"I've been longing for frame generation on the Steam Deck, why is it so disappointing?"
It is now possible to take advantage of frame generation in almost any game on the Steam Deck, but it's important to maintain realistic expectations.
Last week, an anticipated breakthrough occurred with the Steam Deck in terms of frame generation. While other devices like the ROG Ally feature AMD Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF) technology and some Windows laptops can utilize Lossless Scaling, the Steam Deck had been left out of frame generation in games that do not have native support for FSR 3, limiting the available options.
However, the beta version of the Decky-Framegen mod was released on GitHub, allowing users to use FSR 3 Frame Generation in titles that are only compatible with DLSS Frame Generation. The installation is quite straightforward for those who have already used Decky Loader. You simply need to drag the plugin into the Steam Deck's Plugins folder and activate the plugin in any game from the list. This adds a launch command for the selected games, making it easier to use.
Although it initially seemed like the ideal solution, the experience with the mod challenged expectations. While Decky-Framegen works and it is not deemed necessary to uninstall it, it became evident that it does not allow playing titles that were previously unplayable, but rather enhances the smoothness of those that are already playable. However, the improvement will depend on the game's base performance.
Frame generation performs best when it can draw upon a high and consistent frame rate. FSR 3 uses frame interpolation, where two frames are rendered and one intermediate frame is generated. A higher frame rate makes the generation process easier, while a lower frame rate complicates it.
In games with an inconsistent frame rate, like the ones tested, unsatisfactory behavior was experienced. In titles such as Final Fantasy XVI and Silent Hill 2, although the mod attempted to improve performance from 20 fps to 40 fps, the gameplay still felt slow and unresponsive.
The inconsistency of the frame rate affects game perception, making the action feel more choppy. This is because frame generation requires smooth operation to insert the generated frames at the right moment. Additionally, the overhead involved in frame generation can, on a low-performance device like the Steam Deck, reduce overall performance, creating a cycle of performance loss whenever frame generation cannot keep up with frame rate fluctuations.
Although the dream of unlocking a new level of performance on the Steam Deck through frame generation has not been realized, the Decky-Framegen mod remains an addition that can enhance the gaming experience in titles that run well. With proper settings, it allows already smooth games to look even smoother, especially on devices that are as well-optimized as the ROG Ally X, which features a 120Hz display. Nonetheless, it is essential to keep expectations at a realistic level regarding what this mod can offer.
