Is Borderlands 2 playable on Steam Deck?

Tested on Steam DeckLast checked June 2026

Steam Deck verdict

Runs great

Yes — Borderlands 2 runs great on the Steam Deck.

Borderlands 2 runs great on the Steam Deck. Valve rates it Playable on the Steam Deck. The Linux/Proton community rates it Platinum on ProtonDB across 374 reports. As a action game with full controller support, it's a comfortable fit for handheld play.

Game info

Genres: Action, RPG
Developer: Gearbox Software, Aspyr (Mac), Aspyr (Linux)
Publisher: 2K, Aspyr (Mac), Aspyr (Linux)
Release: September 17, 2012
Price: $4.99
Metacritic: 89

System requirements

Windows specs from Steam — the Deck runs these through Proton.

Minimum:

OS *: Windows XP SP3
Processor: 2.4 GHz Dual Core Processor
Memory: 2 GB(XP)/ 2 GB(Vista)
Hard Disk Space: 13 GB free
Video Memory: 256 MB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8500 /ATI Radeon HD 2600
Sound: DirectX 9.0c Compatible
Other Requirements:Initial installation requires one-time internet connection for Steam authentication; software installations required (included with the game) include Steam Client, DirectX 9, Microsoft .NET 4 Framework, Visual C++ Redistributable 2005, Visual C++ Redistributable 2008, Visual C++ Redistributable 2010, and AMD CPU Drivers (XP Only/AMD Only)

Recommended:

OS *: Windows XP SP3/Vista/Win 7
Processor: 2.3 GHz Quad Core processor
Memory: 2 GB
Hard Disk Space: 20 GB free
Video Memory: 512MB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 / ATI Radeon HD 5850
Sound: DirectX 9.0c Compatible
Other Requirements:Initial installation requires one-time internet connection for Steam authentication; software installations required (included with the game) include Steam Client, DirectX 9, Microsoft .NET 4 Framework, Visual C++ Redistributable 2005, Visual C++ Redistributable 2008, Visual C++ Redistributable 2010, and AMD CPU Drivers (XP Only/AMD Only)

Is Borderlands 2 compatible with Steam Deck?

Does it run?

Valve rating: Playable

Does it run well?

Runs well with the default settings.

✓Shows a launcher / extra setup step
✓Controller glyphs don't match the Deck
✓On-screen keyboard doesn't pop up automatically
✓The Deck's native resolution isn't the default
✓Full controller support out of the box
✓Interface text is legible
✓Good performance with default settings

Borderlands 2 performance & FPS on Steam Deck

45–60 fpsreported by players

Based on 5 Steam Deck community reports. These are the framerates players actually settle on — many cap it to save battery — not the game's maximum. Runs well with the default settings.

Battery & recommended settings

Estimated battery life

4h 21mat 40 fps3h 36mat 60 fps

Recommended preset: high
Typical power draw: ~12 W

💡 SteamDeckPlayable tip: System Proton version 7.0-2 Steamos version 3.2 Bios version F7A0105

Tips for playing Borderlands 2 on Steam Deck

•You may need to click through a launcher each time you start the game.
•Button prompts may show Xbox or PlayStation icons instead of Steam Deck glyphs.
•Open the on-screen keyboard manually with STEAM + X when you need to type.
•Default settings already run well — no major tweaks needed to play comfortably.

Frequently asked questions

›Is Borderlands 2 playable on Steam Deck?

Borderlands 2 runs great on the Steam Deck. Valve rates it Playable on the Steam Deck. The Linux/Proton community rates it Platinum on ProtonDB across 374 reports.

›Is Borderlands 2 Steam Deck Verified?

Not Verified, but Valve rates Borderlands 2 as Playable on the Steam Deck.

›How many FPS does Borderlands 2 get on Steam Deck?

Steam Deck players most often report playing Borderlands 2 at 45–60 fps (based on 5 community reports). These are usually the framerate players settle on — many cap it to save battery — not the game's maximum.

›How long does the battery last playing Borderlands 2 on Steam Deck?

Steam Deck players report roughly 4h 21m at 40 fps, 3h 36m at 60 fps on Borderlands 2 (from ShareDeck community reports). Capping the framerate and TDP lower stretches it further; higher brightness shortens it.

›Can you play Borderlands 2 multiplayer on Steam Deck?

Yes — Borderlands 2 has no Deck-blocking anti-cheat reported, so its online and multiplayer modes should work like on any PC.

›Can you play Borderlands 2 on Steam Deck?

Yes. Borderlands 2 runs on the Steam Deck straight from Steam — no manual Proton setup or config files needed.

›Can the Steam Deck run Borderlands 2?

Yes. Steam Deck players report running Borderlands 2 at 45–60 fps, based on 5 community reports — that's the framerate players settle on, not the game's ceiling.