Is Returnal™ playable on Steam Deck?
Steam Deck verdict
Runs but struggles
Returnal™ runs on the Steam Deck, but performance struggles.
Returnal™ runs on the Steam Deck, but performance can struggle. Valve lists it as Unsupported due to its performance on the Deck. The Linux/Proton community rates it Gold on ProtonDB across 110 reports. It boots and is stable; expect to lower a few settings for a smoother framerate.
Game info
- Genres
- Action
- Developer
- Housemarque, Climax Studios
- Publisher
- PlayStation Publishing LLC
- Release
- February 15, 2023
- Price
- $59.99
- Metacritic
- —
System requirements
Windows specs from Steam — the Deck runs these through Proton.
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit (version 1903)
- Processor: Intel Core i5-6400 (4 core 2.7GHz) AMD Ryzen 5 1500X (4 core 3.5GHz)
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB) AMD Radeon RX 580 (8 GB)
- Storage: 60 GB available space
- Additional Notes: SSD Recommended
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit (version 1903)
- Processor: Intel i7-8700 (6 core 3.7 GHz) AMD Ryzen 7 2700X (8 core 3.7 GHz)
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super (8 GB) AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT (12 GB)
- Storage: 60 GB available space
Is Returnal™ compatible with Steam Deck?
Does it run?
- Valve rating
- Unsupported
- …on SteamOS in general
- Playable
Community rating · 110 reports (ProtonDB)
Does it run well?
Performance struggles — expect low framerate or heavy tweaking.
- ✓Limited graphics performance
Returnal™ performance & FPS on Steam Deck
Based on 7 Steam Deck community reports. These are the framerates players actually settle on — many cap it to save battery — not the game's maximum. Performance struggles — expect low framerate or heavy tweaking.
Tips for playing Returnal™ on Steam Deck
- •Lower the resolution scale and cap the framerate (30 or 40 FPS) for a smoother, steadier experience.
Frequently asked questions
›Is Returnal™ playable on Steam Deck?
Returnal™ runs on the Steam Deck, but <em>performance can struggle</em>. Valve lists it as <strong>Unsupported</strong> due to its performance on the Deck. The Linux/Proton community rates it <strong>Gold</strong> on ProtonDB across 110 reports.
›Is Returnal™ Steam Deck Verified?
No. Valve lists Returnal™ as Unsupported, though community reports may differ — see the verdict above.
›How many FPS does Returnal™ get on Steam Deck?
Steam Deck players most often report playing Returnal™ at ~30 fps (based on 7 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 Returnal™ on Steam Deck?
Battery life isn't fixed — it depends on your brightness, TDP cap and framerate target, typically landing anywhere from 2 to 6 hours on the Steam Deck. We don't have a measured figure for Returnal™ specifically.
›Can you play Returnal™ multiplayer on Steam Deck?
Yes — Returnal™ has no Deck-blocking anti-cheat reported, so its online and multiplayer modes should work like on any PC.
›Can you play Returnal™ on Steam Deck?
You can install and launch Returnal™, but performance is the limiting factor — plan on lowering settings or capping the framerate to keep it comfortable.
›Can the Steam Deck run Returnal™?
Yes. Steam Deck players report running Returnal™ at ~30 fps, based on 7 community reports — that's the framerate players settle on, not the game's ceiling.
Similar action games on Steam Deck
Community configurations
Found a setup that works great for Returnal™ on Steam Deck? Share it and help the community grow.