It’s safe to say that DOOM: The Dark Ages was far from playable on Steam Deck back when it launched (at least by many peoples’s standards). The game is pretty demanding, and despite the handheld technically running the latest DOOM, the performance was not pretty. We recommended using a cloud gaming service like GeForce Now for slaying demons in the dark ages on the go; it was one of the games we tested on the native Steam Deck GFN app earlier this year.

id software was made some much-needed improvements to DOOM: The Dark Ages for handheld gamers. Widespread optimizations are here, whether you’re gaming on the Steam Deck or another handheld such as the ROG Ally, Legion Go, or MSI Claw and their various renditions. Update 2.2 arrived on October 15 and introduces better performance for handhelds.

DOOM: The Dark Ages update 2.2 patch notes for handheld gamers

First launching the game on a handheld will now detect your device and automatically set the most optimal settings. This is one reasons why the game has now been verified for Steam Deck. Don’t expect 2.2 to be a miracle for performance – there are definitely still compromises – but the game is rating for ~30 FPS at 720p on Valve’s popular handheld.

Handheld Setting Autodetection

• On first launch using a handheld PC device, the game will autodetect the optimal settings. Players may further customize the settings based on personal preferences 
• Settings are stored per device, allowing players to customize their experience per individual device 

Handheld Performance

• Optimized general performance, VFX and SFX for handheld PC devices 
• Added advanced optimization settings and Benchmark Mode specifically for handheld PC users 
• Added quality-of-life input improvements when the device is docked, including external controller detection 

Handheld Device Specifications

Note: Gameplay performance on handheld PCs may depend on device-specific settings and/or connection to a dock or other dedicated power source. Values detailed below assume the device is using the highest power setting available to the operating system and is not running from battery: 

• Steam Deck : 720p @ ~30FPS 
• Z1 Devices : 720p @ ~30FPS (such as ASUS ROG Ally) 
• Z1E Devices : 1080p @ ~30FPS (such as ASUS ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go) 
• Z2A Devices : 720p @ ~30FPS (such as XBOX ROG Ally) 
• Z2E Devices : 1080p @ ~60FPS (such as XBOX ROG Ally X) 

Source: Bethesda

Considering DOOM’s developers id software and publishers Bethesda Softworks are both owned by Microsoft, the timing for this update makes a lot of sense. Update 2.2 arrived just one day before the new ASUS ROG Xbox and Xbox Ally devices. The upgraded ROG Ally handhelds for 2025, a collaboration between ASUS and Microsoft, feature better Xbox integration and are powered by AMD’s latest Ryzen Z2 processors.

They’re still handheld gaming PCs, but that won’t stop Microsoft from labelling everything it can as an Xbox. The flagship Xbox ROG Ally X is selling well, even selling out on ASUS and Microsoft storefronts. According to the patch notes above, the new Xbox ROG Ally X promises ~60 FPS gameplay at 1080p.

About the Author

Charlie Noon

Charlie is the Affiliate manager for PC Guide. He has a vast understanding of most PC hardware and consumer essentials, using his knowledge to provide the best products and the biggest deals.