Starfield on Steam Deck: Unveiling the Ultimate Gaming Experience!

The content for Fall 2023 is packed with highly anticipated releases spanning various genres, including sidescrolling platformers and third-person adventures. Bethesda's long-awaited Starfield, set to debut in the first week of September, is leading the charge and generating significant buzz. This space epic, helmed by Todd Howard and his team, has captivated discussions since its announcement, mainly due to its ambitious scale and procedurally-generated galaxy. As the release date draws near, gamers are eagerly anticipating the chance to experience it firsthand.

Starfield represents a significant milestone for Bethesda Game Studios, as it marks the studio's first action-RPG release following its acquisition by Microsoft. While this news has thrilled Xbox fans, it has left PC owners with a few unanswered questions. One burning query is whether Starfield will be compatible with the Steam Deck, Valve's impressive handheld device that has proven its ability to handle technically demanding games on Steam. Given Starfield's high level of ambition, it remains uncertain whether the portable PC will support this highly anticipated title.

Games That Work on Steam Deck Explained

The Steam Deck sets itself apart from other gaming consoles, particularly the Nintendo Switch, due to its extensive functionality. While it offers a diverse range of games similar to the Switch, what truly distinguishes the Steam Deck is the exceptional quality of these games. Meticulously crafted titles like Elden Ring and intense fighting games such as Street Fighter 6 run flawlessly on the Steam Deck, providing an experience on par with consoles or top-of-the-line gaming PCs.

When it comes to game compatibility, the Steam Deck boasts an impressive track record. The majority of AAA games available on Steam are "Deck Verified", ensuring smooth performance and overall playability on the system. For the few games that are not yet verified, they remain "Deck Playable", indicating that Valve has either not completed the verification process or encountered minor obstacles that prevent official verification. With Valve's successful history of verifying games for the Steam Deck, Starfield can potentially benefit from this same assurance.

Starfield Should Run On Steam Deck Just Fine

The future of Starfield on the Steam Deck is currently uncertain. However, considering the other verified games for the handheld, it is likely that Starfield will run just as well as any other high-budget AAA game. It has already been confirmed that the console version of Starfield will be locked at 30 fps, and the Steam Deck is more than capable of consistently achieving this frame rate. Additionally, the fact that games with procedurally-generated worlds, such as No Man's Sky, are verified for the Steam Deck is a positive indication for Starfield. As long as the PC version of Starfield is well optimized, players should have an enjoyable experience on Valve's handheld device.

In the midst of numerous new releases in the fall of 2023, Starfield has the advantage of being one of the first to launch during that period. Although it will have a more limited release across platforms due to its exclusivity to Xbox and PC, the Steam Deck could potentially be a surprising opportunity for the Bethesda title. Even over a year after its launch, many gamers are still exploring the possibilities of the Steam Deck, and the prospect of playing a game as vast as Starfield is a major factor contributing to the excitement surrounding the system. Hopefully, upon its release, Starfield will fulfill gamers' yearning to venture into the stars without much delay.

Starfield releases September 6 on PC and Xbox Series X/S.