Valve Adds Steam Deck Framerate Distribution Charts to Help Developers Optimize Games

On October 1, Valve added a framerate distribution chart to the Steamworks dashboard for Steam Deck Verified games. Built using "data from customers on Steam Decks who opted in to providing framerate data", the reporting visualizes how sampled performance is distributed across framerate levels.

The new chart complements the average framerate data and player feedback surveys that Valve rolled out in beta to Steamworks in April 2026, offering developers a clearer picture of real-world player experiences on Deck. In the "Average framerate data" section of its April announcement, Valve noted: "We'll also be expanding this view to Steam Deck Playable games in a future update."

Why Distribution Metrics Beat Aggregate Averages

Average framerates have long been an imperfect gauge for real-world gameplay smoothness. An overall average can easily mask localized dips and taxing gameplay sections where performance drops significantly.

By plotting framerate data across a distribution, Steamworks shows developers how sampled performance spreads across different framerate levels. Valve's sample chart plots a vertical axis labeled "% Session" against horizontal "Framerate" intervals in 5 FPS steps from 15 to 90 FPS.

Valve gives an example of how developers can use the data: "if a significant amount of framerate data is landing in segments below 30 and players are reporting performance and stability issues, that could be a good signal to look into optimization or changing the default graphics configuration on Deck, etc."

Metric Tool	Introduced	Functionality in Steamworks
Framerate Distribution	October 2026	Displays a distribution of framerate data in 5 FPS steps from 15 to 90 FPS, with a vertical axis labeled "% Session".
Average Framerate	April 2026 (Beta)	Displays the trailing 30 days daily running average based on opted-in users with playtime.
Customer Feedback	April 2026 (Beta)	Gathers survey feedback from players after at least ten minutes of playtime regarding Deck Verified ratings.

Real-World Telemetry from Opt-In Players

The framerate distribution metrics rely on data submitted by Steam Deck owners who have chosen to share performance information. As Valve noted: "A majority of Steam Deck players have opted in, representing a wide range of games and play styles."

Developers can access the reporting by navigating within the Steamworks partner dashboard to their partner landing page, selecting Technical Tools, and opening the Steam Hardware Compatibility Review panel. The data is currently available to titles that are Steam Deck Verified.

Interpreting Framerate Distribution Data

Valve outlined several factors developers should consider when evaluating data from the new chart:

1. Display Refresh Ceilings: Steam Deck LCD has a maximum frame rate of 60 FPS, while Steam Deck OLED supports up to 90 FPS.
2. Adjustable Frame Limits: Customers can adjust the frame limit on their devices, and developers may see this reflected in reports. For instance, a game capable of consistently reaching 90 FPS on OLED will likely still report sessions at lower framerates because some customers adjust the frame limit to save battery.
3. Docked Setups: Some customers may play docked to an external display supporting a higher refresh rate than the Steam Deck's internal screen.
4. All Sampled Runtime Included: "Framerate data includes all sampled time, including segments like loading screens where framerate may drop significantly."

Telemetry on a Fixed Hardware Baseline

Addressing why performance reporting is initially limited to Steam Deck rather than the broader Steam ecosystem, Valve stated: "We're starting with Steam Deck because every device has the same hardware configuration, making the data easier to understand. This also makes a better starting point for iteration as we learn what sorts of data and presentation are useful." Valve also asked developers to share feedback on the new data and updates.

In our view, leveraging the Steam Deck's fixed hardware profile gives developers a clean baseline for diagnosing real-world performance. While desktop PC testing contends with countless hardware variations, having real-world distribution data from a uniform handheld platform makes it easier to determine when a game needs performance tuning or adjusted default presets.

Sources & References

• Valve Corporation: Steamworks Development - Steam Deck Framerate data (Published October 1, 2026)
• Valve Corporation: Steamworks Development - New Steam Deck data now available in beta (Published April 23, 2026)
• GamingOnLinux: Valve make steps to improve Steam Deck Verification, giving developers more performance data (Liam Squires-Hand, April 23, 2026)
• Windows Central: Smart move as Valve’s new Steam Deck tools aim to boost handheld performance with developer tuning and user‑submitted framerate data (Cale Hunt, April 26, 2026)