Valve revealed a new feature that makes it much easier to check whether a game runs well on the Steam Deck. In addition to existing compatibility information, like controller support, the Steam Deck Compatibility section on Steam now shows the average frames per second that players are getting on the Steam Deck OLED.
Image: Valve
The feature is already live on the platform, and according to Valve, thousands of games already have frame rate data. You can find the information in the right column on a game’s Steam page by clicking the “Learn More” button under the Steam Deck Compatibility header. As for where this information comes from, Steam lets customers opt in to sharing certain data, which includes frame rates.
Image: Valve
Data nerds will be happy to hear that, in addition to showing a game’s average frame rate on the Steam Deck, you can view a more detailed histogram that breaks down the percentage of a play session spent at each frame rate. Average frame rate is important, but it doesn’t reveal whether a game is hitching or stuttering; this histogram does. Users can also sort how games are running on the original Steam Deck LCD.
As for why Steam is making the change, the blog post explains that while the current Steam Deck Verified compatibility rating is based on standardized test criteria, the threshold for an “acceptable” frame rate differs greatly from person to person. Some might be okay with a game averaging a choppy sub-30 FPS, while others may want a smooth 60 FPS or bust.
Beyond adding Steam Deck frame rate data, Valve intends to add this kind of information for “more devices than just Steam Deck.” While the company’s own Steam Machine is the most obvious candidate, they could also add similar information for custom-built PCs, perhaps showing the average frame rate for those with the same graphics card or similar builds. While this wouldn’t be as accurate as the Steam Deck info, where the underlying hardware is always the same, it would still be better than nothing.
