The Steam Deck is still one hell of a PC handheld, even if it’s starting to show its age and struggle with more powerful games. It’s gotten to a point where fans have had to make their games run at 30 FPS, which has led to plenty of complaints and requests for a successor.
While 60 FPS is great for games, Steam Deck users need to stop acting like 30 FPS is some unplayable state of gaming. Playing games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth on a handheld is great, even if they are at 30 FPS. As more games rise in power, fans will have to get used to this framerate, and that’s fine.
Granted, not all Deck owners feel this way about games that run in 30 FPS. Some gamers move to that framerate in order to save battery power, or because the game doesn’t require precise movement. Turn-based games like Marvel’s Midnight Suns and Persona 5 Royal are great examples of this, as they can be played at 30 FPS with no issue whatsoever.
When playing Steam Deck games that require more precise movement and timing, this can be an issue. Multiplayer games like Marvel Rivals should be at 60 FPS, since it puts everyone at an equal level when playing against each other. Fighting games are also better at 60 FPS, since they need precise button presses in order to get proper combos out.
It’s understandable how fans who came from the PC and console generation wanted more when they migrated to Valve’s powerful handheld. Playing games at full settings on this console can feel surreal, especially when compared to the Nintendo Switch. Fans who didn’t like Nintendo’s hybrid console preferred Valve’s machine for that additional power, alongside having access to plenty of games.
But now that the Switch 2 can play certain games better than on Steam Deck and PS5, it’s easy to see why fans want change. Personally, we don’t think Valve should be rushed when making their next console, given all of the goodwill they got with this handheld. The second Steam Deck should be made with plenty of time and care, so fans need to bite the bullet for now.
Not every game can run at 60 FPS, so fans should just accept that. This doesn’t make the Steam Deck any less powerful, especially since there are games being released that are capped at this framerate. So, calm down, put your game at 30 FPS, and simply play your handheld console.