Forza Horizon 5, the latest installment in the acclaimed open-world racing series, promises an exhilarating journey through the vibrant landscapes of Mexico, offering a breathtaking fusion of stunning visuals and adrenaline-pumping speed. And when it comes to experiencing the thrill of this virtual autom otive paradise on the go, the Steam Deck is your ideal companion.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the essential settings to optimize your gameplay on the Steam Deck, ensuring you can immerse yourself fully in the heart-pounding excitement of Forza Horizon 5 wherever you go.
Forza Horizon 5 Best Steam Deck Settings
<table style="margin: 1rem auto; color: #ddd; background-color: #23262F; border-radius: 0.5rem; padding: 0; border-collapse: separate;">
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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 Experimental</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 Experimental |
BIOS Settings |
UMA Frame Buffer Size |
4G |
To optimize your Forza Horizon 5 experience on the Steam Deck, there are a couple of key adjustments you should make. First and foremost, it’s crucial to utilize Proton Experimental, which offers the best compatibility for running Windows games on a Linux-based system like the Steam Deck. To do this, simply navigate to the compatibility settings in your Steam library before launching the game, and select Proton Experimental as your preferred compatibility option.
Additionally, don’t overlook the importance of adjusting the UMA Frame Buffer Size to 4G. This tweak helps ensure that the game runs smoothly and efficiently, making the most of the Steam Deck’s hardware capabilities.
Once these changes are in place, you’re all set to embark on your high-speed racing adventures in Forza Horizon 5, enjoying the game’s breathtaking visuals and immersive gameplay on the go.
Balanced Settings (Native@40fps | ~2h00m)
These settings will give you a balance between visuals and performance for a truly immersive racing experience on the Steam Deck. When configured with primarily medium settings and a locked frame rate of 40 fps, the game truly shines, displaying breathtaking graphics and a responsive gameplay experience.
However, the quest for 60 fps can prove challenging. To reach that coveted frame rate, you’d need to make significant sacrifices, such as lowering the resolution and further reducing graphical settings. Compromising Forza Horizon 5’s stunning visuals for a 60 fps experience that occasionally dips into the 50s might not be worth it for many gamers.
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<tr bgcolor="#3f434f">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem;">In-game Video Settings</th>
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<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Resolution</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">1280x800</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Frame Rate</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">60 fps</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Vertical Synchronization</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Full Screen</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">On</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Show FPS</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Motion Blur</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Short</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">User Interface Scale</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">AMD FidelityFX CAS</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">AMD FSR 2.2</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">TAA</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">On</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">TAA Sharpness</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">8*</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">FXAA</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">MSAA</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Off</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#3f434f">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem;">In-game Graphics Settings</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Anisotropic Filtering</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Medium</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Shadow Quality</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Low</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Night Shadows</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Motion Blur Quality</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Low</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Environment Texture Quality</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">High</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Environment Geometry Quality</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Medium</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">SSAO Quality</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">High</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Reflection Quality</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Medium</td>
</tr>
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<td style="padding: 0.5rem">World Car Level of Detail</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">High</td>
</tr>
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<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Deformable Terrain Quality</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">SSR Quality</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Low</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Lens Effects</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">High*</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Shader Quality</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">High</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Particle Effects Quality</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Medium</td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor="#3f434f">
<th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem; text-align: right"><sub>*Set to personal preference.</sub></th>
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</table>
In-game Video Settings |
Resolution |
1280×800 |
Frame Rate |
60 fps |
Vertical Synchronization |
Off |
Full Screen |
On |
Show FPS |
Off |
Motion Blur |
Short |
User Interface Scale |
100 |
AMD FidelityFX CAS |
Off |
AMD FSR 2.2 |
Off |
TAA |
On |
TAA Sharpness |
8* |
FXAA |
Off |
MSAA |
Off |
In-game Graphics Settings |
Anisotropic Filtering |
Medium |
Shadow Quality |
Low |
Night Shadows |
Off |
Motion Blur Quality |
Low |
Environment Texture Quality |
High |
Environment Geometry Quality |
Medium |
SSAO Quality |
High |
Reflection Quality |
Medium |
World Car Level of Detail |
High |
Deformable Terrain Quality |
Off |
SSR Quality |
Low |
Lens Effects |
High* |
Shader Quality |
High |
Particle Effects Quality |
Medium |
*Set to personal preference. |
<table style="margin: 1rem auto; color: #ddd; background-color: #23262F; border-radius: 0.5rem; padding: 0; border-collapse: separate;">
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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 style="padding: 0.5rem">40</td>
</tr>
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<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Framerate Limit</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">40</td>
</tr>
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<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Allow Tearing</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">On</td>
</tr>
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<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Half Rate Shading</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Thermal Power (TDP) Limit</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Manual GPU Clock Control</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Off</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Scaling Filter</td>
<td style="padding: 0.5rem">Linear</td>
</tr>
</table>
Steam Deck Performance Menu Settings |
Refresh Rate |
40 |
Framerate Limit |
40 |
Allow Tearing |
On |
Half Rate Shading |
Off |
Thermal Power (TDP) Limit |
Off |
Manual GPU Clock Control |
Off |
Scaling Filter |
Linear |