PC Gamer asks readers to pick the worst graphical effect: motion blur vs lens flare

GG Brief Editorial Desk · AI-assisted, source attributed

PC Gamer published a reader poll by Jacob Ridley on 24 September 2026 asking users to choose whether motion blur or lens flare is the worst graphical effect in games. The article frames the vote as a knockout-format bracket that pairs effects head-to-head across multiple rounds. It notes prior coverage of effects including chromatic aberration and bloom and includes an image credited to Crytek and CD Projekt Red. The page discloses that purchases through links may earn an affiliate commission and invites readers to "join the conversation."

• What happened: PC Gamer published a piece by Jacob Ridley on 24 September 2026 asking readers to decide whether motion blur or lens flare is the worst graphical effect in games.
• Why it matters: The article presents the vote as part of an ongoing discussion about graphical effects, noting past coverage of motion blur, chromatic aberration, and bloom.
• Context: Ridley describes the poll as a knockout-format bracket with paired rounds that progress toward semis and later stages, calling it a "final reckoning."
• What next: The article invites reader participation with a "Join the conversation" prompt but does not specify dates or a schedule for the bracket's rounds.