Steam could soon let users see expected performance before buying games

SOFTWARE NEWS manhkbrady - about 1 hour ago

Official system requirements for games have long been vague and often unhelpful, rarely giving players a clear idea of how a title will actually perform on their hardware. That may soon change, however, as Valve appears to be working on a new feature for Steam.

A ResetEra user, Dex3108, recently spotted a new line of code in the Steam client that reads: “Select an App and a PC config to get a chart of estimated frame rates, based on the frame rates of other users.” This suggests Valve could introduce a tool that estimates in-game performance based on your specific system setup.

If implemented, this would be a major upgrade for PC gamers, including those using Steam Deck or future SteamOS devices. Instead of relying on broad “recommended specs,” players could see more realistic expectations for performance before making a purchase. Such a feature could also help users make smarter buying decisions. Knowing in advance whether a game will run smoothly on your system could reduce the chances of disappointment - or unnecessary refunds - by setting clearer expectations.

Steam logo with a background collage of game covers, including Cyberpunk 2077, Counter-Strike, and Stardew Valley.

Though valuable for all PC gamers, Steam will initially focus beta testing on SteamOS devices. These handhelds, such as the Steam Deck and Lenovo Legion Go S, offer fewer configurations than the near-infinite variety of desktop and laptop PCs. This testing phase could also benefit those interested in the Steam Machine, which many hope will finally launch later this year despite previous delays.

The feature is currently in the development phase, with no official confirmation regarding a complete rollout. Its viability will depend heavily on the precision of its performance estimates, as inaccurate statistics might lead to user dissatisfaction. Furthermore, because the system aggregates "frame rates of other users," Valve will likely need to implement a global infrastructure for collecting comprehensive performance metrics.

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Steam will estimate FPS based on your PC using data from similar users

manhkbrady