The Steam store for all Steam Deck compatible games is getting average framerate metrics now. This is great for buyers as they can gauge how a game will run on their hardware before purchase. The average FPS is now accessible by clicking on the 'Learn more' button in the Steam Deck compatibility section of the game store.
Crowdsourced metrics help buyers gauge performance before purchase
These are crowdsourced statistics from Steam Deck users who have chosen to share their anonymous performance metrics. The average FPS is complemented by a frame rate histogram showing consistency and possible stuttering issues. This is a much needed feature for handheld gamers who require performance estimates.
These new performance metrics are for the default frame rate limits (60 FPS for LCD and 90 FPS for OLED). There are already thousands of games that include average FPS data. This will continue to grow as more data is collected from players.
We followed Steam Deck pretty closely and found similar real-world performance in a previous article back on Halloween. Despite the unsupported badge, this game still delivers 30 FPS. This is why the new stats are helpful. Players can now compare official average FPS to community reports and make more informed decisions.
The Steam Deck ecosystem is now more transparent thanks to these actual performance numbers. The histogram feature also adds more depth to the data by showing frame time consistency. This can be helpful in pinpointing possible stuttering issues that might not show up with average FPS alone.
The data gathering is fully dependent on the Steam Deck owner community to choose to share. This means the data will be accurate for the specific hardware configurations out there. The new feature is live right away for all compatible games on the store.
Now the Steam Deck compatibility section of the game store provides more detailed info about game performance. This is useful in avoiding games that don't quite offer a solid frame rate. We advise to check these stats before purchasing any new release.
The feature is free for everyone using Steam and with a compatible device. This makes the shopping experience much better for handheld PC gamers. Valve is always improving the platform based on user feedback and needs.
Source: NotebookCheck
Finally. Average FPS tells you nothing about stutter. The histogram is the only useful part here.
Does the histogram update in real time or is it a rolling window? I need to know before I buy.
It is crowdsourced data from owners who opt in. It reflects the default limits. 60 for LCD and 90 for OLED. You can compare official numbers to community reports now.
glad i dont have to guess anymore 😂