Wooshy wuxia actioner Phantom Blade Zero is sharp enough on the Steam Machine, if blunted on the Steam Deck

Phantom Blade Zero, the Souls-inspired sword-fighting game developed by S-Game Studio, has garnered attention for its graphical effects and martial arts action. Despite initial concerns about performance on the Steam Machine and Steam Deck, the game appears to perform better on the Steam Machine compared to the latter.

Early reports indicated heavy glitching on the Linux-based Steam Deck, with the game failing to maintain a steady 30fps even with the Low preset and Ultra Performance upscaling. However, the Steam Machine proved more resilient, offering smoother gameplay with the Medium preset and Quality-level FSR, delivering 45-60fps in the tested areas.

The primary technical issue faced was not related to graphics or Linux-based SteamOS but rather a common bug with the Steam Controller. This issue, which left players immobilized during tutorials, could be resolved by remapping the Select button to emulate the touchpad of a PS5 controller.

Once this issue was addressed, the game proved to be playable on the Steam Machine. The Medium preset pairing with Quality-level FSR produces a satisfactory 45-60fps experience, while the High preset, though slightly prone to sub-40fps drops, remains playable without major bugs or stuttering.

While the game excels in terms of performance on the Steam Machine, there are a few settings adjustments that can be made to enhance the visuals. Disabling the Dynamic Resolution Quality and Super Resolution Output Scale adjustments can result in a less jarring appearance. Additionally, FSR upscaling, even when set to Native Resolution, may introduce minor roughness to certain edges. Nevertheless, the trade-off is worth it for an extra frame of gameplay.