Lossless Scaling can make a Steam Deck game display about twice as many frames by generating intermediate frames—but it does not make the game render twice as fast. The best results come from a stable base frame rate, a 2× multiplier, and games where smoother motion matters more than the lowest possible input latency. SteamOS setup uses an unofficial community Linux layer through Decky, not the Windows application running natively.
What “double FPS” means
There are three different frame rates to keep in mind:
- Rendered FPS: Frames the game engine actually produces. Game logic and input response remain tied largely to this rate.
- Generated frames: Intermediate images synthesized by Lossless Scaling Frame Generation (LSFG).
- Displayed FPS: The apparent output cadence after generated frames are inserted.
For example, a game rendering steadily at 30 FPS may display at approximately 60 FPS with 2× generation. That can make camera motion look smoother, but it does not make the result equivalent to native 60 FPS: input response still feels closer to the 30-FPS base rate, and interpolation can introduce visual errors. Lossless Scaling describes LSFG as creating additional frames; its Fixed mode multiplies the original rate, while Adaptive mode targets a chosen output rate (Lossless Scaling on Steam).
What you need on SteamOS
- A Steam Deck running SteamOS and a game launched through Steam.
- The paid Lossless Scaling Steam app, which supplies the files used by the Linux setup.
- Decky Loader, the plugin framework accessible from the Steam Deck Quick Access menu.
- The Decky LSFG-VK plugin, which installs the community Linux Vulkan layer.
- A compatible game and enough spare GPU capacity to run frame generation without destabilizing the game’s base rate.
Support caveat: Lossless Scaling identifies Linux LSFG as a community-driven port. Decky LSFG-VK is an unofficial project and is not supported by the Lossless Scaling developers or the lsfg-vk creator. SteamOS updates may affect compatibility; use the current instructions in the plugin README rather than assuming older setup steps still apply.
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- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display with premium anti-glare etched glass, 7.4" Diagonal display size up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay (content-dependent)
- Carrying case with removable liner
Install Lossless Scaling and Decky Loader
- In Steam on the Deck, purchase and install Lossless Scaling. The plugin uses its installed files; you do not need to keep the app open in the foreground.
- Switch to Desktop Mode and download the installer from the official Decky website.
- Run the downloaded installer. If the browser does not open it, locate the file in Dolphin and launch it there.
- Return to Gaming Mode. Decky should be accessible from the Quick Access menu.
Decky’s official site is the place to get the current installer; its instructions and SteamOS behavior can change over time.
Install the LSFG-VK plugin
Download the current decky-lsfg-vk.zip from the plugin repository’s Releases tab. In Gaming Mode, use the workflow specified in its README:
- Open Decky, then open Decky settings.
- Enable Developer Mode.
- Open the Developer tab and select Install Plugin from Zip.
- Choose
decky-lsfg-vk.zip. - Open the new LSFG-VK entry and select Install lsfg-vk. Confirm that the plugin detects the Lossless Scaling installation.
The plugin installs the lsfg-vk Vulkan layer and creates configuration files in the user’s home directory. Exact implementation details can change with updates, so follow the plugin’s current README if the interface differs.
Rank #2
- International (UK) Version
- 7.4” diagonal, HDR OLED, 1280 x 800 x RGB, up to 90Hz Refresh rate, High performance touch, <0.1 ms Response time, 1,000 nits peak brightness (HDR), 600 nits (SDR)
- SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based)
- 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels), microSD UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC
- 6 nm AMD APU, CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32
Add the launch option to a game
The plugin README specifies a per-game launch option. In Gaming Mode, open the game’s Steam page, select the gear icon, choose Properties, and enter the following in General → Launch Options:
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Close Properties and launch the game. If it will not start, remove this launch option first and test the normal launch path before reinstalling anything. The README also offers a button to copy the command (Decky LSFG-VK instructions).
Start with conservative settings
- Multiplier: Start at 2×. The plugin also offers 3× and 4×, but higher multipliers are not automatic upgrades.
- Performance Mode: Turn it on for a lighter processing model.
- Flow Scale: Begin at the plugin’s default or a low setting. The plugin describes lower Flow Scale as favoring performance and higher values as favoring quality; adjust only after checking the image.
- Refresh rate: Choose an output target the display can use, commonly 60 Hz on the built-in Deck display.
- Frame pacing: Stabilize the game and use one coherent frame-cap strategy. Stacking multiple limiters can create uneven pacing.
- HDR: Leave it off unless the game and display path actually require it.
Lossless Scaling says free GPU resources are preferable because frame generation can reduce the game’s original frame rate when the system is already under load (Steam listing). Reduce resolution or graphics settings first if necessary to make the base rate consistent.
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- Operating System: SteamOS 3.0
Choose a stable base frame rate first
Do not enable frame generation until the game is already stable at its intended base rate. These are practical examples, not universal cutoffs:
- Stable 30 FPS → about 60 displayed: Often worth testing in slower single-player games if pacing is consistent.
- Stable 40 FPS → about 80 displayed: Potentially useful when the selected refresh target can take advantage of the output.
- 20 FPS → about 40 displayed: Usually still feels like a 20-FPS game in input response and simulation.
- Frequent drops into the teens or unstable 15–25 FPS: Generation is unlikely to make the experience genuinely pleasant.
- Stable native 60 FPS: Usually skip LSFG; native frames generally mean lower latency and no interpolation artifacts.
Community guidance likewise emphasizes a stable base rate, but the useful threshold depends on the title, display, and player (ARVRTips’ Steam Deck overview).
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Test whether it helps in your game
- Choose a repeatable scene with camera movement, traversal, combat, and a UI-heavy moment if possible.
- With LSFG off, check whether the base rate is stable and note how responsive the controls feel.
- Enable 2× with Performance Mode and test the same scene. Check displayed cadence, camera motion, UI clarity, ghosting, and input feel—not just the FPS counter.
- If artifacts or performance loss appear, lower Flow Scale or keep the multiplier at 2×; compare again.
- Disable LSFG and replay the scene to judge whether the smoother motion is worth the latency and image trade-offs.
This comparison is more useful than judging a single screenshot or an output-FPS counter alone.
Rank #4
- Valve is entering the gaming console marketplace with the new Steam Deck, a console geared towards PC gamers. The Steam Deck can be docked to a monitor, and used as a PC, or docked to a TV.
- Players can play a huge variety of games at any time with the comfort of a console and the freedom of a PC. Not anti-glare screen.
- Like the name suggests, the Steam Deck will include upgraded 1TB storage, and will include a carrying case. A micro SD slot will also enable expanded storage.
- Valve partnered with AMD to create a specialized APU optimized for handheld gaming, and Valve says the chip will deliver performance to run AAA gaming titles.
- The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
When LSFG is a good fit—and when to skip it
Good candidates
- Single-player, turn-based, exploratory, or slower-paced games where smooth camera movement matters more than minimum latency.
- Older games and some emulators, as well as games without built-in frame generation.
- GPU-limited games with consistent pacing and spare GPU headroom.
- Games whose visual style makes occasional interpolation errors less distracting.
Poor candidates
- Competitive shooters, rhythm games, fighting games, and precision platformers, where added latency can be costly.
- Games with severe CPU bottlenecks, unstable pacing, or frequent frame-rate collapses.
- Fast scenes with particles, foliage, transparency, rapid camera pans, or small UI text that reveal warped or ghosted frames.
- Games already running smoothly at the target native frame rate.
Lossless Scaling says compatibility covers most games, not every game. Its Steam listing says online-game anti-cheat compatibility is based on community findings and cannot be guaranteed; use discretion with online titles (Steam listing).
Fix common problems
Nothing changes when the game launches
- Verify Lossless Scaling is installed through Steam and lsfg-vk installed successfully in the Decky plugin.
- Check the game’s Launch Options for the exact command
~/lsfg %command%, then restart the game. - Check whether the plugin detects the Lossless Scaling DLL.
- Try Performance Mode, reduce the multiplier, and confirm the game uses a compatible presentation mode.
- Update Decky and the plugin, then consult the current plugin README.
The game will not launch
Remove ~/lsfg %command% from that game’s Launch Options and launch normally. If the game works, confirm the plugin is functioning before adding the option again.
The image looks watery, warped, or ghosted
- Use 2× rather than a higher multiplier, lower Flow Scale, and enable Performance Mode.
- Compare static scenes, traversal, combat, and UI-heavy scenes; some motion patterns expose errors more than others.
- Try a different title. Community reports describe watery effects, artifacts near the bottom of the image, and poor results when the true base rate is too low; these are user reports, not controlled tests (community report).
The game feels sluggish or the base rate falls
- Turn LSFG off and compare control response at the same base rate; avoid it in latency-sensitive games.
- Enable Performance Mode, lower Flow Scale or the multiplier, and reduce game resolution or graphics settings.
- Check whether another overlay, limiter, or plugin is consuming GPU time.
- If the game cannot hold a stable base rate with LSFG active, disable it.
SteamOS or Decky updates break the setup
Remove the launch option to restore the game’s normal launch path. Then check the current Decky and plugin instructions before reinstalling or changing files.
Alternatives to frame generation
- Use in-game FSR or another scaler: When available, it can improve native frame rate without interpolation and is usually simpler to configure.
- Lower resolution or graphics settings: A direct way to improve native performance, with an image-quality trade-off.
- Use built-in game frame generation: Where available, the game may integrate it with its rendering pipeline and motion data.
- Choose not to buy LS: If a game already reaches its target natively or you need minimal latency, the extra software and setup may not be worthwhile.
Running Windows on the Deck and using the native Windows Lossless Scaling application is a separate operating-system setup; it is not required for the SteamOS route described here.
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