Valve finally lets Steam Deck users check a game's average FPS before buying it

While Valve already had a compatibility rating system for Steam Deck games, there was no way to check the average FPS a game delivers on the handheld. To make matters worse, the verification system isn't always accurate when it comes to performance, as some games marked as Verified may still run poorly, while certain Unsupported titles can run surprisingly well. However, that has now changed with the latest Steam update.

Valve has now introduced a new feature for Steam Deck owners that should make it easier for them to check how well a game runs before purchasing it. Starting today, users can now see the average framerate other users are getting in a specific game. And this isn’t limited to a handful of titles, as Valve has confirmed the average framerate data is already available for thousands of games. The company will also continue expanding the list as it collects more data from players. 

The average framerate data should be available for games that have already been tested for Steam Deck compatibility. To find out how much FPS you’ll get in the game, simply head over to the game’s Steam Store page, find the Steam Deck Compatibility section, and click on “Learn more.”

What’s interesting is that Valve isn’t using its own performance tests for this feature. Instead, the data comes directly from Steam Deck owners who previously agreed to share anonymous framerate information. On top of that, instead of just seeing a number, users can get a more detailed look at the game’s performance through a framerate histogram. 

In some cases, a game could have decent average framerate but may still suffer from occasional stuttering. This is where the framerate histogram comes in, as it can help users see whether a game consistently runs smoothly or frequently experiences performance drops. 

It’s worth keeping in mind that Valve is only using data from Steam Decks running at their default frame limits, which are 60 FPS for the LCD model and 90 FPS for the OLED model. On top of that, games need enough performance samples before their average framerate becomes visible, so less popular games might not show anything until more players contribute.