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Get Avowed Working on Steam Deck: A Comprehensive Guide

Avowed, Obsidian Entertainment's highly anticipated first-person RPG, has players eagerly anticipating its release. Many are wondering about its compatibility with the Steam Deck, the popular handheld gaming PC. While not officially supported at launch, getting Avowed running on the Steam Deck is entirely possible, though it may require some tweaking. This guide will walk you through the process, covering various methods and troubleshooting tips to ensure a smooth, enjoyable experience.

Understanding Avowed's Steam Deck Compatibility

Avowed, built on the Unreal Engine 5, presents a unique challenge for Steam Deck compatibility. The game's demanding graphical fidelity requires optimization to run smoothly on the Steam Deck's hardware. While the Deck is incredibly powerful for a handheld device, successfully running Avowed will depend on several factors, including your chosen graphics settings and the specific Steam Deck model you own.

Key Considerations Before You Start

• Steam Deck Model: The Steam Deck's various models (64GB, 256GB, 512GB) differ slightly in performance. Higher-capacity models generally offer a smoother experience due to faster storage.
• Game Updates: Keep your game updated. Developers often release patches that address performance issues and improve compatibility.
• Driver Updates: Ensure your Steam Deck's drivers are up-to-date. Outdated drivers can lead to various compatibility problems.
• Anticipation for Patches: Remember that even with optimization, the game might not run perfectly at launch. Expect potential patches to improve performance over time.

Methods to Play Avowed on Steam Deck

There are several ways to get Avowed running on your Steam Deck, ranging from easy to more technical.

Method 1: Direct Launch (If Possible)

First, attempt the simplest method. After installing Avowed through Steam, simply launch the game directly from your Steam Deck's library. This might work without any adjustments, depending on your settings and the game's current optimization. If it launches and runs acceptably, you're in luck!

Method 2: Adjusting In-Game Graphics Settings

If the game launches but runs poorly, you'll need to adjust its in-game graphics settings. Lowering the resolution, reducing shadow quality, disabling ray tracing (if available), and turning down other graphical effects significantly boosts performance. Experiment with different settings to find the optimal balance between visual quality and framerate.

Key settings to prioritize lowering:

• Resolution: Lowering the resolution will dramatically improve performance. Consider targeting 720p or even lower.
• Shadow Quality: High-quality shadows are resource-intensive. Set this to Low or Medium.
• Texture Quality: Reduce texture detail.
• Anti-aliasing: Disable or lower anti-aliasing settings.
• Ray Tracing (if applicable): Completely disable ray tracing if the option is available. It's highly demanding.

Method 3: Using Proton Experimental

Proton is a compatibility layer that allows Windows games to run on Linux (the operating system Steam Deck uses). If direct launch and graphics settings adjustments aren't sufficient, try launching Avowed using Proton Experimental. This offers potentially improved compatibility but might introduce unforeseen issues. To do this, right-click Avowed in your Steam library, select "Properties," go to the "Compatibility" tab, and select a different Proton version from the dropdown menu.

Method 4: Community-Created Proton Profiles (Advanced)

Several dedicated communities actively work on optimizing Proton profiles for various games. Search online forums and communities for "Avowed Proton profile" to see if any optimized profiles exist that improve performance beyond what standard Proton offers. Use these with caution and always back up your Steam Deck before installing community-created profiles.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Restart your Steam Deck: A simple restart often resolves minor glitches.
• Check for game updates: Ensure both Avowed and your Steam Deck's system are updated to the latest versions.
• Verify game files: Steam allows you to verify the integrity of your Avowed game files, ensuring no corrupted data is causing problems.
• Overheating: Avowed is graphically intense. Ensure your Steam Deck has proper ventilation to prevent overheating, which can lead to performance issues or crashes.

Conclusion: Enjoying Avowed on the Go

Getting Avowed to run smoothly on your Steam Deck might require some experimentation. Start with the simplest methods and progressively try more advanced techniques if needed. While it may not run at the highest settings, with a bit of patience and tweaking, you can likely enjoy this highly anticipated RPG on the go. Remember to check for updates and community solutions; optimized experiences often evolve after release. Happy gaming!

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