You can play Elden Ring on Steam Deck, but you probably shouldn’t
Brace for portable pain
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Looking to play Elden Ring on Steam Deck? You’re in luck. as a part of the tools acquired for the Steam Deck, you’re able to check the application or game’s compatibility with any given title, as we’ve explained here. Now, you can play FromSoftware’s latest open-world hit, which has been critically lauded over on the Steam Deck, which releases today for lucky customers who managed to get in their pre-orders early. A listing on SteamDB shows off configurations that refer to Elden Ring’s proton compatibility, in addition to controller mapping. We have also independently verified that Elden Ring appears as being ‘Deck Verified’ when using Valve’s compatibility checker, which was released yesterday.
Does Elden Ring work on Linux?
User reports suggest that Elden Ring does work using Linux, meaning that you should be able to play the game on Proton, with over 255 user reports coming in on various builds that comment on the quality of the experience, and what build of Proton they were using to get the title up and running on Linux. Users have reported several issues, however, but that’s due to the technical performance of the title itself, and not the fault of Proton or its functionality. Additionally, compatibility using SteamOS and the Steam Deck usually means that you’re going to have a pretty good time if you are trying to get Elden Ring up and running on Proton. Some users have claimed reports of Multiplayer functionality not working, but they are few and far between, and could also be related to the game’s technical aspects, instead of the fault of Proton itself.
Why running Elden Ring on Steam Deck might not be the best idea in the world
Though Elden Ring is critically lauded for its expansive open-world and combat systems, the technical performance of the PC version leaves something to be desired, according to Digital Foundry, who have managed to pinpoint the issues with stuttering and performance to issues with DirectX12 implementation and use of low-level APIs, claiming that the game has up to 250 milliseconds of microstutter when the game is building up its shader cache, which can drop framerates on even the most powerful of systems capable of running cutting edge games. We don’t have a Steam Deck to test this out with, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for when we do. In comparison, the Steam Deck’s specifications may leave something to be desired for those looking to play it on the toilet.
The Steam Deck releases today, for some users
The Steam Deck should begin shipping to users who pre-ordered the device today if you were lucky enough to get your hands on a pre-order early engouh to be included in the first batch of users. Otherwise, if you’re after a Steam Deck today, you might be out of luck, as the next expected dates are deep into 2023.
