Steam now shows average Steam Deck framerates when browsing games, but Valve says it's considering expanding the feature to other hardware

Valve has introduced a new feature on Steam that displays average framerate data for games when running on Steam Deck hardware, according to coverage from The Verge, HotHardware, Polygon, Ars Technica, and Eurogamer. The feature appears directly on game store pages, providing prospective buyers with performance expectations specific to the handheld device. Eurogamer reports that Valve has acknowledged the feature is currently limited to Steam Deck but says it is considering expanding the functionality to other hardware configurations in the future.

The coverage emphasizes the practical utility of the feature for Steam Deck owners who have previously relied on community reports or third-party benchmarks to gauge game performance. The Verge describes the addition as "much-needed clarity," while Polygon characterizes it as a "huge feature" for the platform's user base. Ars Technica frames the data as a "reality check" for Steam Deck performance expectations. HotHardware notes that Valve is testing the FPS graphs on Steam Deck ahead of a broader PC rollout, suggesting the current implementation serves as a proving ground for wider deployment. All outlets highlight that the data represents average framerates aggregated from actual Steam Deck users.

The feature arrives as Valve continues to refine the Steam Deck ecosystem following the device's launch, addressing a persistent gap in performance transparency for handheld PC gaming. Unlike traditional consoles with fixed hardware targets, the Steam Deck's PC architecture means game performance varies significantly based on developer optimization, Proton compatibility layer overhead, and user settings. By surfacing real-world aggregate data directly on store pages, Valve reduces reliance on external resources like ProtonDB or community forums. The consideration of expansion to other hardware suggests Valve may be building a broader performance telemetry system that could eventually cover the diverse range of PC configurations used by Steam's overall user base.

Watch for Valve's timeline on expanding the framerate display beyond Steam Deck, including whether the feature will encompass discrete GPU tiers, laptop configurations, or integrated graphics benchmarks. Monitor whether developers gain access to the same telemetry for optimization purposes, and whether Valve introduces percentile breakdowns (such as 1% lows) alongside averages. The company has not specified a rollout schedule for non-Deck hardware, so the pace and scope of expansion remain open questions.