Early tests confirm Red Dead Redemption runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, achieving up to 40 FPS at Ultra settings
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Red Dead Redemption dropped on PC yesterday, and Steam Deck users are already diving into the Wild West on their handhelds. Despite not having an official “Playable” or “Verified” tag for the Steam Deck, early feedback from testers suggests that it performs quite well on the device. According to the team over at Steam Deck HQ, who were quick to test the game on the Deck, Red Dead Redemption runs smoothly, even at Ultra settings.
Here's a closer look at how the game performs on the Steam Deck, from Ultra settings all the way down to medium, along with some insights on additional features like HDR.
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Red Dead Redemption Steam Deck performance
At Ultra settings, Red Dead Redemption gives a surprisingly smooth experience on the Steam Deck, hitting an average of around 35 to 40 FPS. The game maintains this framerate in most open areas, which is pretty impressive. However, there are minor fluctuations when entering busier areas, especially towns where there's a lot of NPC activity or gunfights. These frame drops are expected on a handheld like the Steam Deck but don't seem to disrupt gameplay enough to ruin the experience.
For those who want even smoother gameplay, adjusting the graphics to medium can significantly boost the FPS. At these settings, Steam Deck HQ reported framerates between 55 and 88 FPS. Similar to Ultra settings, the FPS at medium fluctuates, especially when moving through towns. This range, however, provides a noticeably smoother experience and is ideal for players who prioritize high framerates over ultra-crisp graphics.
Another interesting find during the testing was the option to enable HDR, which is a great addition for OLED screens. While not all Steam Deck users have OLED devices, those who do will be pleased to know they can activate HDR to improve the visuals. The feature improves lighting, contrast, and detail in both bright and dark scenes.
Since the game was recently released on PC, Valve has not yet classified Red Dead Redemption as either “Playable” or “Verified” on the Steam Deck. However, based on the early feedback, it's likely that Red Dead Redemption will secure a “Playable” tag soon, if not a “Verified.”
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