# Wondering why nobody seems to be using the pre-computed visibility volumes?

**URL:** <https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/wondering-why-nobody-seems-to-be-using-the-pre-computed-visibility-volumes/305623>\
**Category:** Pipeline & Plugins\
**Tags:** precomputed-visibili, unreal-engine, Volumes, editor, Level-Design, question\
**Created:** [February 1, 2015, 5:33am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/wondering-why-nobody-seems-to-be-using-the-pre-computed-visibility-volumes/305623 "2015-02-01T05:33:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![KnightTechDev](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@KnightTechDev](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/KnightTechDev)\
**Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 5:33am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/wondering-why-nobody-seems-to-be-using-the-pre-computed-visibility-volumes/305623/1 "2015-02-01T05:33:44Z")

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Alot of levels don’t seem to be using them now, just wondering on what the reason may be?

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**Author:** ![Jacky](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/jacky/32/918690_2.png) [@Jacky](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Jacky)\
**Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/wondering-why-nobody-seems-to-be-using-the-pre-computed-visibility-volumes/305623/2 "2015-02-01T16:58:30Z")

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They are mostly used for mobile development, afaik.

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**Author:** ![KnightTechDev](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@KnightTechDev](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/KnightTechDev)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 8:14am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/wondering-why-nobody-seems-to-be-using-the-pre-computed-visibility-volumes/305623/3 "2015-02-02T08:14:08Z")

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Yeah, I was thinking perhaps the optimizations weren’t needed as much today, as Unreal Tournament and other levels aren’t really using them.

I know it was used back in the day with UDK, such as in this documentation:  
[https://udn.epicgames.com/Three/PrecomputedVisibility.html](https://udn.epicgames.com/Three/PrecomputedVisibility.html)

It may even be related to the limitations listed on that page, that or people just aren’t focusing on certain optimizations.

I didn’t even think of the mobile platform.

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![anonymous\_user\_3221808d](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@anonymous\_user\_3221808d](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/anonymous_user_3221808d)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 6:41am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/wondering-why-nobody-seems-to-be-using-the-pre-computed-visibility-volumes/305623/4 "2015-02-03T06:41:06Z")

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Precomputed visibility is an optimization for mobile. Your computer/console can typically handle doing its own culling on the fly.

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**Author:** ![KnightTechDev](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@KnightTechDev](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/KnightTechDev)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 5:50am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/wondering-why-nobody-seems-to-be-using-the-pre-computed-visibility-volumes/305623/5 "2015-02-04T05:50:10Z")

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I didn’t know it was more for mobile when I was first using **UDK** , I see the documentation lists the **August 2010 QA** and **mobile platform** being primary benefit and also lists **console** , the old tutorials and documentation online shows it being used with some old **Unreal Tournament 3** content, it was on **PC** , **PS3** , and **Xbox360**

But **Unreal Tournament 3** was back in **2007**.

I did see a guy use it for the Apple iPad version of a downloadable **Epic Citadel** so that would make sense.

And information like here and I think a **3D Buzz** or **3D Motive** may have been ones I saw in which I began using pre-computed visibility eversince then, this is the **Epic Citadel** one I believe it has **The Sword and Shield** sign which is recognizable:  
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–kqrM-vuDM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--kqrM-vuDM)

I rechecked the documentation, I’m glad you’re right, so now I don’t need to really think about it that much for future levels not on those platforms.

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![KeyC0de](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/keyc0de/32/1099072_2.png) [@KeyC0de](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/KeyC0de)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 10:03pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/wondering-why-nobody-seems-to-be-using-the-pre-computed-visibility-volumes/305623/6 "2020-01-31T22:03:33Z")

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But still, wouldn’t there be a benefit on Desktop as well? Something to be gained from this process?