios, your PS5 console may trigger several issues with the system performance or game lags due to overheating. Sometimes, the room’s lack of proper air ventilation may cause hardware stress that directly affects gameplay or gaming performance. So, you should keep your PS5 console in a well-ventilated place to check if there is an overheating issue or not.

The proper airflow and the cooler place or temperature inside the room might help the PS5 console work better. Keeping the console in a congested area or directly under sunlight may be trouble.

7. Check your TV or Monitor

Another possible reason behind the Returnal game lagging on the PS5 console is that your TV or monitor might have some issues with the screen refresh rate. Maybe a temporary glitch or the refresh rate issue appearing on the PS5 console may trigger some issues.

8. Try Playing Another Game on PS5

Sometimes PS5 games may not run properly, which is a bit of a letdown. Make sure to play another game on the PS5 console to check for the issue.

9. Clear Returnal Game Data

Clearing out the game saved data on the console may also fix multiple issues with the game launching or gameplay. You can try it out:

Go to Settings > Select Application Saved Data Management.
Choose either System Storage or Online Storage or USB Storage > Select Delete.
Select the Returnal game > Checkmark the files you want to delete or select All.
Finally, select Delete > Select OK to confirm the task.
Once done, reboot your console to check for the Returnal lagging issue on the PS5 console.

10. Rebuild Database

Rebuilding the database on your PlayStation console can quickly resolve the potential issues or errors. To do so:

Switch off your console completely. Unplug the power cable from the console and wait for around 2-3 minutes.
Now, plug in the power cable, and turn it on to clear the Cached Data automatically from the system.

Check whether this issue has been fixed with the Vanguard game or not. If not, follow the next steps below.

Now, press and hold the Power button on the PlayStation console until you hear 2 beeps. [The second beep will sound after seven seconds]
The console will boot in the Safe Mode > Connect the controller to the USB with the console and press the PS Button on the controller.
Next, you’ll get an option called Rebuild Database.
Select Rebuild Database and confirm the task.
It may take some time, depending on the hard drive data size. Have some patience.
Once done, just reboot the system normally.

11. Hard Reset your Console

In most cases, performing the hard reset of your console can fix system glitches or cache data issues from the game itself. To do so:

Switch off your PlayStation 5 console first.
Once the console is turned off, press and hold the Power button on the console until you hear two beep sounds within a couple of seconds.
Here you’ll see two reset options to choose from.
Select the necessary option to reset your PlayStation console.
Wait for the process to complete, and then sign in to the PlayStation account.
Finally, install the Returnal game, and try running it.

12. Don’t Put in Rest Mode

As a bonus method, make sure not to put your console in the rest mode because it may cause the system to have glitches or fully goes into the rest mode. So, don’t put in the rest mode during the gameplay sessions. To do so:

Go to the PS5 Settings menu > Open the Power Saving tab.
Select Set Time Until PS5 Enter Rest Mode.
Don’t Put in Rest Mode > Restart the console to apply changes.

That’s it, guys. We hope this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.

Fix: Returnal Stuttering and Lagging on PS5