Knives Out on GameLoop PC — Setup, Settings, and Controls Guide
Knives Out is NetEase's 100-player battle royale with a 6×6 km map. It runs on GameLoop with some manual configuration since it is not a Tencent title. This guide covers installation, graphics settings, the sensitivity setup that translates from mobile, and the keybindings most PC players settle on.
Knives Out (荒野行動) is NetEase's large-map battle royale — 100 players, a 6-kilometre-wide map, and a pacing style that sits between PUBG Mobile's deliberate approach and Free Fire's faster tempo. It is one of the most popular battle royales in Japan and South Korea, and has a significant playerbase across Southeast Asia.
Since Knives Out is a NetEase game rather than a Tencent title, GameLoop does not have the same first-party optimization for it that it has for PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile. The game runs well once configured, but the defaults need more manual adjustment.
Installing Knives Out on GameLoop
Option A — GameLoop Game Center: Open GameLoop and search for "Knives Out" in the Game Center. In most Asian regions it appears directly. Install from there if available.
Option B — Google Play Store inside GameLoop:
- Open GameLoop and launch the Android environment
- Open the Play Store, sign into a Google account
- Search "Knives Out" (developer: NetEase Games) and install
- The game appears in My Games after the download completes
Option C — APK install: If the Play Store is unavailable in your region, download the APK from NetEase's official Knives Out site and drag it onto the GameLoop window.
Knives Out requires an account — you can use Facebook, Google, or a guest account. Guest accounts do not persist across device reinstalls, so use Google if you plan to play regularly.
GameLoop engine settings
Open GameLoop → gear icon (top-right) → Engine Settings.
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Mode | High Performance | Routes rendering to the dedicated GPU |
| Resolution | 1920×1080 | Knives Out's mobile render scales best from this base |
| DPI | 160 | Matches most Android device emulation defaults |
| CPU Priority | High | Prevents background process interference during the parachute drop phase |
| Frame Rate Limit | 60 fps | The game caps at 60 in most regions; matching prevents wasted render cycles |
| Network Mode | NAT or Bridge | Bridge can reduce latency hops for some routing setups |
Restart GameLoop completely after changing engine settings.
In-game graphics
Inside Knives Out, tap the menu → Settings → Graphics.
Frame rate: set to the highest available. Knives Out supports up to 60 fps in most builds. On unlocked regional versions, 90 fps is possible — match your GameLoop cap to whichever the game allows.
Graphics quality:
| PC hardware | Quality setting |
|---|---|
| Budget (4-core, integrated graphics) | Low |
| Mid-range (GTX 1060 / RX 580 class) | Medium |
| High-end (RTX 2060+ class) | High or Ultra |
Specific settings to adjust regardless of tier:
- Shadows: OFF. Knives Out renders shadows from all nearby objects and vehicles. The performance cost on medium hardware is high enough to cause frame drops during the parachute phase (100 players + all their shadows simultaneously). Disable unless you are on a genuinely high-end rig.
- Environmental effects: Low. This includes fog, weather particles, and ambient effects. The visual difference is minor; the frame rate difference is not.
- Anti-aliasing: ON at Low or Medium. Without it, character outlines at long range become jagged in ways that make distant enemies harder to spot.
Sensitivity
Knives Out's sensitivity sliders work differently from PUBG Mobile's — the values are not percentages of a maximum but direct multipliers. Start here:
| Mode | Starting value |
|---|---|
| General (no scope) | 20 |
| 2× scope | 15 |
| 4× scope | 10 |
| 8× scope | 6 |
| Free look (Alt-key) | 25 |
After 20-30 matches, adjust based on the following observations:
- Shots that consistently land 3-5 metres behind a moving target: raise General by 3
- Overshoot at mid-range in 2× scope: lower 2× by 2-3
- Sniper adjustments feel too coarse: lower 8× to 4-5
Knives Out's sensitivity values interact with the DPI you set in GameLoop's engine settings. If you change the DPI, re-calibrate sensitivity from the starting values.
Keybindings
Open the Smart Key panel inside GameLoop (the key icon at the top of the emulator window while the game is running). The bindings below are a functional starting point for keyboard and mouse.
Movement:
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Forward | W |
| Backward | S |
| Left | A |
| Right | D |
| Sprint | Left Shift |
| Jump | Space |
| Crouch | C |
| Prone | Z |
| Free look | Left Alt (hold) |
Combat:
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Fire | Left Mouse Button |
| ADS | Right Mouse Button |
| Reload | R |
| Melee | F |
| Throw grenade | G |
| Grenade cook (hold before throw) | Hold G |
| Switch weapons | 1 / 2 |
| Use consumable (bandage/medkit) | 4 or 5 |
| Scope magnification | Mouse Scroll Wheel |
Parachute and landing:
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Open parachute | Space (once visible) |
| Pull chute down for speed | W |
| Glide forward slowly | S |
| Drift | A / D |
During the drop phase, W + Left Shift in the GameLoop control scheme typically maps to "dive fast." Learn the parachute controls in a custom match before ranked — the 6 km map means landing distance matters more here than in shorter-map games.
Inventory:
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Open bag | Tab |
| Map | M |
| Vehicle enter/exit | F |
Knives Out PC-specific notes
The parachute drop render load: Knives Out renders all 100 parachutes simultaneously at the drop phase. This is the heaviest render moment in any given match — heavier than most firefights. If you see frame drops only during the drop, this is why. It resolves as players disperse. If it persists, lower environmental effects first.
Vehicle use: Knives Out has more vehicle types than most mobile battle royales. On GameLoop PC, vehicle controls bind to the keyboard. Driving with WASD is more precise than the on-screen D-pad, making vehicle rotation and road-sticking easier on PC. Map a dedicated "exit vehicle" key — F is the default in most setups.
Squad voice: Knives Out includes squad voice over GameLoop if your microphone is visible to the emulator. Check GameLoop's audio input settings before your first match. In-game voice is push-to-talk by default; map it to a comfortable side-key.
Spectator mode after death: When eliminated, you enter a spectator view of your killer. This is the same as on mobile. On GameLoop, free-look spectating is smoother with mouse input — it can be a useful way to study high-skill players' positioning while waiting for your squad to finish.
Common issues
Game closes with "invalid environment detected": NetEase runs an anti-cheat check during launch. This sometimes false-positives on GameLoop. If it triggers: (1) turn off any overlay software (GeForce Experience, Discord overlay, OBS), (2) restart GameLoop and relaunch the game, (3) if the issue persists, check whether your GameLoop version is current — outdated engine versions fail the environment check more often.
High latency despite good internet: Knives Out servers are primarily in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. From Europe or North America, the shortest path is typically the Japan or Singapore server region. Change server region inside the game (account settings → region, or the login screen server selector). A VPN to a closer geographic point can also help, though this carries account policy risk depending on the server's TOS.
Frame rate locked at 30 despite settings: Battery saver mode in the Android layer sometimes engages on long sessions. In GameLoop's engine settings, confirm "Performance Mode" is on High Performance (not Balanced or Eco). Also check Windows Power Plan — it should be "High Performance" in Control Panel, not "Balanced" or "Power saver."
Knives Out on GameLoop PC plays well once the sensitivity is calibrated and engine settings are tuned. The large map and 100-player lobby produce some of the heaviest render moments in any mobile battle royale — managing graphics settings at the high-load phases (drop, end-ring) is the main ongoing adjustment most PC players make.