Running Windows on the Steam Deck May Impact Game Performance

The Steam Deck has been positively received since its launch less than a month ago. Since then, many units have reached customers, with many more yet to be shipped. One of the most marketed aspects of the handheld device was that it would essentially be a handheld PC. Users would be able to remove the built-in OS and install Window in its place. 

Valve is also releasing drivers for Windows 10, and gamers can opt for this OS instead of the Linux-based one that comes pre-installed on the console. However, those looking forward to this option may want to hold back as there are some issues regarding benchmarks. Test results indicate that games running on the Deck via Windows may suffer frame rate issues. 

Linus Tech Tips uploaded a video on YouTube a few days ago after putting the Steam Deck through a series of tests, comparing two devices. One Deck had SteamOS, as is the OG option, and the other was running a copy of Windows 10. Playing several modern games, the results showed that the Windows device made game performance worse, with a notable drop in FPS. 

This has been seen to vary between games. Elden Ring on the Steam Deck did not seem to take much of a hit, while the benchmarks show that games like Hitman 3 and Doom Eternal did show a significant drop when using Windows 10. 

In the test, the Hitman 3 went from 34 fps to a worrying 19 fps, while Doom Eternal went from 60 fps to 47 fps. There was also some stuttering seen in Doom Eternal, which is also visible in the video. Elden Ring is most likely optimized for the Steam Deck running Windows and hence did not see much of a drop in frames. 

It’s still relatively early, so Valve is likely to release some driver updates, which should hopefully sort out the performance issues. The Steam Deck is set to come to more countries later this year, so the developer must ensure that these problems are ironed out before hitting the global stage. 

About Valve Software

Valve Corporation, also known as Valve Software, is an American video game developer, publisher, and digital distribution company based in Bellevue, Washington. Valve is best known for the software distribution platform Steam, along with gaming franchises such as Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Portal, Day of Defeat, Team Fortress, Left 4 Dead, and Dota.