Icarus Stutter Fix

Features

• []Smoother terrain transitions use Unreal Engine's incremental level-removal path

  instead of removing the previous terrain level in one frame.[/]

  []Boundary hysteresis adds a configurable buffer to every outward terrain boundary,

  stopping adjacent detail levels or the outermost level and removal state from repeatedly

  swapping as you move near a boundary.[/]

  []Less forced garbage collection lets normal Unreal Engine garbage collection reclaim

  retired terrain levels instead of forcing a full collection after every streamed level.[/]

  []Independent feature switches let you disable the streaming handoff or boundary

  hysteresis separately for testing.[/]

  []Fail-safe native checks locate unchanged streaming code after executable layout

  changes and leave the mod inactive when the required instructions or contracts change.[/]

  This mod targets terrain-streaming hitches currently. It cannot remove stutter caused by shader

  compilation, asset loading, network latency, insufficient hardware, or other systems.

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  What to expect

  The improvement is most noticeable when moving through an area that repeatedly crosses

  terrain streaming boundaries, especially around a large base. Necessary terrain changes

  still occur, but their cleanup is spread across frames and minor direction changes inside

  the configured boundary buffer no longer trigger an immediate swap back.

  For multiplayer, install IcarusStutterFix on each player's PC where the fix is wanted. The

  host, dedicated server, and other players do not need the mod for that client to use it.

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  Frame-time comparison

  The capture below compares frame times while traversing terrain-streaming boundaries with

  IcarusStutterFix disabled and enabled. Lower, more consistent frame times mean smoother

  frame pacing with fewer visible hitches.

  To match the two runs as closely as possible, both captures used the same procedure:

  • []Load into the world, wait for the frame rate to stabilize, and complete a couple of

    full 360-degree turns to load the surrounding area.[/]

    []Complete three full loops around the base. Without the mod, this produces substantial

    hitching at repeatable terrain-streaming boundaries.[/]

    []Mount a moa and run in a straight line toward the same predetermined target point.[/]

    []At the target, turn 180 degrees and return to the base along the same route.[/]

    []Complete another three full loops around the base.[/]

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    Full Installation

    Use these steps if you downloaded the full package, including the experimental version

    of UE4SS. If you already have a recent UE4SS version and other mods installed,

    use the mod-only steps below instead.

    If you're unsure of the version, please install the UE4SS version included in this mod using

    the instructions below, and then look at the UE4SS Configuration section for adding

    support for the rest of your installed mods using a simple configuration change.

    • []Close Icarus.[/]

      []In Steam, right-click Icarus, choose Manage, then Browse local files.[/]

      []Open Icarus\Binaries\Win64 inside the game folder.[/]

      []Copy both dwmapi.dll and the ue4ss folder from the downloaded archive into that Win64 folder.[/]

      []Allow Windows to merge folders if prompted, then start the game.[/]

      The finished layout should include:

      Icarus\Binaries\Win64\dwmapi.dll

      Icarus\Binaries\Win64\ue4ss\UE4SS.dll

      Icarus\Binaries\Win64\Icarus-Win64-Shipping.exe

      The first launch after installing UE4SS may take a little longe