Will Starfield be Playable on Steam Deck?

Bethesda's highly anticipated space epic, Starfield, is generating immense excitement as its release date approaches. As gamers eagerly await its arrival, there is one burning question on the minds of many: will Starfield be playable on the Steam Deck? The answer remains shrouded in mystery as Bethesda and Microsoft remain tight-lipped about the game's compatibility with Valve's powerful handheld.

Starfield's recent showcase at the Xbox event only added to the hype surrounding the game. While it has been confirmed that Starfield will be available on Steam, the question of its support on the Steam Deck still looms large. As a handheld PC running Linux, the Steam Deck theoretically has the potential to support any game compatible with Proton, opening the possibility of a mobile space adventure for players.

Potential Concerns for Starfield’s Playability on Steam Deck

There are some major concerns regarding the game's performance on the Steam Deck. Starfield is suspected to be heavily CPU-bound, leading to its locked 30FPS framerate on Xbox Series X and S. This restriction has caused discontent among fans who crave a smoother experience. The Steam Deck, equipped with a custom AMD chip named Van Gogh, might face similar challenges due to its hardware constraints. To ensure optimal performance, Bethesda may need to invest additional effort in fine-tuning the game for the unique architecture of the Steam Deck.

As things stand, it is plausible that Starfield could run on the Steam Deck, but players might encounter issues with inconsistent framerates, especially at the handheld's native resolution of 720p. There is also a possibility that the game may not be fully ready for play on the platform at its launch, as seen with certain titles in the past.

Despite the uncertainties, the potential compatibility of Starfield with the Steam Deck presents exciting opportunities for both Bethesda and Valve. The Steam Deck has already proven its capability to handle technically-intensive games, and the history of games verified for the platform bodes well for Starfield. If properly optimized, players could enjoy a pleasant gaming experience on Valve's handheld while exploring the vast procedurally-generated galaxy of Starfield.

As we eagerly await the release of Starfield on 6th September for PC and Xbox Series X/S, fans can only hope that Bethesda will provide clarity on its compatibility with the Steam Deck before launch. Whether it becomes available on the handheld or not, Starfield's grand scale and ambitious gameplay are sure to captivate players across various platforms, enticing many to consider making the leap from consoles to PCs for a smoother and more immersive experience.