Quick answer: Unreal PCG runtime generation freezing gameplay for 500ms? Default PCG runs on game thread - enable async generation in volume settings.
Open-world streaming hits a chunk with PCG-generated foliage; player sees a freeze.
Enable async generation
PCG Volume > Async Generation. Generation runs on background thread; gameplay continues.
Or pre-generate
For static worlds, bake PCG at editor time. Runtime gets a finished mesh; no generation cost.
Stagger generation
Distance-based generation; far chunks queue, near generate. Spreads cost over time.
“Procedural generation is heavy. The threading model matters.”
If your game streams content, async-generation PCG is non-optional. Game-thread blocks are visible to players.