diff --git a/Core/Libraries/Source/WWVegas/WW3D2/pointgr.cpp b/Core/Libraries/Source/WWVegas/WW3D2/pointgr.cpp
index bd7f2c9a84e..5ce77276110 100644
--- a/Core/Libraries/Source/WWVegas/WW3D2/pointgr.cpp
+++ b/Core/Libraries/Source/WWVegas/WW3D2/pointgr.cpp
@@ -926,8 +926,14 @@ void PointGroupClass::Render(RenderInfoClass &rinfo)
 	DX8Wrapper::Set_Shader(Shader);
 	DX8Wrapper::Set_Texture(0,Texture);
 
+	// TheSuperHackers @perf stephanmeesters 27/06/2026
 	// Enable sorting if the primitives are translucent and alpha testing is not enabled.
-	const bool sort = (Shader.Get_Dst_Blend_Func() != ShaderClass::DSTBLEND_ZERO) && (Shader.Get_Alpha_Test() == ShaderClass::ALPHATEST_DISABLE) && (WW3D::Is_Sorting_Enabled());
+	// However, do not apply sorting for ground-aligned (i.e. non-billboard) particles.
+	// This is for performance reasons and because ground-aligned particles do not generally benefit from back-to-front sorting.
+	const bool sort = Billboard &&
+	                  Shader.Get_Dst_Blend_Func() != ShaderClass::DSTBLEND_ZERO &&
+	                  Shader.Get_Alpha_Test() == ShaderClass::ALPHATEST_DISABLE &&
+	                  WW3D::Is_Sorting_Enabled();
 
 	IndexBufferClass *indexbuffer;
 	int	verticesperprimitive;/// lorenzen fixed