Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFirst, determine whether the problem is network lag or low FPS. In The Headliners, delayed actions, teleporting, and rubber-banding usually point to ping instability or the session host, while slideshow-like stutter and a falling FPS counter indicate a local performance problem. Press P during the incident to view ping, then compare it with your FPS and hardware usage. Some reported stutters—especially during large enemies or effects—may be game-side problems that PC settings cannot completely fix.
Check whether it is ping or FPS lag
| What you see | Most likely cause |
|---|---|
| Teleporting, delayed reactions, or players snapping backward | Latency, jitter, packet loss, or the host connection |
| A slideshow effect, input delay, or a visibly falling FPS counter | CPU, GPU, RAM, thermal, or shader/asset stutter |
| Everyone slows when a large enemy or effect appears | A game-side rendering or simulation spike |
| Only one player is affected | That player’s PC, connection, or route to the host |
| All non-host players are affected | Host/session networking or a game-side multiplayer issue |
Ping and FPS measure different things. High FPS does not rule out network lag, and low ping does not rule out rendering stutter. Press P when the issue is happening—not just in the lobby—and note whether ping rises, whether FPS falls, and whether one or every player is affected. The developer has specifically recommended using the in-game ping display, changing hosts, and testing public sessions. Developer discussion
1. Use Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi
Connect the affected PC directly to the router, temporarily disable Wi-Fi in Windows, restart the game, and repeat the same multiplayer test. Ethernet can remove wireless interference and inconsistent latency. The developer reported that switching from an unstable connection to Ethernet resolved lag in one case, but that does not prove every problem is caused by Wi-Fi.
If Ethernet is impossible, move closer to the router, use the 5 GHz or 6 GHz band where appropriate, and avoid playing through a weak repeater. If Ethernet changes nothing, continue to the next test rather than assuming you need a faster internet plan.
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2. Change the session host
Test the same scenario with Player A hosting, Player B hosting, a third player hosting, and—if possible—a public lobby.
- Only one host causes the problem: investigate that host’s upload stability, router, firewall, and location.
- Every host causes it: the issue is less likely to be one household’s connection.
- One player struggles regardless of host: investigate that player’s PC, network, firewall, or ISP route.
- Everyone stutters during the same encounter: suspect a game-side performance or simulation spike.
Host swapping is primarily a diagnostic test, not a guaranteed permanent fix. Reports describe hosts playing normally while clients experience delay, so this comparison is more useful than blaming the ISP immediately.
3. Stop competing network traffic
Pause Steam downloads, Windows updates, OneDrive or other cloud backups, torrents, and livestream uploads. Stop high-resolution streaming on the same connection, close a VPN temporarily, and reboot the router if the problem began suddenly. Then test with only the game running.
Raw download speed is not the whole story: upload saturation, bufferbloat, jitter, and packet loss can make a connection feel unstable. A phone hotspot can be a useful short diagnostic comparison, although it is not necessarily suitable for regular play. The Headliners lists a broadband connection but does not publish a specific bandwidth target, so do not upgrade your plan solely because the game lags. Steam system requirements
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4. Check firewall, NAT, and UPnP cautiously
Confirm that Steam and the game are allowed through Windows Firewall on private networks. In the router, test with UPnP enabled if it is currently disabled. This is community troubleshooting advice, not a confirmed official fix.
Do not put the PC in a DMZ or expose it directly to the internet just to solve lag. If UPnP behaves unreliably, turn it off again and follow your router manufacturer’s documented port-forwarding procedure. No definitive official The Headliners port list is established by the available evidence, so avoid copying arbitrary port numbers from random guides.
5. Lower graphics settings and cap FPS
This step addresses rendering stutter, not internet delay. Change settings in this order:
- Lower overall quality from High to Medium or Low.
- Reduce shadows, effects, post-processing, foliage, and view distance.
- If GPU usage is near 100%, lower resolution or render scale.
- Cap FPS at a stable value instead of allowing large swings.
- Restart the game after major changes and repeat the same location or encounter.
If Low settings produce the same stutter as High settings, graphics quality may not be the main bottleneck. Players have reported severe drops during particular monsters, maps, or effects that persisted across settings. Community performance report and update-related report
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6. Check CPU, GPU, RAM, temperatures, and background apps
Use Windows Task Manager or a trusted hardware monitor while the lag occurs. Check for:
- CPU saturation or one fully loaded CPU core;
- GPU usage near 100%;
- RAM pressure, paging, or unusually high memory use;
- thermal throttling;
- browser tabs, overlays, recording software, RGB utilities, or antivirus scans consuming resources.
Close nonessential applications and disable unnecessary overlays temporarily. Do not permanently disable antivirus or Windows security. If you are testing a possible security conflict, use a temporary exception and restore normal protection afterward. Steam notes that background applications and available RAM can affect performance, and meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee stable FPS. Steam performance guidance
The official minimum target is Windows 10 64-bit, 8 GB RAM, and a GTX 1060/RX 580-class GPU; the recommended target includes 16 GB RAM and an RTX 30-series/RX 6700 XT-class GPU. Some players nevertheless report stutters on hardware above the recommended specifications, so buying components should not be your first troubleshooting step. Official Steam listing
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If the issue started after a crash, failed update, or corrupted asset, verify the installation:
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- Open Steam and select Library.
- Right-click The Headliners and choose Properties.
- Open Installed Files.
- Select Verify integrity of game files.
Install the current stable driver from the official vendor and reboot afterward. Use NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel. If the problem began immediately after a driver update, testing the previous known-good driver may be more sensible than assuming the newest driver is best. Avoid third-party driver-updater utilities.
8. Test DirectX 11—and recognize a game-side bug
If the game offers a graphics API choice, test DirectX 11. The Steam requirements list DirectX 11, and players have reported that using it helped with some launch crashes, but the available evidence does not establish a universal launch command or prove that DX11 fixes multiplayer lag.
If the game still stutters only during a particular monster, map, or effect, and changing hosts, Ethernet, FPS caps, and graphics settings makes no difference, the problem may require a developer patch. Official announcements mention bug fixes, optimization, performance, and stability work, but that does not mean every reported issue has been resolved. Official announcements
Quick diagnosis matrix
| Pattern | What to test next |
|---|---|
| Ping rises or fluctuates; rubber-banding appears | Ethernet, competing traffic, host swapping, and router checks |
| FPS falls; CPU, GPU, RAM, or temperatures spike | Lower effects and shadows, cap FPS, close background apps, check thermals |
| Only clients suffer while the host is smooth | Change host and compare each player’s ping and connection |
| Everyone stutters during the same enemy or effect | Test Low settings and fewer players; treat persistent results as possible game-side behavior |
| The issue began after an update | Verify files, test drivers, and compare the current build with official announcements |
| The game crashes or will not launch | Verify files, update or roll back the GPU driver, and test DX11 if the build exposes that option |
When the problem probably is not fixable on your PC
Do not assume the game uses dedicated servers or that “server lag” has been proven. The available reports establish host/client behavior and player symptoms, but not the exact networking architecture or a universal server cause.
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Bottom line
Start with evidence: press P, watch FPS and hardware usage, try Ethernet, and swap hosts. Network symptoms usually respond to connection or host changes; FPS symptoms respond to graphics and system changes. If the same encounter causes every player to stutter despite stable ping and powerful hardware, document it and report it as a likely game-side problem rather than treating it as a guaranteed PC fault.
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