Image source: Warhorse Studios
The Steam Deck has been a revolutionary device for portable gaming, allowing players to bring high-end PC titles on the go. With the sequel on the horizon, fans of Warhorse Studios’ medieval RPG are wondering whether Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 will run on Steam Deck. While the answer isn’t definitive yet, here’s what we know so far.
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Steam Deck Performance
The original Kingdom Come: Deliverance proved surprisingly playable on the Steam Deck, offering a solid experience with the right settings. By tweaking graphical options—such as lowering textures, shaders, and disabling motion blur—it was possible to achieve a smooth 40-50 FPS experience. This set a hopeful precedent for fans eager to enjoy its sequel on the same hardware.
Will the Sequel Follow Suit?
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is shaping up to be an ambitious game, boasting enhanced visuals and a richer medieval world. While the game has yet to be released, early reports and specifications give us some clues about its potential compatibility with the Steam Deck.
Minimum Specs and the Steam Deck’s Capabilities
The minimum requirements for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, according to developer Warhorse Studios, include an AMD Ryzen 5 2600 CPU, an NVIDIA GTX 1060 GPU, and 16GB of RAM. On paper, the Steam Deck’s custom APU—a blend of Zen 2 CPU cores and RDNA 2 GPU technology—can approximate these specs. However, hitting smooth performance levels will likely depend on optimization and upscaling technologies.
Upscaling Technologies Might Save the Day
Warhorse Studios has confirmed that AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) will be supported on consoles, and it’s reasonable to expect the same for the PC release. If implemented well, FSR could enhance performance on the Steam Deck, allowing for smoother gameplay by reducing the rendering resolution and then upscaling it back to a sharper image.
With FSR and potentially other technologies like DLSS or XeSS, it’s possible to aim for stable 30 FPS gameplay at 800p resolution, the native screen resolution of the Steam Deck.
Encouraging Early Previews
A preview article from SteamDeckHQ hinted at the potential for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 on the Deck. While the preview didn’t explicitly confirm testing on the device, the publication’s focus on Steam Deck compatibility suggests optimism. Combined with the developer’s reassurance about upscaling options, there’s reason to believe the game could be playable, even if compromises are necessary.
Potential Limitations
Despite the encouraging signs, there are reasons to temper expectations:
- Higher Demands: The sequel’s improved visuals may stretch the Deck’s hardware to its limits.
- Battery Drain: Graphically intense games like the original Kingdom Come are known to drain the Steam Deck’s battery quickly, a problem the sequel could exacerbate.
- Optimization Variability: While the original game worked well with fine-tuning, it also had a reputation for being resource-hungry, particularly in dense city areas. A lack of strong optimization could make the sequel challenging to play on the Deck.
So, can you play Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 on Steam Deck? The answer for now is “maybe.” If the game is well-optimized and leverages upscaling technologies like FSR effectively, it could be a viable portable experience with settings adjusted for performance. However, its demanding visuals and the Steam Deck’s limitations mean players should be prepared for compromises, such as lower settings and capped frame rates.
For now, Steam Deck owners should keep an eye on post-launch reports and detailed benchmarks to see how well the medieval RPG sequel fares. Until then, revisiting the original Kingdom Come Deliverance on Steam Deck might be the perfect way to gear up for Henry’s next adventure.
