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Since version 0.40, Options > Graphics has two controls for image quality. Anti-aliasing chooses how edges are cleaned up. Render Resolution chooses how large the scene is drawn before it is scaled to the display.
Graphics presets do not change either setting.
The classic modes only smooth the current frame. The temporal modes also reuse the previous frame, which steadies thin details and can rebuild a sharp image from a smaller render.
| Mode | Benefit | Where it is offered |
|---|---|---|
| FXAA | Cheapest edge smoothing. Softens the image a little. This is the default. | Every renderer |
| SMAA | Cleaner edges than FXAA, with sharper textures. | Every renderer |
| SMAA T2x | SMAA that also steadies fences, wires, and foliage. | Every renderer, except Lighting Quality Lowest |
| DLSS | Best quality on NVIDIA RTX. At 100% render resolution it is DLAA, anti-aliasing only. | NVIDIA RTX. Windows and Linux. Direct3D 12 and Vulkan |
| FSR 4 | Sharper AMD upscaler, when the driver provides it. | Windows. Direct3D 12. Radeon RX 9000 series |
| FSR 3 | AMD upscaler. Runs on any GPU. | Windows. Direct3D 12 and Vulkan |
| XeSS | Intel upscaler. Usually steadier than FSR 3. FSR 3 is usually sharper. | Windows. Direct3D 12 and Vulkan. Needs a Shader Model 6.4 GPU |
| FSR 3 (custom) | Same image as FSR 3, built into the game. The default on Steam Deck, and the upscaler for Linux and Windows ARM64 when DLSS is not available. | Direct3D 12 and Vulkan, on Windows and Linux |
Modes the current PC cannot run are hidden. Direct3D 11 lists FXAA, SMAA, and SMAA T2x only.
A practical pick:
The slider runs from 33% to 100% of the display resolution on each axis. 100% is the default: the scene is rendered at full size and the selected mode only cleans edges. Steam Deck defaults to 67%.
| Slider | Older preset name | Example at 2560x1440 |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | Native AA / DLAA | 2560x1440 |
| 67% | Quality | 1706x960 |
| 59% | Balanced | 1506x847 |
| 50% | Performance | 1280x720 |
| 33% | Ultra Performance | 853x480 |
With DLSS, FSR, or XeSS, a lower slider renders fewer pixels and the previous frames are used to rebuild the display resolution, including texture detail. With FXAA, SMAA, or SMAA T2x, the same slider simply draws a smaller image and stretches it, so it looks softer. Lowering the slider also makes screen-space reflections cheaper, because those run at the render resolution.
Sharpness appears for DLSS, FSR 3, FSR 4, XeSS, and FSR 3 (custom). It is hidden for FXAA, SMAA, and SMAA T2x.
The slider runs from 0% to 100% and starts at 25%. 0% turns it off. Higher values strengthen edges and leave smooth areas, such as the sky, alone. It sharpens the finished upscale and does not change how many pixels are rendered.
DLSS, FSR 3, FSR 4, and XeSS come from NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel. Each one only appears where that vendor ships a library for the system, and where the library accepts the GPU. FSR 3 (custom) is the game’s own build of the same FSR 3.1 image, so it has no vendor library to load.
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Only FXAA and SMAA | Lighting Quality is Lowest. The other modes need the motion information from the advanced lighting paths. Raise Lighting Quality, or stay on SMAA. |
| Only FXAA, SMAA, and SMAA T2x | Direct3D 11 is active. Switch to Direct3D 12 or Vulkan in the Launcher. |
| DLSS is missing | The GPU is not an NVIDIA RTX card, or the NVIDIA driver is too old. |
| FSR 4 is missing | The GPU is not a supported Radeon RX 9000 card, the AMD driver does not provide it, or Vulkan is active. FSR 3 is the fallback. |
| FSR 3 or XeSS is missing on Windows ARM64 | Use DLSS or FSR 3 (custom). |
| FSR 3, FSR 4, or XeSS is missing on Linux | Use DLSS or FSR 3 (custom). |
| XeSS is missing under Vulkan | The GPU is older than Shader Model 6.4, for example a GeForce GTX 10 series card. Try Direct3D 12 or another mode. |
If the saved mode cannot run, the game picks the next one in this order: DLSS, FSR 4, FSR 3, FSR 3 (custom), XeSS, SMAA T2x, SMAA, FXAA. The choice is written to beamng.log.
Ghosting or smearing behind a vehicle. The temporal modes follow motion from the previous frame. Transparent effects, particles, and fast spinning wheels can leave a trail. Try another mode, raise the render resolution, or use SMAA.
The image is blurry. Raise Render Resolution. Below 100%, FXAA and SMAA are a plain resolution drop. Also check that Texture Quality is not Lowest.
Thin details flicker. FXAA and SMAA work on one frame, so fences and foliage can shimmer. SMAA T2x or any upscaler steadies them.
An upscaler is slower than expected. DLSS, FSR, and XeSS cost time based on the display resolution, on top of the smaller render. At 1080p on a weak GPU, SMAA with a reduced render resolution can be faster.
Virtual Reality. On Windows, a new VR session uses vendor FSR 3 at 50% render scale when that mode is available. No other upscaler is selected on its own when vendor FSR 3 is unavailable. VR itself runs on Direct3D 12 and Vulkan. See Virtual Reality .
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