The Steam Deck presents a unique canvas for traversing the haunting landscapes of Death Stranding. In this guide, we navigate the intricacies of setting configuration, fusing Kojima’s visual masterpiece with the portable prowess of the Steam Deck. Uncover the perfect equilibrium between breathtaking visuals and seamless gameplay, as we fine-tune to get the DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT best Steam Deck settings.
DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT Best Steam Deck Settings
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<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem">Compatibility Settings</th>
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<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Proton Version</td><td style="padding: 0.5rem">Proton 8.0-2</td>
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<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem">BIOS Settings</th>
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<td style="padding: 0.5rem">UMA Frame Buffer Size</td><td style="padding: 0.5rem">4G</td>
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Compatibility Settings |
Proton Version |
Proton 8.0-2 |
BIOS Settings |
UMA Frame Buffer Size |
4G |
DEATH STRANDING runs fine on the default Proton settings, but you’ll get the best performance by switching to a version of Proton 8. We tested the settings below in Proton 8.0-2.
Don’t forget to hop into the BIOS settings and raise the UMA Frame Buffer Size to 4G.
Recommended — Balanced Settings (Native@40fps | ~1h15m)
These settings will get you a mostly consistent 40fps with the occasional dip in the later acts. At native resolution on the Steam Deck’s screen, the game looks and plays even better than the original PlayStation 4 version.
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<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem;">In-game Video Options</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Screen Mode</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Full Screen</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Aspect Ratio</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">16:9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Vsync</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Maximum Framerate</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">60</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Model Detail</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Default</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Memory for Streaming</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Default</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Shadow Resolution</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Low</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Ambient Occlusion</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">On</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Screen Space Reflections</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Anti-Aliasing</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">TAA</td>
</tr>
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<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Depth of Field</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">On</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Motion Blur</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Off*</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#3f434f">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem; text-align: right"><sub>*Set to personal preference.</sub></th>
</tr>
</table>
In-game Video Options |
Screen Mode |
Full Screen |
Aspect Ratio |
16:9 |
Vsync |
Off |
Maximum Framerate |
60 |
Model Detail |
Default |
Memory for Streaming |
Default |
Shadow Resolution |
Low |
Ambient Occlusion |
On |
Screen Space Reflections |
Off |
Anti-Aliasing |
TAA |
Depth of Field |
On |
Motion Blur |
Off* |
*Set to personal preference. |
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<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem">Steam Deck Performance Menu Settings</th>
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<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Refresh Rate</td><td>40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Framerate Limit</td><td>40</td>
</tr>
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<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Allow Tearing</td><td>Off</td>
</tr>
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<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Half Rate Shading</td><td>Off</td>
</tr>
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<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Thermal Power (TDP) Limit</td><td>Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Manual GPU Clock Control</td><td>Off</td>
</tr>
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<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Scaling Filter</td><td>Linear</td>
</tr>
</table>
Steam Deck Performance Menu Settings |
Refresh Rate |
40 |
Framerate Limit |
40 |
Allow Tearing |
Off |
Half Rate Shading |
Off |
Thermal Power (TDP) Limit |
Off |
Manual GPU Clock Control |
Off |
Scaling Filter |
Linear |
Best Quality Settings (Native@30fps | ~1h30m)
You can get improved visuals if you’re willing to play at 30 frames per second. Enabling Screen Space Reflections helps improve immersion, though the effect is used sparingly. Improving Shadow Resolution also reduces the ugly aliasing on shadows that we get with the previous configuration.
<table style="margin: 1rem auto; color: #ddd; background-color: #23262F; border-radius: 0.5rem; padding: 0; border-collapse: separate;">
<tr bgcolor="#3f434f">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem;">In-game Video Options</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Screen Mode</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Full Screen</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Aspect Ratio</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">16:9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Vsync</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Maximum Framerate</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">60</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Model Detail</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Default</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Memory for Streaming</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Default</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Shadow Resolution</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Medium</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Ambient Occlusion</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">On</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Screen Space Reflections</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">On</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Anti-Aliasing</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">TAA</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Depth of Field</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">On</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Motion Blur</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Off*</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#3f434f">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem; text-align: right"><sub>*Set to personal preference.</sub></th>
</tr>
</table>
In-game Video Options |
Screen Mode |
Full Screen |
Aspect Ratio |
16:9 |
Vsync |
Off |
Maximum Framerate |
60 |
Model Detail |
Default |
Memory for Streaming |
Default |
Shadow Resolution |
Medium |
Ambient Occlusion |
On |
Screen Space Reflections |
On |
Anti-Aliasing |
TAA |
Depth of Field |
On |
Motion Blur |
Off* |
*Set to personal preference. |
<table
style="
margin: 1rem auto;
color: #ddd;
background-color: #23262F;
border-radius: 0.5rem;
border-collapse: separate;
"
>
<tr bgcolor="#3F434F">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem">Steam Deck Performance Menu Settings</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Refresh Rate</td><td>60</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Framerate Limit</td><td>30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Allow Tearing</td><td>Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Half Rate Shading</td><td>Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Thermal Power (TDP) Limit</td><td>Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Manual GPU Clock Control</td><td>Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Scaling Filter</td><td>Linear</td>
</tr>
</table>
Steam Deck Performance Menu Settings |
Refresh Rate |
60 |
Framerate Limit |
30 |
Allow Tearing |
Off |
Half Rate Shading |
Off |
Thermal Power (TDP) Limit |
Off |
Manual GPU Clock Control |
Off |
Scaling Filter |
Linear |