Jump Ship performance tested on Steam Deck: it’s more than playable ahead of release
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Jump Ship is an exciting co-op space game that is set to launch sometime in 2025. While there's no exact release date yet, fans of sci-fi action can now try it out early thanks to a new demo released on Steam. Now that the demo has been released, we decided to try it out on our Steam Deck. If you want to give it a go yourself, the 6.7GB demo is a pretty quick and easy download.
Now that we’ve put the demo to the test, we can confirm that it’s not bad on the Steam Deck, but it’s also not silky smooth. There aren’t a massive number of graphics options available, and we hope to see more support for the handheld as it heads towards launch. Either way, if you’ve been wanting to try a space adventure game on your handheld, this is a great one to check out.
We tested Jump Ship on the Steam Deck
While it’s just a demo for now, it provides us with a good look at performance on the Steam Deck. The game doesn’t currently have any official verification status, but it’s more than playable in its current state. Plus, the controls were easy to pick up and are well-tuned for a controller (for the most part) – we recommend enabling toggle sprint and toggle jetdrive for starters. Anyway, below are some screenshots we snapped during our playthrough.
Graphics settings
| Display mode | Fullscreen |
| Resolution | 1280 x 800 |
| Texture resolution | Eighth |
| Anti-Aliasing | None |
| LOD Bias | 0.5 |
| Enable VSync | Off |
| Limit Framerate | Off |
| Dynamic Resolution | Off |
These settings provided us with a relatively stable framerate, targeting around the 40-50 FPS range, with drops to ~30 FPS. We found that exploring on foot, particularly on larger ships or within the hangar, can be (comparatively) a bit of an FPS killer, but it never got nearly bad enough to call it unplayable. Once you’re piloting your ship and cruising through open space, it does feel smoother – the fact that you’re no longer in a first-person point of view probably adds to this effect. All that being said, we could even manage 60+ FPS exploring less busy/detailed areas on foot.
We experimented with dynamic resolution, including FSR, though it failed to make a difference in performance. The GPU usage was already high, so the extra computing power needed in that area to make it viable seemed to hold it back. We noticed something similar in Hell is Us, where the game could straight-up crash with upscaling enabled. Lowering the texture resolution and LOD Bias made a difference, though with a noticeable effect on the visuals for a relatively minor performance improvement. Even still, playing at native resolution ensured the HUD was clear and visuals weren’t degraded beyond what we’d consider acceptable.
Overall, we can be happy with how it runs right now, but it can be better with some fine-tuned optimization, particularly with upscaling or frame generation down the line. But we don’t have any massive complaints so far, especially compared to recent AAA games where we’d much sooner resort to Nvidia’s GeForce Now. More so, there’s a solid amount of breathing room with the settings if you want a little higher fidelity; the performance cost isn’t as massive a hit as you’d expect.
What does the game offer?
For those unfamiliar, Jump Ship is a mission-based PvE game where you and up to three other players control a spaceship together. Each mission offers a mix of challenges. You'll go from flying your ship through space to jumping out into the void for repairs or combat, and then explore planets on foot.
In the game, teamwork plays a big role. You'll need to work closely with your crew to survive. There are no fixed classes, so everyone on the team can choose their role during missions. Some might pilot the ship, while others manage repairs or head out for exploration. You'll also collect parts and materials along the way to upgrade and repair your ship. How you customize it is also up to you. You can improve your ship’s defences, attack capabilities, or its speed.
It is important to keep in mind that the demo offers only a few hours of content. It only exists to give you a taste of the game. Once you’re done with it, you’ll have to wait for the full game.
Another user who tested the demo on Steam Deck mentioned that it plays quite well, so we figured we’d try it out for ourselves. The controls could use some polishing, and the frame rate does spike occasionally, but overall, the experience is smooth and enjoyable. It’s a promising start for a game that could be officially verified in the future; the full title is set for release in 2025.
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