Star Wars Outlaws launches on Steam Deck, but it does not run well. SteamDB’s compatibility test, recorded on August 20, 2026, says the game can run on SteamOS with Proton Experimental yet cannot be configured to run well on the Deck. SteamDeckHQ’s hands-on testing reported performance in the mid-20s FPS, with drops below 20 FPS, and rated the experience 1/5. If a stable 30 FPS matters to you, do not buy the Deck version expecting a good native experience.
What “runs on Steam Deck” means for Star Wars Outlaws
There are two different questions behind “does it run?” A game may launch, accept input and reach gameplay while still delivering uneven frame pacing, poor image quality or an unacceptably low frame rate. Outlaws falls into that gap.
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SteamDB records a successful SteamOS launch and recommends Proton Experimental, but its compatibility record explicitly says the graphics settings cannot be configured to make the game run well on Steam Deck. That is a launchability result, not a performance endorsement.
SteamDeckHQ reached the same practical conclusion in its January 9, 2025 review. Oliver Stogden wrote: “The game does not perform acceptably on the Steam Deck regardless of graphical settings.” The review gave the Deck experience 1/5.
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Expected Steam Deck performance
| Evidence | Date | What it reports |
|---|---|---|
| SteamDeckHQ hands-on review | January 9, 2025 | Performance in the mid-20s FPS, with occasional drops below 20 FPS, including during moments with little happening on screen; Deck score 1/5. |
| SteamDB compatibility record | Tested August 20, 2026 | Runs on SteamOS; Proton Experimental recommended; graphics settings cannot be configured to run well on Steam Deck. |
| Ubisoft minimum PC specification | 2024 specification | 1080p at 30 FPS on Low with the upscaler set to Quality, using a much stronger Windows PC baseline. |
Those figures should not be read as a stable 24–26 FPS lock. “Mid-20s” describes the reported range, while the sub-20 FPS drops explain why movement and camera control can feel uneven. A frame-rate counter may show numbers near 30 in a quiet area, but that does not establish a consistent 30 FPS during traversal, combat or streaming.
Why the Deck struggles with the game
Ray tracing remains a major constraint
SteamDeckHQ attributed a significant part of the poor result to enforced ray tracing. Lowering other options did not make the game acceptable in its testing. Ray tracing increases the rendering workload before the Deck’s limited performance headroom can be used for resolution or frame-rate improvements.
The official minimum target is a desktop baseline
Ubisoft’s published minimum is not a Steam Deck promise. It targets Windows 10 or Windows 11 with DirectX 12, a GTX 1660 or Radeon RX 5600 XT-class graphics card, 16 GB of dual-channel memory and an SSD. The stated outcome is 1080p/30 FPS on Low with the upscaler set to Quality.
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| Requirement | Ubisoft’s stated minimum PC target | Why it matters on Deck |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system and API | Windows 10/11 and DirectX 12 | This describes the tested desktop environment, not SteamOS compatibility. |
| Graphics processor | GTX 1660 or RX 5600 XT class | It is a substantially stronger desktop-GPU baseline than the hardware the Deck is designed around. |
| Memory | 16 GB dual-channel RAM | The specification assumes that capacity and memory configuration. |
| Storage | SSD with 65 GB available | Fast storage helps installation and asset streaming, but it cannot remove the rendering bottleneck. |
| Target output | 1080p/30 FPS, Low preset, Quality upscaler | This target is for the listed PC configuration; it should not be applied to the Deck. |
Can you get a stable 30 FPS?
There is no evidence that the Deck can sustain a dependable 30 FPS in Outlaws. The available hands-on result is in the mid-20s with drops below 20, and SteamDB says no graphics configuration makes it run well. A lower resolution, aggressive upscaling and reduced effects can decrease image quality, but SteamDeckHQ reported that the game remained unacceptable regardless of the graphical settings used.
A 30 FPS cap cannot create frames the hardware is not producing. It can only prevent the frame-time swings between higher and lower values from being displayed as an unstable target. For this game, a 20 FPS cap is the more realistic damage-control option if you already own it; it is not a recommendation to purchase the Deck version.
Settings to try if you already own Outlaws
These settings are intended to make an existing installation less erratic. They are not an evidence-backed preset for a good experience.
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- Use the Low preset. In the game’s graphics options, select the lowest available preset before changing individual options. This gives the renderer its greatest available performance margin.
- Choose the game’s most aggressive available upscaler mode. The image will be softer, but reducing the internal render workload is preferable to leaving a quality-focused mode enabled on the Deck.
- Keep ray tracing disabled if the menu allows it. SteamDeckHQ identified ray tracing as a major constraint. If an effect is forced by the game, lowering unrelated settings will not remove that cost.
- Set a 20 FPS limit in SteamOS. Use the SteamOS performance overlay’s frame-rate limiter. A 20 FPS ceiling is damage control for pacing, not proof that the game reaches a playable 30 FPS.
- Use Proton Experimental. In Steam, open the game’s Properties, select Compatibility, enable the option to force a compatibility tool, and choose Proton Experimental. SteamDB lists it as the recommended runtime.
- Restart after changing the runtime. This helps ensure the selected Proton version is actually used. Runtime changes may affect launch or controller behavior, but SteamDB’s record does not say they solve the Deck’s graphics-performance limitation.
Expect compromises even after these changes: soft upscaled imagery, sub-30-FPS motion and possible drops below 20 FPS. If those compromises are unacceptable, the correct fix is a different way to play rather than another round of tuning.
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Proton Experimental is recommended because it can provide the most suitable compatibility path for launching the Steam version and handling input. SteamDB also notes launcher and controller interaction caveats. A different Proton runtime may help if you encounter a launch or input problem, but the compatibility record still says the graphics configuration cannot run well on Deck.
Treat runtime selection as troubleshooting for compatibility, not as a performance upgrade. It does not change the game’s ray-tracing workload or turn the Deck into the desktop GPU specified by Ubisoft.
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What changed after launch?
Ubisoft’s Title Update 1.5.1 included a 3.30 GB Steam build identified as version 1.0.5.1, support for NVIDIA 50-series hardware and DLSS 4 changes for PC. Those notes do not identify a Steam Deck performance fix. You should therefore avoid claims that a patch made Outlaws Deck-friendly or that updating alone will deliver 30 FPS.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Storage requirements and microSD cards
Ubisoft lists 65 GB of required SSD space. A 1 TB microSD card can be a sensible capacity accessory if your Deck needs room for the installation and other games, but additional storage does not increase FPS, remove ray tracing or improve the Deck’s rendering capability.
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Because the published requirement specifies an SSD, check where you intend to install the game and leave additional room for updates. Capacity planning solves an installation problem; it does not solve the performance problem.
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Should you buy it on Steam or use Ubisoft Connect?
Neither storefront changes the underlying Deck performance. The Steam version runs through SteamOS and Proton, while SteamDB’s record warns that launcher and controller interactions can require attention. Buying through Steam does not make the game’s GPU workload lighter. If you already own it through Ubisoft Connect, changing storefronts solely for FPS is not justified by the available evidence.
Choose the version that fits your existing library, refund terms and preferred launcher. Make the performance decision separately: a native Deck purchase is a poor choice if your requirement is stable 30 FPS.
Better ways to play Outlaws
| Option | Performance outlook | Image quality | Convenience and friction | What the evidence establishes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Deck | Mid-20s FPS reported, with drops below 20; no reliable 30 FPS configuration. | Requires aggressive upscaling and reduced settings for damage control. | Portable, but Proton, launcher and controller caveats may occur. | Runs on SteamOS, yet SteamDB says it cannot be configured to run well. |
| More powerful Windows PC | Can target Ubisoft’s published 1080p/30 Low baseline when it meets the listed minimum hardware. | Can use the Quality upscaler setting from that specification. | Desktop setup and Windows/DirectX 12 requirements apply. | Ubisoft’s minimum target is defined for this class of system, not Deck. |
| Console | A preferable route when you want a consistent experience without Deck tuning. | Depends on the console’s mode and output settings. | Usually less launcher configuration than a SteamOS installation. | The cited evidence supports a more powerful platform in general, but does not provide console-specific frame-rate measurements. |
| Cloud streaming | May avoid the Deck’s local GPU limit. | Depends on stream quality and connection conditions. | Requires a suitable internet connection and a service that carries the game. | No specific provider catalog or performance result is established here. |
The practical choice is straightforward: use a more powerful PC, a console or a suitable cloud-streaming service when consistent performance matters. Keep the Deck version for users who accept a heavily compromised frame rate and want to experiment with portable play.
Common expectations to avoid
- “It launches, so it must be playable.” Launch success and good frame pacing are separate outcomes.
- “Lowering every setting guarantees 30 FPS.” SteamDeckHQ found the result unacceptable regardless of graphical settings.
- “A larger microSD card will help performance.” It adds capacity only.
- “A new patch made the Deck version fixed.” Title Update 1.5.1’s cited notes do not claim a Steam Deck remedy.
- “Proton Experimental is a performance mode.” It is the recommended compatibility runtime; it cannot replace the desktop GPU baseline.
Bottom line for prospective buyers
Star Wars Outlaws is technically launchable on Steam Deck, but the documented experience is not good: mid-20s FPS, drops below 20 FPS, severe compromises from ray tracing and no settings combination identified as reliably good. Use Low, aggressive upscaling and a 20 FPS cap only as damage control for an existing copy. If stable 30 FPS is your threshold, play on hardware that meets or exceeds Ubisoft’s published desktop baseline instead.
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