Knowing the Armored Core 6 Steam Deck performance would help Deck owners decide how much they should play FromSoftware’s latest RPG on the go. But not every game performs well on the Deck and some just need a little tweaking. Here’s how Armored Core 6 runs on the Deck.
Is Armored Core 6 Steam Deck verified?
The official Steam page for Armored Core 6 puts the game in the Playable tier. This means that it does run, but isn’t flawless; it’s cited as having tiny text, but doesn’t force players to enable any compatibility layers.
Regardless, it is not Verified. However, it’s likely only a matter of time before it jumps to that next tier since many of FromSoftware’s older games like Elden Ring, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Dark Souls 3, and Dark Souls 2 are all Verified. This puts Armored Core 6 in the same tier as Dark Souls Remastered.
Technical tests from various YouTubers like Santiago Santiago and GameTechPlanet have shown that Armored Core runs relatively well on the Deck, but there are obvious sacrifices. For one, the frame rate is likely to not be too consistent.
60 frames per second, which is what many require for FromSoftware games, is not going to be feasible. For high, medium, and low settings, the game seems to hover and 30 to 45 frames per second, with the higher settings coming in at the lower end and vice versa. While the performance seemingly won’t take massive jumps either way, cranking down some settings (like reflections, effects, or the resolution) or turning them off completely will yield slightly more performance.
Turning on the frame rate lock in the system settings does give more consistent results and makes the frame rate more stable. However, the frame rate lock adds a bit of input latency, so there’s always a tradeoff.
AC6 Steam Deck performance FAQ
A: Armored Core 6 is categorized in the Playable tier on the Steam Deck, which means it runs but might have minor issues, such as tiny text. The game hasn’t reached the Verified tier yet, but it’s expected to move up, given the verification of other FromSoftware games. While it runs decently, players might experience inconsistent frame rates, especially if they aim for 60 frames per second.
A: On the Steam Deck, the frame rate for Armored Core 6 varies depending on the settings. For high, medium, and low settings, you can expect between 30 to 45 frames per second. Higher settings lean towards the lower end of this range. Improving performance might require reducing certain settings like reflections, effects, or resolution.
A: Yes, you can achieve a more stable frame rate by turning on the frame rate lock in the system settings. However, while this offers consistency, it introduces a bit of input latency, so it’s important to weigh the benefits against the drawbacks.
