Best Graphics Settings For Arc Raiders On PS5, Xbox, And PC

Arc Raiders looks great out of the box, but the default settings aren’t built for a tired parent trying to squeeze in two raids after bedtime. You don’t need to tweak every slider; you just need a setup that keeps the image clear, the frame rate stable, and the UI readable on a normal TV or monitor. This guide sticks to changes that actually matter on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Every version of Arc Raiders is juggling the same tradeoff: resolution and effects vs. frame rate. Higher resolution and heavier effects (shadows, fog, fancy lighting) make screenshots look better, but they cost performance. Higher frame rate (60 fps and up) makes aiming, tracking enemies, and dodging feel easier and more responsive.

Pick Your Priority: Smooth, Pretty, Or Just Stable

On consoles, that usually means a simple choice between a Performance mode (lower resolution, smoother frame rate) and a Quality mode (higher resolution, more effects, but 30–40 fps). On a mid-range PC, you’re doing the same thing manually: deciding whether you want “Ultra” visuals at 40–50 fps or “High/Medium” visuals at a locked 60+.

Think about how you actually play:

• Performance-first (60 fps+): If you care about aiming and dodging more than pretty vistas, pick Performance mode or lower presets. This is the best choice for most players.
• Visuals-first: If you mostly play solo, sit close to a 4K TV, and like soaking in the art, Quality mode can be fine as long as you’re okay with a heavier, 30-ish fps feel.
• Family-room “just work” setup: You want stable more than anything. That usually means Performance mode plus a few comfort tweaks so the game is readable from the couch.

If you’re still deciding whether Arc Raiders is worth your limited nights at all, it’s worth pairing this with our launch impressions breakdown, then coming back here to lock in your settings.

PS5: Simple Performance Setup, With A 120 Hz Option

On PS5, start with Performance mode. You get a smoother frame rate that makes third-person aiming and camera control feel much better, especially when fights get busy. On a typical 60 Hz 4K TV, this is the “set it and forget it” choice.

Then clean up the image:

• Motion Blur: Turn it down or off. It hides detail when you turn the camera and makes tracking enemies harder.
• Film Grain: Turn off. It just adds noise, which looks worse on compressed TV inputs.
• Chromatic Aberration: Turn off if available. It adds fake color fringing at the edges of the screen and reduces clarity.
• Sharpness: Slightly above default can help on softer TVs, but don’t max it or you’ll get halos around objects.

If you have a 120 Hz TV or monitor and you’ve enabled 120 Hz in the PS5 system settings, check whether Arc Raiders offers a higher-frame-rate mode. Use it if:

• You sit fairly close and can feel the difference between 60 and 90–120 fps.
• You’re comfortable trading some resolution or effects for ultra-smooth motion.

If you’re on a big living-room TV eight feet away, 120 Hz is nice but not essential. In that case, a locked 60 fps Performance mode is usually the better use of your hardware.

Xbox Series X|S: Different Consoles, Different Expectations

Xbox Series X is closer to PS5: pick Performance mode for a smoother frame rate, especially if you’re on a 4K TV. Quality mode is fine if you really want the sharpest image and don’t mind a heavier feel, but in a game where losing a raid can cost you gear, responsiveness wins.

Xbox Series S has less power to work with, so you should almost always favor Performance or “Frame Rate” modes if they’re available. Don’t chase 4K; a clean 1080p or 1440p image at 60 fps is far better than a soft, unstable “4K” that constantly dips.

For both consoles, use similar in-game tweaks as PS5: low motion blur, no film grain, no chromatic aberration, modest sharpness. On a dedicated gaming monitor, you can push sharpness a bit higher; on a living-room TV, let the TV’s own processing do some of the work.

System-level tweaks that help without getting nerdy:

• In the Xbox settings, enable 120 Hz if your display supports it, then pick any high-frame-rate mode Arc Raiders offers.
• Turn on VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) if your TV supports it. It smooths out small frame dips so they’re less noticeable.

Once you’ve done that once, you don’t have to touch it again; every game that supports those features will benefit.

PC: Three Simple Presets That Actually Work

PC is where you can lose an hour in menus instead of playing. Don’t. Start with a preset that matches your hardware, then only touch the heavy hitters:

• Low-tier rigs (older quad-core CPU, GTX 1650 / RX 570-ish): Use the Medium preset at 1080p, then drop Shadows and Volumetric Effects/Fog to Low. Aim for a stable 60 fps.
• Mid-range (RTX 3060 / RX 6600-level): Start on High at 1080p or 1440p. If frame rate dips, first lower Shadows and Post-Processing before touching textures.
• High-end (RTX 4070+ / RX 7800 XT+): You can usually run High/Ultra at 1440p or 4K, but still keep motion blur and film grain low or off for clarity.

The settings that hit performance hardest are usually:

• Shadows: Big impact, small visual gain past “High.” Drop this first.
• Volumetrics/Fog: Looks nice, but expensive. Medium is a good compromise.
• Ray Tracing (if present): Great for screenshots, rough for frame rate. Turn it off unless you have a top-tier GPU and a 60+ fps buffer.
• Resolution Scale: Dropping to 90–95% can free up frames with minimal visible loss.

If Arc Raiders supports DLSS, FSR, or XeSS, use them. Set the game to your monitor’s native resolution, then pick a balanced upscaling mode (often called “Quality” or “Balanced”). Match your frame rate target to your display: 60 fps for 60/75 Hz screens, 90–120 fps for 144 Hz if your hardware can handle it. A stable 80–100 fps on a 144 Hz monitor feels better than a wildly swinging 60–140.

Make The Game Easier To Read: Visibility, HDR, And Audio

Arc Raiders throws a lot of effects on screen. A few tweaks make it easier to read in motion, especially in a bright living room:

• Motion Blur / Film Grain / Post-Processing: Turn blur and grain down or off. If there’s a generic “Post-Processing” slider, keep it at Medium so you still get decent lighting without the smear.
• Brightness & Contrast: Use the in-game calibration screen, then nudge brightness up a notch if your room is bright. If blacks look gray and washed out, lower brightness slightly instead.
• HDR: If your TV supports it and it’s properly set up, HDR can help with bright highlights and dark interiors. If the image looks blown out or dull, don’t be afraid to just turn HDR off and stick with SDR.
• Colorblind / Accessibility: If you or your kids struggle to track enemies or UI colors, try the colorblind modes or high-contrast options. They’re there to make the game more readable, not just for diagnosed colorblindness.

On the audio side, you want clear voices and directional cues without waking anyone up:

• Pick a preset that matches your setup: Headphones for headsets, TV/Stereo for basic speakers, Home Theater only if you have a real surround system.
• Raise Dialogue volume a bit above Effects/Music so you don’t miss callouts at lower master volume.
• If there’s a “Night Mode” or dynamic range compression option, turn it on; it keeps explosions from being way louder than everything else.

Plug-And-Play Templates And Quick Fixes

Three Easy Presets You Can Copy

• 1. Smooth Performance (recommended for most): Performance mode (or Medium/High on PC), motion blur off, film grain off, shadows Medium, volumetrics Medium, upscaling set to Quality if available. Target 60 fps or higher.
• 2. Best Visuals: Quality mode (or High/Ultra on PC), but still turn film grain and chromatic aberration off. Keep motion blur low. Accept a 30–40 fps feel in exchange for sharper detail.
• 3. Balanced Family Setup: Performance mode, all “cinematic” effects (blur, grain) off, brightness nudged up slightly, dialogue volume boosted. This is the “dad can see and hear everything from the couch” preset that works on any platform.

Simple Troubleshooting Checklist

• Stutter or hitching: On console, switch to Performance mode and close background apps. On PC, lower shadows/volumetrics one step and make sure you’re not streaming or running heavy background software.
• Blurry image: Check that your console or PC is outputting the TV’s native resolution. Turn off any “Performance” or “Game” motion smoothing on the TV that adds fake blur.
• Input lag: Enable your TV’s Game Mode. On PC, turn off V-Sync in-game if you’re using G-Sync/FreeSync.
• Washed-out colors: Make sure the console and TV are both set to the same color range (Full vs Limited), then recalibrate brightness in-game.

As with any shooter, make one change at a time and test it in a busy combat area, not just in the hub. Two or three smart tweaks will do more for your Arc Raiders sessions than an hour of menu tinkering—and that’s time better spent actually playing. For more ways to get the most out of your limited screen time, our broader entertainment coverage is built around the same idea: less fuss, more fun.