Indie RPG Enshrouded has recently unveiled its much-anticipated Update #3, promising a host of new features and improvements. While the update delivers on many fronts, it's the performance enhancements specifically tailored for Steam Deck users that have captured our attention. Following these updates, there’s an argument for a Steam Deck ‘Playable’ rating at the very least.

On the surface, the addition of FSR 3.0 and new default settings would suggest a significant performance boost for the handheld out-of-the-box. However, early tests have revealed a less-than-ideal experience. In fact, the game’s performance on the Steam Deck using the developer-recommended settings is downright poor; but this can be remedied if you know what to amend.

What’s new for Steam Deck in Enshrouded Update 3?

There are a few big changes in terms of performance in the Back to the Shroud Update patch notes, particularly aimed at the Steam Deck:

• Improved stability and performance on lower hardware specs and on the Steam Deck.
• Updated the default settings for the Steam Deck. Please use the “Reset to Default” button to use the updated settings.
• FSR3 is now supported and replaces FSR2. You can stop asking now.

However, performance on the new default settings seems to be lackluster, according to Steam Deck HQ. A quick dive into the settings reveals the culprit: point light shadows. This graphical feature, inexplicably enabled by default on Steam Deck, is a major performance knock. Disabling it immediately yields a much smoother experience, allowing players to comfortably hit the 30 FPS target while maintaining a 15W TDP limit. So, the new default settings can’t be recommended at the moment.

Comparing the current build to a previous February release offers some perspective. While the older version struggled to maintain 30 FPS even with aggressive downscaling and FSR 2, the new update, despite still being in the early stages of optimization, delivers a more stable experience with FSR 3 on Balanced mode. This translates to a clearer image and fewer performance hiccups. We’ve seen a bunch of gameplay videos showing off performance with FSR 3.0, like the one below from Deck Wizard:

Steam Deck support for Enshrouded is a work in progress

It’s evident that Enshrouded on Steam Deck is currently in a state of flux. While the potential is there, thanks to features like FSR 3, the game’s performance is hindered by poor default settings; luckily this just takes some tinkering to resolve. Either way, it’s a step in the right direction if Enshrouded wants a ‘Playable’ or ‘Verified’ tag on the Steam store page; but for now, the game is still listed as unsupported.

For those brave enough to navigate through the settings, there is a reward to be had. Enshrouded offers a good world to explore, and with some tweaking, it can be enjoyed on the go. Here's to hoping that future updates will address these performance issues and unlock the full potential of Enshrouded on the Steam Deck.

About the Author

Tom Valentine

Tom is a tech writer with a detailed view on ensuring the best buying advice, most useful information, and latest news makes its way into PC Guide's articles.