How to Optimize Performance for Mobile in a Complex UE Project?

Development Platform & Builds Mobile
1

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working on a mobile game using Unreal Engine (version [your UE version, e.g. 5.3]), and I’m facing some performance issues, especially on mid-range Android devices. The project started as a PC prototype and is now being adapted for mobile. We’ve already reduced texture sizes and LODs, but the frame rate still drops significantly during gameplay, especially in levels with more dynamic actors or particle effects.

I’ve tried using the Mobile Previewer and profiling with Unreal Insights, but I’m still struggling to identify the main bottlenecks. I suspect the material complexity and lighting setup might be too heavy for mobile.

Has anyone faced a similar challenge transitioning a project from PC to mobile? I’d really appreciate any tips on optimizing performance for mobile — especially regarding materials, lighting, and actor management. Are there any specific engine settings or mobile-friendly best practices you would recommend?

Thanks in advance for any advice or pointers!

2

Hello there @Lee_Addyson!

From your information provided so far, you already are on the right path. I would suggest using further options from Unreal Insights, tracking memory use, checking for garbage collection events, increasing cleanup frequency, and reviewing object lifespans in your scene:

As for mobile specific methods, besides texture size and LODS, please make sure that texture streaming is enabled and optimized for mobile:

You can find further methods for mobile optimization in the documentation below: