The Valve Steam Deck console is now offering players more frame rate options to enhance performance while maintaining portability and enjoyment. The latest update includes additional frame rate settings, such as 10 and 20 FPS modes, alongside the existing 15, 30, and 60 FPS options.
While the Steam Deck provides the convenience of playing PC games on the go, its mobile nature does come with some compromises in game performance. Lowering the frame rate has always been a way to balance this, and now players have even more choices to optimize their gaming experience.
The November update, currently available in the Steam Deck beta client, introduces the new frame rate options for testing before it becomes an official system update.
These new options offer various combinations of frame rate and refresh rate, providing flexibility for players. For instance, if a player is using a 60 Hz monitor, opting for the 20 FPS option and tripling the frames will match the screen’s refresh rate, resulting in smoother gameplay.
Not only does this improve game performance, but it also reduces strain on the screen, leading to extended battery life. This means players can enjoy their chosen games for longer periods compared to previous settings. Given the Steam Deck’s battery drain during gameplay, this improvement can provide an additional half hour or even a full hour of entertainment.
However, both players and the console will require some adjustment time to adapt to the new frame rate. The lower frame rate may initially affect players’ visual experience and could potentially introduce new issues for the console. As this update is still in beta, occasional errors may occur.
All these frame rate combinations can be accessed through a slider in the Steam Deck’s Performance overlay or Performance settings. Users also have the option to customize their settings by going to Settings, then Display, and selecting Advanced.
To access this updated setting for the Steam Deck, users need to switch to the beta channel on their device. The official release date for this update on all devices is currently unknown.
Source: DOTESPORTS
