LibGDX Asset Loading Overhead in Low-Traffic Workloads

Background: The AssetManager’s background thread runs only while the internal task queue contains pending loads; it idles when the queue is empty. The framework does not impose a stricter idle state beyond queue emptiness, and the standard render‑update cycle is the only place where AssetManager.update() should be called.

1. Invoke AssetManager.update() inside the render() method (or any loop that runs only when the game is active).
2. Do not schedule AssetManager.update() with a separate timer or high‑frequency loop; this prevents the background thread from being woken needlessly.
3. Make sure no other LibGDX subsystem (e.g., InputProcessor, Physics) triggers asset loading during idle periods, as this can refill the queue.
4. After loading finishes, check the queue count with AssetManager.getTaskCount() or AssetManager.getLoadedAssets() to confirm the thread has entered a waiting state.

In a truly quiescent state, memory consumption is dominated by the loaded assets (textures, audio buffers) and the AssetManager’s reference map, typically a few megabytes, while the background thread stack uses only a few kilobytes.

If you currently call AssetManager.update() outside the render loop, please indicate whether a separate scheduler or timer is used; this detail decides if extra idling measures are needed.