system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why some video games allow in game, real time graphics changes, and why other video games require a restart before applying the graphics changes.

I'm curious as to why this is the case. Please explain. Thanks.
gpt
Some changes technically require releasing and re-acquiring a resource from the OS, like resolution changes of the game window.  That means the game has to release then re-create all the resources associated with the first one, like the textures and vertex buffers.

Other changes require loading different assets, like high vs low resolution textures or models.  These shouldn't technically require restarting the program.  Likewise for many of the effects settings, like turning on or off SSAA, SSAO, DOF, etc..  That said, it still takes coding effort to add the ability to actually SWAP between different assets.  It's often easier to just assume the high-vs-low setting is fixed from the start of the game, and never code the ability to swap our textures and models.  Thus, you have to restart the game to get it to load the other set of assets.