Documentation / Game Features

Game Features

Automatic game detection and optimization for 100+ popular titles. Launch your game and let Frameshift handle the rest.

Game Detection System

Frameshift continuously monitors your system for running games and automatically applies game-specific optimizations when detected. No manual configuration needed - just launch your game and play.

Game detection notification and automatic optimization trigger
Frameshift detects games and displays a notification with automatic optimizations

How Detection Works

The game detection system operates using the following method:

  1. Process Monitoring

    Frameshift polls running processes every 5 seconds, checking executable names against an internal game database.

  2. Executable Matching

    Games are identified by their process names, supporting multiple variants (DX11, DX12, 32-bit, 64-bit executables).

  3. Platform Detection

    Supports games from Steam, Epic Games, Origin, Battle.net, GOG, and standalone installations.

  4. Automatic Optimization Trigger

    Once detected, Frameshift triggers automatic game optimizations and begins tracking session performance.

Supported Games
Frameshift currently supports 100+ popular games including Valorant, CS2, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Call of Duty, League of Legends, Overwatch, and many more. The game database is regularly updated with new titles.

Automatic Game Optimizations

When a game is detected, Frameshift automatically applies the following optimizations to maximize performance:

Empty Standby List

Clears Windows standby memory cache, freeing up RAM for the game. Particularly effective on systems with limited memory.

Set High Precision Timer

Enables 1.024ms high-resolution timer for reduced input lag and smoother frame pacing in time-sensitive games.

Clean Temporary Folders

Removes temporary files that may interfere with game performance or consume storage space.

Stop Non-Essential Services

Temporarily stops background Windows services that aren't needed during gameplay. Services are automatically restored when the game closes.

Set Game Process Priority

Elevates the game process to HIGH priority, ensuring the CPU prioritizes game tasks over background processes.

Overlay Console Display

Shows real-time optimization progress in an on-screen console, keeping you informed without interrupting gameplay.

Service Restoration
Stopped services are automatically restored when you exit the game. If Frameshift crashes or is force-closed while a game is running, services will be restored on next launch.

Game Session Analytics

Frameshift tracks detailed performance metrics for every game session, allowing you to analyze performance over time.

Tracked Metrics

For each game session, Frameshift records:

Metric Category Data Points Collected
Frame Rate Current FPS, Min FPS, Max FPS, Average FPS, 1% Low FPS, 0.1% Low FPS
Frame Timing Average frame time, frame time variance, stutter count
CPU Metrics Usage percentage, spikes, variance, temperature
GPU Metrics Usage percentage, spikes, variance, temperature, VRAM usage
Memory RAM usage, VRAM allocation
Session Info Game name, start time, end time, total duration
Learn More: Understanding 1% and 0.1% Low FPS

Average FPS doesn't tell the whole story. 1% and 0.1% lows measure the worst-performing frames:

  • 1% Low: The average FPS of the worst 1% of frames. Represents noticeable stutters.
  • 0.1% Low: The average FPS of the worst 0.1% of frames. Represents severe frame drops.

Higher 1% and 0.1% lows mean smoother, more consistent gameplay. If your average is 120 FPS but your 1% low is 30 FPS, you'll experience significant stuttering despite the high average.

Example:

  • Good: Avg 144 FPS, 1% low 120 FPS, 0.1% low 100 FPS (smooth)
  • Poor: Avg 144 FPS, 1% low 45 FPS, 0.1% low 20 FPS (stuttery)

Viewing Session History

Access game session history in the Analytics tab:

  • View all recorded sessions with start/end times
  • Filter by specific game titles
  • Compare performance across multiple sessions
  • Export session data as CSV or JSON
  • Identify performance trends and bottlenecks
Pro Tip
Run a game session before and after applying optimizations to quantify performance improvements. Compare 1% low FPS to measure stutter reduction.

Per-Game Performance Tracking

Frameshift aggregates data across all sessions for each game, providing long-term performance insights.

Aggregate Statistics

For each game in your library, view:

  • Total playtime across all sessions
  • Average performance metrics (FPS, frame time, temperatures)
  • Best session performance records
  • Worst session performance records
  • Performance trends over time
  • Optimization impact before/after comparisons

Customization & Settings

Configure game detection and optimization behavior:

Detection Settings

  • Enable/disable automatic detection
  • Adjust polling interval (default: 5 seconds)
  • Manage game database

Optimization Settings

  • Choose which optimizations to apply
  • Set process priority level
  • Configure service management

Analytics Settings

  • Enable/disable session tracking
  • Data collection frequency
  • Storage retention period
Advanced: Adding Custom Games

If your game isn't in the database, you can add it manually:

  1. Open %APPDATA%\Frameshift\gameDatabase.json
  2. Add a new entry following the existing format:
{
  "name": "Your Game Name",
  "platform": "Standalone",
  "executables": ["YourGame.exe", "YourGame_DX12.exe"]
}

Restart Frameshift for changes to take effect. Supported platforms: Steam, Epic Games, Origin, Battle.net, GOG, Standalone.

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