Unlocking Smoother Gameplay—And Relief From Nauseating Side Effects

From Casual Discomfort to Clear Pattern

What initially seemed like a minor inconvenience quickly turned into a noticeable trend. After spending just two hours with Death Stranding 2 on my PlayStation 5, I found myself waking up in the middle of the night with a throbbing headache. There was no obvious reason for this discomfort—it wasn’t motion sickness from erratic camera movements, nor was it tied to screen brightness or visual intensity. Instead, the issue appeared to be rooted in something more technical and less discussed: the game’s default 30 fps performance mode.

I had played countless games before without experiencing similar symptoms, so why now? The answer, I realized, lay in years of conditioning. As someone who primarily plays on PC, I’ve grown accustomed to high-refresh-rate monitors and frame rates that rarely dip below 60 fps. That shift in expectations changed how my brain processed input lag, responsiveness, and even visual fluidity. What once felt normal on older consoles now felt sluggish—jarring enough to cause physical distress after prolonged exposure.

The Hidden Impact of Frame Rate on Cognitive Load

While many gamers shrug off the difference between 30 and 60 fps, the reality is far more nuanced. Lower frame rates can increase cognitive load, especially during dynamic gameplay where fast reflexes and visual tracking are required. In Death Stranding 2, movement feels deliberate and cinematic, but that only amplifies the dissonance when the game stutters or lags—even slightly. Every time I rotated the camera or adjusted Sam Porter’s path, there was a perceptible delay that made my brain work harder to reconcile what I saw with what I expected.

This kind of latency isn’t just frustrating; it can actually induce nausea or migraines in some players. Studies have shown that lower frame rates can contribute to simulator sickness, particularly when combined with large screen sizes and immersive environments. In my case, playing on a 60-inch television likely exacerbated the issue, making every imperfection in animation feel more pronounced and disorienting.

Discovering the Performance Mode Fix

It wasn’t until my third day of play that I stumbled upon the solution buried within the game’s minimalistic graphics menu. While Death Stranding 2 defaults to “quality mode,” prioritizing resolution over performance, switching to “performance mode” unlocked a locked 60 fps frame rate. The change was immediate and dramatic—like stepping out of fog into crisp morning air. Movements became snappier, inputs registered faster, and the headaches vanished almost entirely.

Interestingly, the game didn’t advertise this option prominently. Unlike PC titles that often greet you with a detailed configuration panel, console versions tend to hide such settings deep within submenus. This lack of transparency may explain why many players suffer needlessly through suboptimal performance without realizing a fix exists. In fact, many PS5 users might not even consider frame rate as a potential source of discomfort unless they’ve experienced similar issues elsewhere.

The Broader Implications for Console Gaming

Death Stranding 2 isn’t alone in this regard. Many modern console titles still ship with 30 fps as the default setting, even on powerful hardware like the PS5 Pro. While this decision helps maintain graphical fidelity, it comes at the cost of player comfort—especially for those transitioning from PC or high-refresh-rate mobile devices. As display technology continues to evolve, so too should our expectations for smoothness and responsiveness in interactive entertainment.

Developers face a difficult balancing act: pushing visual boundaries while ensuring the experience remains playable across a wide range of setups. However, offering more granular control over performance settings—even if limited to toggling between quality and performance—can make a significant difference in accessibility and enjoyment. For players, awareness is key. Knowing how your system renders frames and adjusting accordingly could mean the difference between immersive gameplay and debilitating side effects.

Looking Ahead: Why PC Players Still Have the Upper Hand

Despite improvements in console performance, PC gaming continues to offer superior flexibility when it comes to graphical customization. Technologies like DLSS, FSR, and frame generation allow even modest hardware to achieve silky-smooth frame rates without sacrificing visual detail. Community-driven tools such as Special K further enhance performance by smoothing out inconsistencies and reducing input lag.

As we await the eventual PC release of Death Stranding 2, fans can look forward to a version that likely includes these enhancements—and more. The original game’s PC port was widely praised for its optimization and feature set, suggesting that the sequel will follow suit. For now, however, console players must rely on hidden menus and informed decisions to ensure their experience remains both visually stunning and physically comfortable.