Model optimization

From Team Fortress Wiki
(Redirected from Level of detail)
Jump to: navigation, search
Optimized Rocket Launcher w_model
Now that there was a fine piece 'a work.
The Engineer on model optimization

In discussions about model optimization, level of detail, or LOD, is often brought up. This article shows the effect of LOD on the polygon count in models. The charts show which models have received optimization updates in the form of LOD and which models are still unoptimized.

Background

Level of detail

Main article: Level of detail on the Valve Developer Community

To reduce the number of polygons that need to be rendered in a scene, the Source Engine renders alternate lower-quality models as the distance between the model and camera increase. Level of detail (LOD) models are not created dynamically by the engine; instead, all of the levels of lower-quality models must be included in the game files for LOD to be enabled.

Weapons

Key Unoptimized Optimized

Cosmetics

Key Unoptimized Optimized

Scout

Soldier

Pyro

Demoman

Heavy

Engineer

Medic

Sniper

Spy

Multi-class

All classes

Buildings

Key Unoptimized Optimized
Class Item Highest quality LOD (polycount) Lowest quality LOD (polycount) Efficiency
Leaderboard class engineer.png Engineer Dispenser (Level 1)
 7,086 
 1,598 
77.45%
Dispenser (Level 2)
 14,294 
N/A N/A
Dispenser (Level 3)
 15,462 
N/A N/A
Sentry Gun (Level 1)
 4,030 
 640 
84.12%
Sentry Gun (Level 2)
 10,167 
 2,329 
77.09%
Sentry Gun (Level 3)
 11,312 
 2,955 
73.88%
Teleporters
 4,456 
 1,790 
59.83%

Classes

Key Unoptimized Optimized
Class Highest quality LOD (polycount) Lowest quality LOD (polycount) Efficiency
Scout
 5,524 
 593 
89.27%
Soldier
 6,408 
 502 
92.17%
Pyro
 2,406 
 294 
87.78%
Demoman
 6,518 
 466 
92.85%
Heavy
 4,728 
 522 
88.96%
Engineer
 6,754 
 721 
89.32%
Medic
 6,658 
 635 
90.46%
Sniper
 6,092 
 519 
91.48%
Spy
 5,360 
 565 
89.46%

Update history

January 7, 2008 Patch
  • Graphics optimizations for mid and low end hardware.

January 25, 2008 Patch

  • Added more particle optimizations for mid range and low end hardware.

February 14, 2008 Patch

  • Optimized some particle systems to improve performance on some hardware configurations.
  • Made some small changes to the Demoman viewmodel that were causing performance problems.

April 29, 2008 Patch (Gold Rush Update)

  • Improved particle performance on multi-core machines.

January 19, 2011 Patch

February 3, 2011 Patch

March 10, 2011 Patch

October 13, 2011 Patch (Manniversary Update & Sale)

  • LOD models added to several older cosmetic items

December 15, 2011 Patch

  • [Undocumented] Added LODs to the Machina.

February 23, 2012 Patch

April 18, 2012 Patch

June 3, 2013 Patch

  • Fixed a missing LOD on the Dispenser.

July 8, 2014 Patch

December 12, 2014 Patch

August 18, 2015 Patch 1

  • Updated LODs for several weapons and the Sentry Gun

August 18, 2015 Patch 2

February 2, 2016 Patch

February 29, 2016 Patch

February 14, 2017 Patch

October 20, 2017 Patch

  • [Undocumented] Added LODs to several weapons.

October 26, 2017 Patch

October 25, 2018 Patch

October 30, 2018 Patch

  • Updated the LODs for the TFNew tournament medals

October 11, 2019 Patch

January 18, 2020 Patch

October 8, 2021 Patch

November 15, 2021 Patch

December 2, 2021 Patch (Smissmas 2021)

  • Fixed Wrap Assassin projectiles colliding with other projectiles and func_lod entities

March 30, 2022 Patch

August 11, 2022 Patch

October 18, 2022 Patch

July 25, 2023 Patch

  • Fixed a crash that can occur when using changing model detail setting or using r_flushlod
  • Fixed changing model detail setting or using r_flushlod not always taking effect

August 31, 2023 Patch

October 13, 2023 Patch

  • Fixed the Grounded style of the Power Spike using an incorrect LOD model
  • Updated the Dell Dynamic to fix issues with the materials, rigging, and LODs

October 13, 2023 Patch

December 15, 2023 Patch

December 18, 2023 Patch

  • Updated the Carry-Van to fix a problem with the LOD files
  • Updated main menu background to fix missing nomip/nolod settings
  • Fixed Soldier's lod0 for style 3 not matching style 1 for the Cozy Coverup(sic)

July 18, 2024 Patch

  • Fixed broken LOD1 model for The B.A.S.E. Jumper backpack while deployed (community fix from Piogre)
  • Fixed some clipping issues for the Mad Lad when using lod1 and lod2

July 25, 2024 Patch

October 11, 2024 Patch

  • Updated the School Nuisance to update the backpack icon and fix some clipping issues on the LODs

October 24, 2024 Patch

  • Updated a couple of the community console images to fix missing nomip/nolod settings

December 16, 2024 Patch

  • Adjusted LOD change distances for Cinema sign for vsh_maul

October 13, 2025 Patch

  • Updated the Mad Drip to fix LOD problems with a couple of the styles

October 14, 2025 Patch

  • Updated the Mad Drip to fix a problem with LODs

December 9, 2025 Patch (Smissmas 2025)

October 14, 2025 Patch


See also

External links