Steam Deck performance gets a reality check with Valve's new FPS data

Valve has started sharing anonymized frame rate data for Steam Deck games on the Steam Store, allowing players to see average and histogram data for the handheld device. This data can help players understand the performance of games on the Steam Deck, which has been a concern since the Steam Deck Verified program was launched in 2021. The data shows that some games that are listed as 'Verified' on the Steam Deck may not actually run well, while others that are listed as 'Unsupported' may run smoothly. For example, Assassin's Creed Syndicate, which is listed as 'Unsupported', has an average frame rate of 60 FPS on the Steam Deck OLED hardware. The data is collected from Steam players who opt-in and does not account for custom in-game settings or VSync/ frame rate limits. Valve notes that the data consolidates around relatively narrow ranges, making it a useful tool for players to make informed decisions about which games to play on their Steam Deck.