The First Descendant PC Stuttering: Official Shader Cache Fix and Troubleshooting Guide
If The First Descendant is stuttering, dropping frames, or consuming unusually large amounts of system memory on your PC, Nexon has acknowledged a performance issue affecting certain PC environments. On October 20, 2026, the developer published a temporary workaround that involves clearing the NVIDIA graphics driver’s shader cache.
The recommended procedure is simple, but there are several details worth understanding before you try it. Clearing the cache may cause temporary stuttering while shader data is rebuilt, some files may remain in use, and the workaround is not guaranteed to resolve every performance problem.
This guide explains Nexon’s instructions step by step, how to check whether the problem improves, what to do if the stuttering continues, and which troubleshooting steps are reasonable without making unnecessary changes to your PC.
What Is the Official Fix for The First Descendant PC Stuttering?
Nexon’s October 20 notice identifies abnormal system RAM usage during gameplay in certain PC environments. According to the developer, this can cause frame drops, stuttering, other performance problems, and—in severe cases—prevent the game from running properly.
Nexon is investigating a possible connection with the NVIDIA graphics driver’s shader cache. The developer has not confirmed that the cache is definitively responsible for every reported case.
The temporary workaround is to:
- Fully exit The First Descendant.
- Open the NVIDIA DirectX shader cache folder in Windows File Explorer.
- Delete the cache files inside the folder, skipping any files that cannot be deleted because they are in use.
- Restart the PC.
- Launch the game again and check its performance.
Important: This is a temporary workaround, not a confirmed permanent repair. Nexon says results may differ between environments and that its investigation is continuing.
Step-by-Step: Clear the NVIDIA Shader Cache
Follow these steps in order. You do not need to uninstall the game, delete its installation folder, or reinstall Windows to try this workaround.
Step 1: Save your work and close the game
Exit The First Descendant normally. If the game is open, return to the menu and quit rather than immediately deleting files from the cache directory.
If you have other applications open, save any work that could be lost during a restart.
You should also make sure the game has fully closed. If it appears to remain active, wait briefly and check Task Manager before proceeding. Avoid ending unrelated Windows processes.
Step 2: Open the correct cache folder
Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
Click the address bar at the top of the window, enter this exact path, and press Enter:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\NVIDIA\DXCache
Windows uses %USERPROFILE% to refer to your current Windows user profile. This means you do not have to replace the path with your account name manually.
The folder is associated with NVIDIA’s DirectX shader cache. Make sure the address bar contains the full path before proceeding.
If Windows cannot open the location, check for typing mistakes. Do not substitute a different folder or start deleting files from other NVIDIA directories at random. If the specified directory is unavailable on your system, the workaround may not apply exactly as described.
Step 3: Delete the files inside DXCache
Once the folder opens, select the cache files inside it and delete them.
Nexon’s instructions are to remove the cache files, not to delete the entire NVIDIA folder or make unrelated changes to your graphics driver.
Windows may refuse to delete some files because another process is using them. Skip those files. Do not force-delete them, change permissions, or use third-party cleanup tools simply to remove every last file.
If the folder contains no files, there may be nothing to clear at that location. Do not interpret an empty folder as proof that your PC is free from the reported performance issue.
Step 4: Restart Windows
Restart your PC after clearing the files that can be deleted.
A restart provides a clean starting point before you relaunch the game. It also helps avoid confusing the results with processes left running from the previous session.
You do not need to repeat the deletion immediately after restarting. First launch the game and observe what happens.
Step 5: Launch the game and check the result
Start The First Descendant as you normally would. Return to the activity or situation in which you previously noticed the problem, if you can do so safely and consistently.
Look for changes in:
- How frequently the game stutters.
- Whether frame drops still occur during gameplay.
- Whether system RAM usage continues to increase unusually.
- Whether the game remains responsive or becomes difficult to play.
The workaround may help, but it is not guaranteed to do so. A single smooth moment or brief frame drop is not enough to establish whether the underlying issue has been resolved.
Why Can Stuttering Happen After Clearing the Shader Cache?
Clearing the cache removes stored shader data that the graphics driver may otherwise reuse. When the game needs that data again, the driver may have to rebuild it.
Nexon explicitly warns that rebuilding the shader cache can cause temporary stuttering on the next launch. This means you may notice short periods of uneven performance even after completing the recommended cleanup.
It is useful to distinguish between two situations.
Temporary stuttering during cache rebuilding: Performance may be uneven as the necessary shader data is regenerated. This alone does not prove the workaround has failed.
Persistent or recurring stuttering: If the same severe frame drops or abnormal RAM usage continue after the game has had an opportunity to rebuild its cache, the original problem may still be present.
Do not repeatedly clear the cache whenever the game stutters. Repeating the cleanup removes the cache data again and may trigger another rebuilding period. First observe whether the original issue improves.
Nexon has not published a universal recovery time for cache rebuilding in this notice, so it would be misleading to promise that stuttering will disappear after a fixed number of minutes.
How to Check Whether RAM Usage Is Abnormally High
Because Nexon’s notice specifically mentions system memory usage, checking RAM consumption can help you describe the problem more accurately.
Use Windows Task Manager
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Select Performance.
- Open Memory to see overall memory usage.
- Return to Processes and inspect the memory column to see how much memory running applications are using.
Keep in mind that Windows uses memory for the operating system, background services, and other applications. A high overall percentage does not automatically mean The First Descendant has a memory leak or that the shader cache is responsible.
If you want to compare results before and after the workaround, note the approximate memory usage under similar conditions. For example, compare the game after loading into a similar activity, with a similar number of applications open.
Do not treat results from different situations as a controlled benchmark. A busy mission, a loading screen, a different area, or several additional background applications can change resource usage.
Record the symptoms, not just one number
A useful troubleshooting note includes:
- Approximate system RAM usage when the problem occurs.
- Whether the game stutters continuously or only at particular moments.
- Whether performance deteriorates during a longer session.
- Whether the issue started after a specific update or driver change, if you know.
- Whether clearing the shader cache made any noticeable difference.
This information is more useful than a single Task Manager screenshot without context. It also helps you determine whether the same problem returns during later sessions.
What to Do If The First Descendant Still Stutters
If Nexon’s workaround does not resolve the issue, avoid changing several unrelated settings at once. The following checks are general PC troubleshooting steps, not additional fixes specifically confirmed by Nexon for this memory issue.
1. Check whether other applications are using memory
Close unnecessary applications that you do not need while playing, particularly programs that consume substantial RAM.
Use Task Manager to identify the applications responsible rather than ending unfamiliar processes. Do not disable Windows services or security software just to free memory.
If closing a clearly unnecessary application improves performance, that is useful evidence about your system’s resource usage. It does not establish that the NVIDIA shader cache was the cause of the original problem.
2. Check for graphics-driver changes
If the problem began shortly after a graphics-driver update, record the driver version and when you installed it.
Check the graphics-card manufacturer’s official support information for relevant updates or documented problems. Avoid downloading drivers from unknown websites.
Do not assume that the newest driver will necessarily fix this specific issue. Nexon’s notice identifies a possible shader-cache connection but does not confirm a universal driver version that resolves it.
If you consider rolling back a driver, do so only when you have a clear reason and can follow the manufacturer’s recommended procedure. Change one variable at a time so you can tell whether the result actually improves.
3. Check the game’s current patch status
At the time of Nexon’s October 20 notice, the developer had scheduled Patch 1.4.6 for October 22, 2026, on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation 5. The published preview listed Descendant adjustments and improvements, content improvements, and bug fixes.
That schedule does not establish that Patch 1.4.6 will fix the shader-cache or abnormal RAM-usage issue. Check the final patch notes and any newer official notices before assuming a fix has been included.
If a later update becomes available, note the version and compare the official changes with the symptoms you are experiencing. Do not interpret a general mention of bug fixes as confirmation that this particular issue has been resolved.
4. Check whether the problem is specific to one situation
Observe whether the stuttering happens immediately after launching the game, during a particular activity, after an extended session, or across different areas.
This is not a substitute for a controlled performance test, but it helps describe the issue more precisely. If the problem appears only under particular circumstances, record those circumstances rather than concluding that every part of the game is affected.
Avoid inventing a cause based on timing alone. A stutter after loading an area, for example, does not prove that shader compilation is responsible.
5. Avoid drastic fixes without evidence
If the cache cleanup does not help, do not immediately reinstall the game, modify BIOS settings, edit the Windows registry, or download unofficial “FPS booster” utilities.
Those steps are not part of Nexon’s published workaround and may introduce additional problems. Reinstalling the game is especially unlikely to be a well-justified first response when the developer has recommended a narrower cache-clearing procedure.
If the issue remains severe, preserve your observations and consult official support for the next recommended action.
Does the NVIDIA Shader Cache Fix Apply to AMD or Intel GPUs?
Nexon’s published workaround specifically identifies this directory:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\NVIDIA\DXCache
That instruction targets the NVIDIA DirectX shader cache. It should not be treated as a universal cache-clearing procedure for AMD or Intel graphics hardware.
If your PC uses an AMD or Intel graphics solution, do not assume that deleting NVIDIA cache files will help. Check the relevant manufacturer’s official guidance and any Nexon notice that specifically addresses your hardware.
The distinction matters because the developer has described a potential connection with the NVIDIA graphics driver’s shader cache, not a confirmed identical cause across every graphics vendor.
Likewise, the fact that you use an NVIDIA graphics card does not prove that every stutter you experience is caused by the issue Nexon identified. The workaround is most relevant when the symptoms match the developer’s notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will clearing DXCache delete The First Descendant?
No. The specified directory is the NVIDIA DirectX shader cache, not the game’s installation directory. The official workaround instructs players to delete the cache files inside that folder.
Do not delete the game’s installation files or unrelated folders as part of this procedure.
Will this fix low FPS permanently?
There is no guarantee. Nexon describes the procedure as a temporary workaround and says the investigation into the cause is continuing. Your result may differ depending on your environment and the problem affecting your PC.
What if Windows says a cache file is in use?
Skip that file, as Nexon explicitly instructs. Do not force-delete it or change system permissions to remove it.
Why does the game stutter after I clear the cache?
The shader cache is rebuilt when the game requires the relevant data again. Nexon warns that this process may cause temporary stuttering. Persistent severe problems should be evaluated separately rather than automatically attributed to rebuilding.
Should I clear the cache every time I play?
Not as a routine response to every frame drop. The published instruction is a temporary troubleshooting workaround, not a recommendation to delete the cache before every session. Observe the result first and check for further official guidance.
Has Nexon confirmed a permanent fix?
The October 20, 2026 notice says the team is investigating the issue and will provide further updates. Do not consider the problem permanently fixed unless a subsequent official announcement or patch note confirms the relevant resolution.
Final Verdict: Try the Official Workaround Before Making Major Changes
For players experiencing the abnormal RAM usage and stuttering described by Nexon, the first practical step is to close The First Descendant, clear the removable files in %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\NVIDIA\DXCache, restart Windows, and relaunch the game.
Skip files that are in use, and expect that shader rebuilding may temporarily affect performance. Then compare the game’s behavior under similar conditions and note whether the original symptoms improve.
If the issue persists, check memory usage, document the circumstances, and follow Nexon’s latest official notices. Avoid treating unrelated tweaks or speculative explanations as confirmed solutions.
The key point is that Nexon has acknowledged a real problem in certain PC environments, but the underlying cause remains under investigation. The shader-cache cleanup is a sensible temporary step—not a guaranteed fix for every instance of The First Descendant PC stuttering.