Star Wars Outlaws on Steam Deck: Settings & Performance

Updated 6 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Yes, Star Wars Outlaws runs on the Steam Deck, but you will need to lower settings and accept a 30 FPS target for a stable experience. With a mix of Low and Medium settings and FSR enabled, the game is playable on the go, though it pushes the Deck’s hardware to its limits. This guide covers the best settings, expected frame rates, and common issues you might encounter.

Game Overview and Steam Deck Compatibility

Star Wars Outlaws is an open-world action-adventure game developed by Massive Entertainment and published by Ubisoft. It was released in August 2024 and is built on the Snowdrop engine, which is known for its detailed environments and dynamic lighting. The game is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. On PC, it uses Ubisoft Connect as its launcher, which adds an extra layer of complexity for Steam Deck users because the game is not natively available on Steam.

Valve’s Steam Deck officially lists the game as “Unsupported,� meaning Valve has not tested it or guaranteed it will work. However, many players have found workarounds, and the game can run if you are willing to tweak settings and use compatibility layers like Proton. The primary challenges are the game’s high system requirements, the need for Ubisoft Connect, and the Deck’s limited GPU power compared to modern desktop graphics cards.

How to Install and Launch the Game

Because Star Wars Outlaws is not sold on Steam, you have two main ways to install it on your Steam Deck:

Ubisoft Connect via Steam: Add the Ubisoft Connect installer as a non-Steam game in Steam, then run it through Proton. Once installed, you can launch Ubisoft Connect and download Star Wars Outlaws from your library.
Ubisoft Connect via Desktop Mode: Switch to Desktop Mode, download the Ubisoft Connect installer from the official website, install it, and then add it to Steam as a non-Steam game. This method gives you more control over the installation path.

After installation, you must force a compatible Proton version. Many users report success with Proton Experimental or Proton GE (GloriousEggroll), which includes additional patches for some games. To do this, right-click the game in Steam, select Properties, go to Compatibility, and check the box to force a specific Proton version.

One common issue is that the game may not launch the first time. If that happens, try running Ubisoft Connect in Desktop Mode first to ensure it updates, then switch back to Gaming Mode. Also, ensure you have enough storage space—Star Wars Outlaws requires around 65 GB of free space.

Best Settings for Steam Deck

To get a playable frame rate, you need to balance visual quality with performance. The Steam Deck’s AMD APU (with RDNA 2 graphics) is comparable to a GTX 1050 Ti, so you cannot run the game at high settings. Here are the recommended settings that most players find workable:

Resolution: 1280×800 (native) or 1152×720 if you prefer a slight performance boost.
Upscaling: FSR 3 (FidelityFX Super Resolution) set to Quality or Balanced. FSR helps maintain image clarity while reducing the internal resolution.
Graphics Quality Preset: Low or Custom with individual settings.
Texture Quality: Low (to avoid VRAM issues).
Shadow Quality: Low.
Reflections: Off or Low.
Volumetric Fog: Off.
Motion Blur: Off (to improve clarity).
VSync: Off (use the Deck’s frame limiter instead).

You can also use the Steam Deck’s built-in performance overlay to monitor frame rate and adjust the TDP (thermal design power). Setting the TDP to 15W (maximum) is usually best, but if you want longer battery life, you can lower it to 10W and accept a lower frame rate.

Expected Performance and Frame Rates

With the settings above, you can expect the following performance on the Steam Deck:

Average FPS: 25–30 FPS in most areas.
Open World: Frame rates can drop to 20–25 FPS in dense city areas or when there is a lot of action.
Interiors: You may see 30–35 FPS in smaller, confined spaces.

To maintain a consistent experience, it is strongly recommended to set the Steam Deck’s frame rate limiter to 30 FPS. This prevents the frame time from fluctuating, which feels smoother than a variable 25–35 FPS. You can also enable Half Rate Shading (HRS) in the performance menu, which reduces the shading rate and can boost performance by about 10–15%, but it makes text and fine details slightly blurrier.

Battery life while playing will be around 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on your TDP settings and screen brightness. If you lower the TDP to 10W and cap the FPS to 25, you might get closer to 2.5 hours, but the game will feel less responsive.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Even with the right settings, you may encounter problems. Here are the most common issues and how to fix them:

Game won’t launch: This is often due to Ubisoft Connect not being updated. Launch Ubisoft Connect in Desktop Mode, let it update, then try again. Also, ensure Proton is set to Experimental or GE.
Low VRAM crashes: The Steam Deck has 16 GB of shared memory, but the game might allocate too much. Set Texture Quality to Low and disable any texture streaming options if available.
Audio stuttering: This can happen if the game is running from a microSD card. Move the game to the internal SSD for better read speeds.
Cloud saves not syncing: Ubisoft Connect might not sync saves properly. Check the Ubisoft Connect settings and ensure cloud saves are enabled.
Controller not recognized: Use Steam’s controller configuration to map the controls. You may need to enable “Xbox Configuration Support� in Steam’s controller settings.

Comparing to Other Platforms

For context, the Steam Deck runs Star Wars Outlaws at a lower fidelity than the PS5 or Xbox Series X. On those consoles, the game targets 30 FPS at 1440p with ray tracing, or 60 FPS in a performance mode with reduced effects. The Steam Deck cannot handle ray tracing at all, and the resolution is much lower. However, the portability is a major advantage—you can play the game on a plane or in bed, which is something no console can offer.

Compared to other handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally or Lenovo Legion Go, the Steam Deck is generally slower, especially in GPU-heavy titles. The ROG Ally with its Z1 Extreme chip can achieve higher frame rates, but it also costs more and has a smaller battery. If you already own a Steam Deck, it is still a viable way to play the game, but you should be prepared for compromises.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play Star Wars Outlaws on the Steam Deck without a PC?
Yes, you can install Ubisoft Connect directly on the Steam Deck and download the game, but you will need to own a copy from Ubisoft. You do not need a separate PC to install it.

Does the game work with Proton?
Yes, with the right version. Proton Experimental and Proton GE generally work best. Some users also report success with Proton 9.0, but it may require additional tweaks.

Will the game run at 60 FPS on Steam Deck?
No, not at any reasonable setting. The Steam Deck’s hardware is not powerful enough to maintain 60 FPS in this game. You should target 30 FPS for a stable experience.

Is there a way to improve performance further?
You can try lowering the resolution to 960×600 and using FSR Performance mode, which gives a bigger boost but makes the image softer. Also, closing background apps and using the Deck’s “Performance� overlay to monitor and adjust TDP can help.

Does the game support cloud saves on Steam Deck?
Cloud saves are handled by Ubisoft Connect, not Steam. If you have cloud saves enabled in Ubisoft Connect, they will sync between your PC and Steam Deck, provided you are logged in to the same account.

Final Thoughts

Star Wars Outlaws is a demanding game, but with the right settings and expectations, it is playable on the Steam Deck. You will need to sacrifice visual fidelity and accept a 30 FPS cap, but the ability to explore the galaxy on a handheld is a unique experience. If you are willing to tweak settings and troubleshoot, it is worth trying. If you are not comfortable with technical tinkering, you might want to stick to playing on a PC or console.

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