Steam Deck now shows average frame rates for thousands of games

Valve has introduced a feature on the Steam Deck that displays average frame rates for thousands of games, aiming to provide a clearer picture of a game's performance for potential buyers. The data, obtained from anonymized figures provided by customers who opted in, is calculated from previously collected information and is now visible on the Steam store pages and the Steam Library for users with the Steam Client Beta.

Once a game is tested for Steam Deck compatibility, it can be classified as Verified, Playable, or Unsupported, with the average frame rate displayed under the Steam Deck Compatibility section. Additionally, a framerate histogram breaks down the percentage of data samples at each frame rate, offering insights into potential gameplay issues such as stuttering.

Valve confirmed that a majority of Steam Deck owners have already opted in to share their frame rate data. By providing average framerate data for each game, Valve hopes to help customers make more informed purchase and play decisions, as current ratings may not fully align with individual expectations. The company sees this feature as a stepping stone towards bringing frame rate data to more devices and has begun prompting users in the Steam desktop client's beta to share their anonymized frame data.

The feature is expected to become available to all Steam customers in the future. Despite being less powerful than some gaming devices, the Steam Deck comes in various hardware configurations that aid in stress-testing the feature before wider adoption in the PC hardware market. However, Valve's handheld line has reportedly seen a steep sales decline of around 80% following recent price hikes, while modders work on creating custom Steam Deck devices through software modifications.