Vox Vivat #7 - Major Optimization Update - Better FPS, Better Bratislava » Vivat Slovakia | videohra z divokých 90. rokov

Major Optimization Update - Better FPS, Better Bratislava - Vox Vivat #7

Vox Vivat #7

The latest developer diary - at least during Early Access - from the Vox Vivat series brings both the most anticipated and unexpected improvements to Vivat Slovakia. Let’s dive in! 🚲

First Things First – Thank You!

 

Before the Early Access release of Vivat Slovakia, we published a series called Vivat Wednesdays, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the development of the project. We managed to release ten of these updates, giving you insights into our relentless work—modeling buildings, roads, cars, and characters in an intense workflow. These regular diaries not only kept you informed but also motivated us to always have something new to share.

The first Side-A of the game, the Early Access version, launched on April 18th on Steam, allowing players to experience years of hard work from dozens of people. It was an incredible feeling to watch streams and Let’s Plays clocking in at dozens—even hundreds—of hours. That weekend, Vivat Slovakia became the most-streamed game in our small country, Slovakia.

The biggest question—whether all these years of work were worth it—was clearly answered. Inspired by your support, we dove back into improving the Early Access version and began writing a new series of bilingual developer diaries: Vox Vivat.

This seventh edition of Vox Vivat is one of the most important, as it marks the conclusion of live presentations for our work-in-progress game. We deeply appreciate you reading this text and allowing us to share what we’ve prepared—thanks to you.

On behalf of everyone working on Vivat Slovakia, thank you so much!

In the game!

Jakub Molitor, Samuel Potisk

Optimization

 

Vivat Slovakia is CPU-bound, meaning the processor does the bulk of the work compared to the graphics card. As the saying goes, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link—and for many players, that weak link is the CPU due to the immense amount of background calculations in the game. Our optimization efforts focus on reducing the number of calculations (e.g., rendering only 15 buildings instead of 30 without noticeable differences) and balancing the workload between the CPU and GPU by shifting calculations to the graphics card wherever possible.

As of this Vox Vivat entry, the code for Vivat Slovakia has been adjusted over 5,000 times using the Unity Version Control tool. Recent optimizations include a more efficient vehicle and NPC rendering system, with improved despawning techniques that conserve your PC's resources without changing the city's population density.

Our programmers also fine-tuned resource allocation to ensure the game doesn't load more light sources than the player can see. Additionally, vegetation draw distances have been adjusted to be less aggressive—but if you’re running a powerhouse PC, we’ve added a setting to customize vegetation distances.

These optimizations have significantly improved FPS. In our tests, we managed to gain an incredible 20 extra frames per second. Be sure to share your results on our Steam discussions or Discord!

After optimizationBefore optimization

PC build

  • CPU: Ryzen 5600X
  • GPU: RTX 3060 12GB
  • RAM: 32GB 3600 MHz

In the game!

MTBIKER, Publicis Play, Team Vivat

8 New MTBIKER Cycling Time Trials

 

Cycling in digital Bratislava is expanding! We’ve refined the road bike mechanics, which you can now find parked in front of your apartment in Petržalka or the MTBIKER store in Ružinov. This update also includes new voiceovers of Milan’s panting and muttered curses during his athletic efforts.

As you unlock new routes, you’ll compete in races against trams or trains. Completing the trials will reward you with functional accessories like a dynamo, a helmet, or a cycling outfit. If you manage to complete all the new routes, a vintage mountain bike will be waiting for you at the both locations mentioned above.

Part of Side-B

Šajmo, TTea

New Radio Stations with Licensed Music + Streamer Mode

 

We’re preparing new radio stations for the final version of the game, featuring some of Slovakia’s most iconic artists. A hip-hop station is being curated by Šajmo from Refresher, while our sound designer Ttea is crafting a retro techno station. In addition to entertaining DJ commentary and a stellar lineup of music unlike anything seen in Slovak games, we plan to introduce a Streamer Mode.

With Streamer Mode enabled, licensed tracks will be removed from the rotation, letting streamers enjoy the radio stations without fear of copyright strikes.

Experiment

Jakub Molitor

Hidden First-Person Mode

 

Our programmers have been experimenting with a first-person view, and in many cases, it looks fantastic. While we don’t plan to overhaul reload animations or remaster vehicle interiors, we may include a hidden first-person mode as an optional cheat for adventurous players in Side-B. Let us know on Discord if this is something you’d like!

In the game!

MTBIKER, Publicis Play, ANTIK Telecom, Team Vivat

New Buildings Based on Real Locations

 

The game map is based on the real city of Bratislava. While scaled down for realism, some areas are nearly indistinguishable from their real-world counterparts. Most recently, we’ve updated two locations: a building at Račianske mýto and another in Ružinov, near the old bus station.

In the game!

Ivan Mitter

New Cars: Prinz Piano

 

We’re adding a luxurious new vehicle to Vivat Slovakia’s car roster: the Prinz Piano. This classic car is well-known among enthusiasts and fits beautifully into the 1990s setting. Ivan brought two versions to Bratislava—a sedan and a family-friendly station wagon.

The Second Half of the Story

 

Since the Early Access launch, we’ve worked tirelessly to add new content and optimize the game. Over the next few months, we’ll enter a quieter phase to focus on preparing the launch trailer and the second half of the story missions.

You can look forward to action-packed missions with Belasý and even a trip to neighboring Austria across the border. The game will feature new mechanics and interiors, pushing gameplay to the next level. However, the story will also take a darker turn, with missions based on real events, such as the kidnapping of the president’s son.

Thank you for being part of this journey. We can’t wait to share the next chapter of Vivat Slovakia with you!