Key information
Valve has introduced a new system to help developers better understand how their titles perform on the Steam Deck. Starting October 1, creators gained access to frame rate data voluntarily shared by users, allowing them to see the percentage of sessions running at specific frame rates.
This data allows developers to observe if players are hitting the device's 60 or 90 fps caps or if they are manually lowering limits. By analyzing these trends, studios can adjust graphical settings to improve the experience, potentially refining dedicated handheld modes for demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077.
The system relies on opt-in data, which Valve notes represents a majority of users. However, the statistics are influenced by the differing refresh rates of LCD and OLED models and user-defined frame caps. Furthermore, this information currently applies only to already verified games rather than the verification process itself.
Valve describes this initiative as a starting point for future iteration. If successful, the company suggests that similar data collection could eventually extend to other handheld devices, provided there is sufficient user participation and hardware adoption.
