New SteamOS Features Include FPS Estimates and Steam Deck Performance Boosts

A new update to SteamOS brings many changes to the platform. These include a new beta feature for Steam Deck, information on how Valve uses frame rate data, and performance enhancements for a recently released big game. We can now use a new beta feature on the Steam Deck to manage downloads across devices. You may now control downloads on another PC directly from the Steam Deck, and the other way around.

We can wake up the Steam Deck, start downloads, and change the download queue from a distance if it is plugged in and in sleep mode. A chosen game is given priority instead of having to wait for long patch updates. When you're outside with the Steam Deck, you can also start downloading on a PC so that everything is ready when you get home.

You can switch between available devices by hitting Y in the download menu. For this feature to work, all linked systems must be running the right beta version. It is harder to do this on a PC platform than on a console since the hardware and software are different. But the advancement shows that SteamOS's features are getting better all the time.

We've seen regular updates that have made SteamOS more stable and added new functionality.

New upgrades have improved performance, included new graphics drivers, updated the user interface, and made system-level improvements. We are also witnessing changes in the controller. By holding down the controller's power button, you can open a new power menu that lets you choose sleep mode, restart, shut down, or see a guide with button combinations.

This tutorial helps keep things consistent without having to unplug controllers, since control schemes differ across devices. We are getting closer to a better experience with our operating systems. The changes show that the system is preparing for new hardware releases by becoming more stable and adding features over time.

SteamOS included a function that lets systems gather data on how well their hardware is performing while playing games, such as average FPS, and send it to the cloud. Valve is using information to show estimated performance indicators on the sites of its stores. The system can compare hardware with similar setups and show the expected average fps for a game.

We think this will give us a basic idea of how well things are working. Most people want to get the fps without sacrificing picture quality too much. Because of this, aggregated statistics should show a range of practical performance. This approach helps people make smart choices about what to buy.

We don't have to rely on minimum or suggested specs; we can look at how well similar hardware solutions perform in the real world. This could change how people buy things. If performance data shows poor results, users might decide to wait to buy until patches stabilize the game. 

This kind of openness may not be what publishers want.

We also have news on Death Stranding 2 on the Steam Deck. At first, the game was played at less than 20 fps, making it hard to play even with handheld controls. A fresh patch makes things run a lot better. During most open-world gameplay, the game now runs at a stable 30 fps. Still, it drops frames during particularly demanding sequences.

We may now play the game on the Steam Deck. But because of its movie-like style and long play sessions, it might be best for systems with more power. The first game had more freedom because of its setup, but the second game has a more consistent story. The visuals are still usable on handheld devices, even at low settings.

We think that more fixes will make things even better. Based on historical performance updates, further tuning may make the 30 fps experience more stable across all situations. We observe a steady push to make both software and games work better together. SteamOS keeps becoming better with useful new features, and developers are attempting to make it work better on more types of hardware.