Getting Avowed On Steam Deck

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Post on Feb 15, 2025

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Getting Avowed to Run Smoothly on Your Steam Deck

Avowed, Obsidian's highly anticipated first-person RPG, has captured the imagination of gamers everywhere. And naturally, many Steam Deck owners are eager to explore its immersive world on the go. But getting Avowed running smoothly on the Steam Deck requires a bit of tweaking. This guide will walk you through the process, helping you optimize your settings for the best possible handheld experience.

Before You Begin: Checking System Requirements

Before diving in, it's crucial to understand that Avowed, like most modern AAA titles, demands significant processing power. While the Steam Deck is a capable handheld, you might need to adjust your expectations and graphical settings to achieve a playable framerate. Ensure your Steam Deck's firmware is up-to-date. This ensures you have access to the latest performance optimizations.

Understanding Your Steam Deck's Limits

The Steam Deck's hardware, while impressive, isn't as powerful as a high-end desktop or gaming laptop. This means you won't be able to max out the graphics settings and expect a consistent 60 FPS. Be prepared to compromise on visual fidelity for a smoother gameplay experience.

Optimizing Avowed for Steam Deck: A Step-by-Step Guide

Here's how to get the best performance from Avowed on your Steam Deck:

1. In-Game Settings: Finding the Sweet Spot

Navigating Avowed's in-game graphics settings is key to a successful experience. Experiment with these settings:

• Resolution: Lowering the resolution (e.g., to 720p or even lower) will significantly improve performance. The difference in visual clarity might be subtle on the smaller Steam Deck screen.
• Graphics Preset: Start with the "Low" or "Medium" preset and gradually increase them until you find the balance between visual quality and acceptable framerate.
• V-Sync: Disabling V-Sync can improve framerate, but it might introduce screen tearing. Experiment to see what works best for you.
• Shadow Quality: Shadows are notoriously demanding. Reducing shadow quality or disabling them entirely can boost performance considerably.
• Anti-Aliasing: Lowering anti-aliasing settings will reduce jagged edges but can slightly affect visual fidelity.
• Texture Quality: High-resolution textures require significant processing power. Reduce this setting to improve performance.
• Ambient Occlusion: This setting adds realism but is resource-intensive. Consider disabling it or lowering its quality.
• Post-Processing Effects: These add visual flair, but they impact performance. Consider disabling or lowering the quality of these effects.

2. Steam Deck's Performance Overlays: Monitoring and Adjusting

Utilize the Steam Deck's built-in performance overlays. They allow you to monitor CPU and GPU usage, frame rate, and other key metrics in real-time. This helps you pinpoint performance bottlenecks and fine-tune your settings accordingly.

3. Proton Compatibility: Choosing the Right Version

Avowed relies on Proton, the compatibility layer that allows Windows games to run on SteamOS. Experiment with different Proton versions. Sometimes, an older or newer version might offer better performance. You can change the Proton version through the game's properties in your Steam library.

4. Power Management: Balancing Battery Life and Performance

Adjusting your Steam Deck's power settings can impact performance. Switching to "Performance" mode will prioritize performance over battery life. However, this will drain your battery faster.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Low Framerate: If you're still experiencing low framerates even after adjusting the settings, consider further reducing the resolution, graphics quality settings, or even lowering the in-game refresh rate.
• Game Crashes: If Avowed crashes frequently, try verifying the game's integrity through Steam. This ensures that all game files are correctly installed. You can also try reinstalling the game as a last resort.
• Audio Issues: Sound problems are sometimes related to driver issues. Ensure your Steam Deck's audio drivers are up-to-date.

Conclusion: Embracing the Handheld RPG Adventure

With a bit of patience and experimentation, you can enjoy Avowed on your Steam Deck. Remember, finding the optimal settings is a process of trial and error. The goal is to achieve a balance between acceptable performance and reasonable graphical fidelity. Happy gaming!