Borderlands 4 is an ambitious game with high system requirements, which raises the question of how well it performs on the Steam Deck. Despite the excitement around playing this popular looter shooter on a handheld device, the game currently runs at very low frame rates on the Steam Deck, making it largely unplayable in its native form. Users can expect frequent stuttering, input lag, and overall poor performance even after adjusting the lowest graphics settings.
The Steam Deck OLED model offers some enhancements in visual quality and HDR support but does not significantly improve the game’s framerate or responsiveness. However, there are optimization techniques and community mods that help achieve marginally playable performance by using tools like Lossless Scaling and custom graphical settings. Still, this requires technical effort and does not deliver the smooth experience many players hope for.
For those eager to play Borderlands 4 on a portable device without hassle, streaming solutions or cloud gaming services provide viable alternatives. These options allow access to better performance by running the game on more powerful hardware and streaming it to the handheld, bypassing the limitations of the Steam Deck’s hardware.
Key Takeaways
- Borderlands 4 runs poorly on Steam Deck with low fps and noticeable input lag.
- Optimization methods can improve performance but require complex setup.
- Cloud gaming and streaming offer better gameplay experiences on handhelds.
Borderlands 4 Performance on Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED
Borderlands 4 demands significant hardware resources, which directly impacts its performance on the Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED. Achieving playable frame rates requires careful tuning and optimization, with reliance on advanced upscaling techniques to compensate for the device’s limited GPU power. The Steam Deck OLED offers minor advantages in display quality but does not markedly improve raw performance.
Initial Compatibility and System Requirements
Borderlands 4 has not received an official Steam Deck Verified rating from Valve. The game’s minimum PC requirements call for an 8-core processor and a GPU with at least 8 GB VRAM, specifications well beyond what the Steam Deck provides.
Initial tests show the game runs poorly on the Steam Deck without modifications, with native frame rates falling between 6 and 20 FPS at the lowest graphics settings. This performance deficit makes the game effectively unplayable without external tools and tweaks.
Despite these challenges, Borderlands 4 supports features like 16:10 resolution and HDR on the Steam Deck OLED, and the UI scales well for handheld gameplay. Gearbox Software’s recent communication suggests ongoing efforts to optimize performance for handheld platforms.
Frame Rates and Latency Issues
Frame rates on the Steam Deck without optimization are consistently low, ranging from 6 to 20 FPS, which is inadequate for smooth gameplay. Combat scenes show slight improvement, reaching up to 20 FPS in the best cases, but exploration still suffers.
Enabling frame generation and using performance mods can raise effective frame rates to between 30 and 40 FPS, though this comes with trade-offs. CPU utilization spikes to 100%, and GPU usage remains around 80%, which introduces potential thermal and throttling concerns during extended play.
Latency is impacted by the low native FPS and by software solutions used to improve perceived smoothness. Players may experience increased input lag due to frame interpolation, making precise aiming and fast reactions more difficult without further controller adjustments.
Upscaling and Frame Generation Technologies (FSR, TSR, XeSS)
Borderlands 4 on the Steam Deck relies heavily on upscaling to improve visual fidelity and frame rates. Among the options, Temporal Super Resolution (TSR) with the Ultra Performance preset is the most common choice, balancing playable frame rates against image quality degradation.
Frame generation technologies like FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) and Intel’s XeSS are supported by the game but are less effective on the Steam Deck’s hardware. Disabling built-in frame generation in favor of Lossless Scaling tools improves input responsiveness despite visual artifacts such as haloing or shimmering.
Lossless Scaling via the Decky Loader plugin is considered essential to achieve a marginally playable experience. It allows resolution scaling on the fly, providing smoother gameplay at the cost of some artifacting and additional CPU overhead.
Steam Deck OLED Display Support and Experience
The Steam Deck OLED offers HDR support and improved contrast over the standard model, enhancing Borderlands 4’s visual presentation despite the hardware’s limited graphical power. However, performance remains similar to the original Steam Deck.
The game’s UI and text scale well on the OLED display, aiding readability in handheld mode. HDR implementation boosts color vibrancy but does not resolve frame rate or latency issues.
Overall, the OLED’s display quality improvements assist immersion but do not translate into substantive performance gains for Borderlands 4, which still requires optimization and careful control setup to be played effectively on this platform.
Alternative Ways to Play Borderlands 4 on Handheld PCs
Borderlands 4 faces significant performance challenges on the Steam Deck due to its high hardware demands. Other options provide playable experiences either through cloud streaming or more powerful handheld devices designed with stronger PC components.
Cloud Gaming Solutions like GeForce Now
Cloud gaming services such as GeForce Now allow players to run Borderlands 4 on remote servers, streaming the game directly to their handheld PCs. This approach bypasses local hardware limitations by relying on high-performance data centers.
Users with a stable, high-speed internet connection can achieve smooth gameplay with consistent frame rates and visuals similar to a gaming PC. GeForce Now supports Steam titles, enabling seamless access to Borderlands 4 without requiring downloads or installations.
Latency and input delay can vary depending on network quality. However, for many users, cloud gaming provides a viable alternative to running the game natively on devices like the Steam Deck, which struggle with Borderlands 4’s demanding requirements.
Comparison: Steam Deck vs. ROG Ally Handheld Performance
The Steam Deck struggles to maintain playable frame rates at any resolution or quality setting when running Borderlands 4. Its AMD APU and limited GPU power cannot meet the game’s hefty CPU and GPU demands, resulting in poor performance.
In contrast, the ROG Ally, equipped with a more powerful AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor and superior GPU, manages to run Borderlands 4 much more smoothly. Users report significantly better frame rates and the ability to play with higher graphics settings on the ROG Ally.
While the Steam Deck remains more affordable and popular, the ROG Ally offers better native support for Borderlands 4. This makes it a preferred choice for handheld users seeking a native PC gaming experience for demanding titles like Borderlands 4.
