How to turn on Switch Shader Compilation Mode in Marvel Rivals

While games continue to advance in terms of graphical fidelity, one thing most developers tend to ignore is optimization. Things like minimum system requirements, CPU and RAM usage, and the general support of different types of GPUs are something every gamer wants prioritized, but not every developer keeps in mind.

Fortunately, Marvel Rivals ^[1] seems to be slowly but surely making strides to help those players with lower-end PCs play the game comfortably. To turn switch shader compilation mode on in Marvel Rivals, open the launcher and enable the option from the bottom before launching the game.

So, if your PC is causing you problems, don't worry, as this definitive guide on the Marvel Rivals switch shader compilation mode has you covered.

How to turn on the switch shader compilation mode

Unlike other graphics and rendering settings, the Switch Shader Compilation Mode is enabled from the launcher instead of the in-game video settings. This makes sense since the mode compiles shaders before you start the game.

The process is straightforward: open the game launcher from any platform of choice (Epic, Steam, etc). Next, you will spot the Switch Shader Compilation Mode setting next to the Launch button. Check the box to toggle it on, and then run the game.

Struggling to win? Bad teammates?

Purchase a game with one of our PRO players.

One game

Average wait time <10 minutes

$4.00 $3.32 per game

Buy Now  - $3.32

Two games

Average wait time <10 minutes

$8.00 $3.00 per game

Buy Now  - $6.00

Three games

Average wait time <10 minutes

$12.00 $2.50 per game

Buy Now  - $7.50

Cancel

There was an error while processing your payment. Please try again later.

Cardholder's name

Email

Info

Your order will be assigned to account with this email address. If you do not have an account, it will be created for you.

Street Address

City

State

Postcode/Zipcode

Info

Estimated Competitor Price is the price our competitors would charge you for a similar boost.

Total Price:

Purchase Boost

Secure Credit & Debit Card Payments Processed by

Info

Using Stripe Inc. Payment Gateway allows us to provide our customers with an end-to-end encrypted, secure checkout experience. We will never store your card or personal data.

What is the switch shader compilation mode in Marvel Rivals?

Switch Shader Compilation Mode (SSCM) is a new experimental setting in Marvel Rivals that can smooth out the game performance. Since launch, players with mid-range PCs or setups with 16GB of RAM or less have reported stutters, crashes, and frame drops. Most of these issues come from how the game handles memory usage, causing hitches and lag during matches.

SSCM is a lifesaver for players struggling with stutters or crashes when an enemy peeks or during a crucial ultimate. The mode can help players stay focused on strategy without worrying about dying from a freeze, like aggressive Duelists who dive in the middle of a skirmish. 

The fully polished feature will level the playing field and give players on lower-end systems a fairer shot at ranked matches. Over time, more people can queue for ranked confidently, knowing their gameplay won't be sabotaged by performance. This will vastly improve the overall health of the Marvel Rivals competitive scene.

How does this improve performance in Marvel Rivals?

SSCM is the game’s way of getting ahead of mid-match stutters and crashes caused by shader compilation. Shaders are pieces of code that help your GPU display lighting, textures, and effects. If your system compiles those in real-time mid-match, it can cause severe frame drops, freezes, or even crashes, especially in systems with 16GB of RAM or less.

SSCM solves this by compiling shaders up front. Instead of waiting until something intense happens in-game, it processes them as soon as you launch the game after an update or graphics driver change. It reduces the strain on your system during gameplay and gives you a smoother experience.

A crucial improvement here is memory management. Without SSCM, shader compilation can spike memory usage mid-match, and on low-RAM systems, it can force your PC to offload to slower storage, leading to lag, freezes, and other issues. SSCM cuts that down and keeps your system steady.

The new shader compilation mode is a work in progress

That said, the new feature is experimental and not entirely seamless. A few textures or effects may appear strange at the start of a match. Some textures may not even render right away, or there’s a minor stutter when certain materials appear. But these usually clear up within a few frames and should not interfere with gameplay once you leave the spawn area.

If you are on a lower-end CPU (especially one with six threads or fewer), using SSCM alongside AMD’s FSR3 Frame Generation might cause more stuttering than usual. In that case, it is better to turn off FSR3 and let SSCM work alone. Hopefully, future updates will eventually iron these issues out permanently.

To summarize, there are a handful of things you must keep in mind that can potentially affect your gameplay when playing Marvel Rivals. After all, the mode is still in its experimental phase.

• The first is that, at the start of each new match, some materials may render abnormally for a few frames, though they’ll revert to their usual state in a couple of seconds
• The initial rendering of certain materials may lead to annoying FPS drops and lag as the game renders assets. The game should eventually stabilize after the asset renders
• Finally, on systems with six or fewer CPU threads, enabling both Switch Shader Compilation Mode and AMD FSR3 Frame Generation simultaneously might cause additional stuttering

References

1. [1] "Official Marvel Rivals website". www.marvelrivals.com. Retrieved April 19, 2025