Helldivers 2 – Steam Deck & Legion Go Performance & Recommended Settings: Helldivers 2 is now playable on Steam Deck, thanks to an update by Valve that fixed some compatibility issues.
However, the game may not run smoothly on the default settings, so you may need to adjust them to achieve a better performance.
Is Hell Divers 2 playable on the Steam Deck?
For those who don’t know, Hell Divers 2 is the sequel to the original Hell Divers game that came out about a decade ago on the PS Vita and PlayStation 3. As a fan of the first game, I was eager to see how the sequel fares, especially on the Steam Deck.
Initial Setup and Compatibility Issues
- I’ve already played about two hours of Hell Divers 2 on my PC, but I haven’t tried it on the Steam Deck yet.
- Initially, there were reports of compatibility issues, with some users stating that the game didn’t run at all.
- I decided to give it a shot on the Steam Deck, running it in compatibility mode due to these reports.
Testing on the Steam Deck
- Upon launching the game, it appeared to be stuck on a loading screen, with the game seemingly frozen.
- After rebooting and turning off compatibility mode, I attempted to launch the game again.
- This time, it booted up successfully, but the frame rate was slow, prompting me to adjust the graphic settings for smoother gameplay.
Adjusting Settings for Performance
- I adjusted various graphic settings, such as texture quality, shadow quality, and terrain quality, to improve the frame rate.
- Despite lowering the settings, the frame rate remained suboptimal, hovering around 30 frames per second.
Hell Divers 2 Gameplay Experience
- Despite the frame rate issues, the game was still playable on the Steam Deck.
- I delved into the galactic war mode and attempted quick play missions, encountering some matchmaking problems along the way.
- The gameplay felt reminiscent of the original Hell Divers, with its action-packed missions and strategic elements.
- While the frame rate wasn’t ideal, hovering around 30 FPS, the game was still enjoyable on the Steam Deck.
- I encountered some bugs and challenges, but overall, the experience was satisfactory.
Best Helldivers 2 Steam Deck Settings – All Graphics | Gaming Mode
Here are some recommended settings for Helldivers 2 on Steam Deck, based on the web search results:
- Rendering Quality: Balanced
- Graphics Quality: Medium to Low
- Resolution Scale: 75%
- V-Sync: Off
- HDR: On (if you have an OLED Steam Deck)
These settings should give you around 45 FPS, which is decent for a handheld shooter game.
You may experience some dips to 40 FPS when there are many enemies or explosions on the screen, but it should still be playable. You can also try to lower the resolution scale or graphics quality further if you want to increase the FPS.
Helldivers 2 Steam Deck | SteamOS 3.5 | All Graphics | Gaming Mode
Helldivers 2 is now playable on the Steam Deck, thanks to a recent update from Valve! Here’s a quick rundown of how it performs across all graphics settings in Gaming Mode:
| Graphics Quality | Balanced | Performance 1 | Quality 1 | Performance 2 | Quality 2 | Ultra Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 30 FPS | 40-50 FPS | 30-40 FPS | 45-60 FPS | 35-45 FPS | N/A |
| Medium | 30 FPS | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 25-30 FPS |
| High | 20-25 FPS | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Ultra | 15-20 FPS | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
As you can see, Helldivers 2 is best played on Low or Medium settings in Gaming Mode to maintain a smooth frame rate.
If you’re willing to sacrifice some graphical fidelity, you can bump up the settings to High, but expect some occasional dips in performance.
Ultra settings are not recommended for most users, as they result in frame rates that are too low for an enjoyable experience.
Some additional tips for getting the best performance out of Helldivers 2 on the Steam Deck:
- Use the FSR ( FidelityFX Super Resolution) upscaling feature to improve performance without sacrificing too much image quality.
- Close any unnecessary background applications.
- Reduce the screen brightness.
- Use the battery-saver mode to limit the frame rate to 30 FPS.
With a few tweaks, you can enjoy Helldivers 2 on the Steam Deck at a smooth and playable frame rate.
Helldivers 2 Steam Deck Best Graphic Settings, Texture quality, Shadow quality, and Terrain Quality
While I can’t offer an exact configuration for your desired gameplay experience without knowing your preference for visuals vs. performance.
Here’s a breakdown of Helldivers 2 graphics settings on the Steam Deck to help you find your sweet spot:
| Setting | Prioritize visuals | Prioritize performance |
|---|---|---|
| Texture Quality | High | Medium |
| Render Distance | High | High/Medium |
| Shadow Quality | Low/Medium | Low |
| Particle Quality | Medium/Low | Low |
| Reflection Quality | Off/Low | Off |
| Space Quality | Low | Low |
| Ambient Occlusion | On | On (optional) |
| Screen-space Global Illumination | Off | Off |
| Vegetation & Rubble Density | High | Medium |
| Terrain Quality | Medium | Medium |
| Volumetric Fog & Cloud Quality | Medium/Low | Low |
| Lighting Quality | Medium | Low |
| Anti-aliasing | Off (optional) | Off |
Additional tips:
- FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution): Enable FSR to boost FPS with minimal visual impact.
- Depth of Field: Off for better performance.
- Cremation Blur: Reduce or disable for clearer visuals.
- Sharpness: Adjust to your preference (around 0.6-0.7).
- Battery Saver Mode: Limits FPS to 30 for increased battery life.
- Best Helldivers 2 Settings Explained [Max FPS + Graphic Settings]
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Remember: Experiment and find the balance that works best for you. Some settings like shadows and anti-aliasing offer minor visual improvements but impact performance more significantly. Consider lowering them first if needed.
How To Change Settings on Steam Deck?
To change the settings, you must launch the game using the GE-Proton compatibility tool. To do that, you need to follow these steps:
- In Steam: Desktop: right-click a game and go to Properties. Steam Deck / Big Picture Mode: find the game in your library, go to the little cog on the right, and select Properties.
- Compatibility menu -> Tick the box, and select GE-Proton from the drop-down menu.
- Launch the game and go to the Options menu.
- Change the settings as you prefer and apply them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Hell Divers 2 is playable on the Steam Deck, albeit with some performance issues. While the frame rate may not reach optimal levels, the game remains enjoyable for fans of the series.
With further adjustments to graphic settings and potential updates, the performance on the Steam Deck could improve. Despite its flaws, Hell Divers 2 offers an engaging gameplay experience on the go.