Fixing Controller Lag and Stuttering in Dying Light: The Beast

As soon as performance problems pop up in games, everyone jumps straight into optimisation mode, checking online for the best possible settings for maximum FPS and visuals. What a lot of people never check though, is the controller they are using which is quite often the cause of stuttering issues. It sounds silly, but it is a real thing and happens in lots of different games, so follow along as we show you how to quickly and easily fix this problem.

Do Controllers Really Cause Lag in Dying Light: The Beast?

It might sound stupid, but yes. What feels like a performance issue sometimes comes down to the way a controller communicates with your system. Outdated firmware, poor battery charge, unstable Bluetooth signals, or background apps eating resources are some of the most common reasons. All of which can be fixed quickly and easily.

Common Causes of Controller Stutter in Dying Light: The Beast

Several factors may trigger controller lag, but most can be resolved quickly. Work through this checklist:

• Outdated firmware on Xbox or PlayStation controllers
• Low battery levels on wireless devices
• Weak or unstable Bluetooth connections
• CPU or memory being drained by background software
• Conflicts caused by Steam Input settings

Once you've checked the basics, update your firmware and see if that solves the problem. If the game is a new release, you might have to wait for it to be patched but there's nothing you can do about that. It's just a wating game.

First Steps to Reduce Lag

Before making major adjustments, run through these quick checks:

• Fully charge the controller to prevent input delay or dropped signals
• Test the controller in a different game to confirm whether the problem is tied to Dying Light: The Beast
• Switch to a wired USB connection to bypass wireless interference
• Try another controller if you have one available for comparison

If none of these work, move on to targeted fixes.

Updating and Resetting Controllers

Xbox Wireless Controller

• Download and install the Xbox Accessories app from the Microsoft Store
• Connect the controller via USB
• Open the app and update the firmware if available
• Remove the controller from Windows devices, restart, then reconnect

PlayStation DualSense Controller

• Download Sony’s official DualSense Firmware Updater
• Install and run the updater tool
• Connect the controller with a USB-C cable
• Follow the update process and restart the controller before launching Dying Light: The Beast

Additional Fixes After Updating Firmware

Adjust Graphics and Game Settings

Don't max everything out! Start low and work your way up! Lower shadows, effects, and draw distance in the in-game settings. If your GPU supports FSR, DLSS, or XeSS, enabling one of these will improve smoothness and reduce perceived input delay.

Disable Steam Input for This Game

Steam Input sometimes conflict with certain titles. To disable it:

• Open your Steam Library.
• Right-click Dying Light: The Beast and select Properties.
• Go to the Controller tab.
• Choose Disable Steam Input from the dropdown menu.
• Relaunch the game and test responsiveness.

Enable Windows Game Mode

Game Mode usually runs by default, but it is worth double-checking.

• Open Windows Settings.
• Navigate to the Gaming section and select Game Mode.
• Make sure it is switched on.

Close Background Applications

Use Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to shut down unnecessary programs such as overlays, recording tools, or extra launchers. This frees system resources and helps maintain smooth controller input.

Try Lossless Scaling

While not directly tied to controller lag, Lossless Scaling is a small tool available on Steam that can dramatically reduce stutter on budget systems. It works especially well in Unreal Engine 5 games, which are often prone to performance hiccups.