Valve has introduced average framerate data for Steam Deck games, allowing players to see how titles perform on the handheld before purchasing or downloading them. The new feature uses anonymized performance data collected from Steam Deck owners who have opted in to sharing their gameplay statistics.
According to Valve, a majority of Steam Deck users have already agreed to share their framerate data. The feature currently covers thousands of games that have been tested for Steam Deck compatibility, including titles classified as Verified, Playable, or Unsupported. More games will be added as Valve collects enough performance samples.
Players can find the Steam Deck framerate data by visiting a game’s Steam Store page and selecting “Learn more” under the Steam Deck Compatibility section. The information is also available through the Steam Library for users running the Steam Client Beta.
Alongside the average FPS figure, Valve has added an expandable histogram showing the percentage of performance samples recorded at different framerates. This allows players to see how consistently a game runs rather than relying on a single average. Lower framerate samples can also help identify potential performance drops or stuttering.
Valve explained that the feature addresses a limitation of its existing Steam Deck Verified program. While the compatibility system uses standardized testing to determine whether a game works on the handheld, those ratings do not necessarily reflect every player’s expectations for performance.
For example, a game marked Unsupported might still offer acceptable performance for some players, while a Verified title could fall short of what others consider smooth gameplay.
To maintain consistency, Valve only includes performance data from Steam Deck devices using their default frame limits. That means 90 FPS for the Steam Deck OLED and 60 FPS for the original LCD model. The system does not account for custom graphics settings selected within individual games.
Valve also requires a minimum number of performance samples before displaying an average, preventing games with insufficient data from showing potentially misleading results.
Some performance histograms may show a noticeable gap between 90 FPS and 45 FPS. Valve says this behavior is caused by VSync, which synchronizes the game’s framerate with the display’s refresh rate to prevent screen tearing. A game capable of averaging around 75 FPS on a 90Hz display, for instance, may alternate between 90 FPS and 45 FPS.
Valve is also looking to expand the feature beyond Steam Deck. The company has started asking users of the Steam desktop client beta to opt in to anonymous framerate data collection, with a wider rollout planned.
Players can manage their participation by navigating to Steam Account Settings, selecting Data & Browsing, and finding the “Anonymous Game Framerate Data” option.
