Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Best Steam Deck Settings

It sounds almost silly to say about a game that pulled in over $2 billion, but Grand Theft Auto IV is an underrated hit overshadowed by its gargantuan follow-up. This open-world classic was a beast back in its day (Sony even used it to showcase the power of the PS3's cell processor), so it's mind-boggling to think that Grand Theft Auto IV is fully playable on a handheld.

Down below we've got the best Steam Deck settings for a stable 60fps at native resolution in Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition. And if you want to take the game on the go, check out the Battery Saver configuration for maximum playtime on a single charge.

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition Best Steam Deck Settings

<table  
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  <tr bgcolor="#3F434F">
    <th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem">Compatibility Settings</th>
  </tr>
  <tr> 
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Proton Version</td><td style="padding: 0.5rem">Default</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Compatibility Settings
Proton Version	Default

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition runs perfectly out of the box. Stick with the default launch settings and jump right into the in-game settings!

We've put together three different Steam Deck setting configurations:

Best Quality Settings for maxed-out visuals,
Best Performance Settings for smooth 60fps gameplay, and
Battery Saver settings for the longest playtime.

Check them out below!

Recommended — Best Quality Settings (Native@40fps | ~2h30m)

The settings should already look a lot like this when you first jump into the game on your Steam Deck. We just need to make a few tweaks to keep the game playable:

Night Shadows should be off. This causes the game to chug at night with barely any visual benefit.
Keep View Distance and Detail Distance as low as you can tolerate. Liberty City is filled with buildings that obstruct your sight, so there's little point in having a view distance long enough to let you see the whole map.
Don't touch Vehicle Density (unless it's to turn it down). This isn't a performance issue — the Steam Deck manages just fine with this setting cranked up to full — but having the roads constantly blocked with vehicles makes some missions nearly unplayable.
Set a Framerate Limit of 40fps. The Steam Deck can hit 60fps in most areas of the game, but you may notice frame drops every once in a while. We suggest keeping it at 40fps to maintain consistency.

<table
  style="
  margin: 1rem auto;
  color: #ddd;
  background-color: #23262F;
  border-radius: 0.5rem;
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  "
>
  <tr bgcolor="#3F434F">
    <th colspan="2" style="padding: 0.5rem">In-game Graphics Settings</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Video Mode</td><td>1280x800</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Aspect Ratio</td><td>Auto</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Texture Quality</td><td>High</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Reflection Resolution</td><td>High</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Water Quality</td><td>High</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Shadow Quality</td><td>High</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Night Shadows</td><td>Off</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Texture Filter Quality</td><td>Anisotropic x16</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">View Distance</td><td>50</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Detail Distance</td><td>30</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Vehicle Density</td><td>25</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Definition</td><td>On</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">VSync</td><td>Off</td>
  </tr>
</table>

In-game Graphics Settings
Video Mode	1280x800
Aspect Ratio	Auto
Texture Quality	High
Reflection Resolution	High
Water Quality	High
Shadow Quality	High
Night Shadows	Off
Texture Filter Quality	Anisotropic x16
View Distance	50
Detail Distance	30
Vehicle Density	25
Definition	On
VSync	Off

<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>40</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Framerate Limit</td><td>40</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	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 Performance Settings (720p@60fps | ~2h)

To get a constant 60fps, we need to pull a few settings down from high to medium. The visuals will be slightly worse, but if you prioritize the highest framerates, the graphics downgrade should be acceptable.

<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">In-game Graphics Settings</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Video Mode</td><td>1152x720</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Aspect Ratio</td><td>Auto</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Texture Quality</td><td>Low</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Reflection Resolution</td><td>Low</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Water Quality</td><td>Low</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Shadow Quality</td><td>Low</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Night Shadows</td><td>Off</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Texture Filter Quality</td><td>Anisotropic x8</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">View Distance</td><td>30</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Detail Distance</td><td>20</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Vehicle Density</td><td>10</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Definition</td><td>On</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">VSync</td><td>Off</td>
  </tr>
</table>

In-game Graphics Settings
Video Mode	1152x720
Aspect Ratio	Auto
Texture Quality	Low
Reflection Resolution	Low
Water Quality	Low
Shadow Quality	Low
Night Shadows	Off
Texture Filter Quality	Anisotropic x8
View Distance	30
Detail Distance	20
Vehicle Density	10
Definition	On
VSync	Off

<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>60</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>FSR</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">FSR Sharpening</td><td>2</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Steam Deck Performance Menu Settings
Refresh Rate	60
Framerate Limit	60
Allow Tearing	Off
Half Rate Shading	Off
Thermal Power (TDP) Limit	Off
Manual GPU Clock Control	Off
Scaling Filter	FSR
FSR Sharpening	2

Battery Saver Settings (720p@30fps | ~3h)

Want maximum playtime on a single charge? Pull everything all the way down.

<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">In-game Graphics Settings</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Video Mode</td><td>1152x720</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Aspect Ratio</td><td>Auto</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Texture Quality</td><td>Low</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Reflection Resolution</td><td>Low</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Water Quality</td><td>Low</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Shadow Quality</td><td>Low</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Night Shadows</td><td>Off</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Texture Filter Quality</td><td>Off</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">View Distance</td><td>20</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Detail Distance</td><td>10</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Vehicle Density</td><td>10</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Definition</td><td>Off</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">VSync</td><td>Off</td>
  </tr>
</table>

In-game Graphics Settings
Video Mode	1152x720
Aspect Ratio	Auto
Texture Quality	Low
Reflection Resolution	Low
Water Quality	Low
Shadow Quality	Low
Night Shadows	Off
Texture Filter Quality	Off
View Distance	20
Detail Distance	10
Vehicle Density	10
Definition	Off
VSync	Off

<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>30</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>On</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">Watts</td><td>11</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>FSR</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td style="padding: 0.5rem">FSR Sharpening</td><td>2</td>
  </tr>
</table>

Steam Deck Performance Menu Settings
Refresh Rate	30
Framerate Limit	30
Allow Tearing	Off
Half Rate Shading	Off
Thermal Power (TDP) Limit	On
Watts	11
Manual GPU Clock Control	Off
Scaling Filter	FSR
FSR Sharpening	2