Valve posted a note on the Doom: The Dark Ages update 2.2The latest game in the Doom saga, which began in 2016, arrived a few weeks ago as a prequel, and is graphically more demanding than the previous two. Both Doom 2016 and Eternal run well on the Steam Deck, although the latter hasn't been verified due to very small text and sometimes showing the pointer on the screen. This patch is especially useful for handhelds like Valve's.
The first thing is that the company has marked the game as verified for the Steam Deck. There is some controversy and debate about how these checks are distributed., since there are verified games that work poorly and others that aren't verified that work better. The point is that if it has the brand, at least it's playable, even if it's just barely. That seems to be the case with Doom: The Dark Ages on the Steam Deck.
Doom: The Dark Ages verified, but at 30fps
As we read in the note, the game will automatically detect the best settings for handheld computersThese settings are applied when the title is launched, but can be modified later.
According to official information, the Steam Deck will be able to run the game at ~30fps in its 720p resolution (although the native one is 800p). If we read in ProtonDB, there were already users saying that the game should be verified, and that it stays at 30 or even reaches 40fps. In the same average, devices with Z1, Z1E (at 1080p) and Z2A processors will be able to play, while the XBOX Rog Ally X with the Z2E will be able to run it at 1080p at around 60fps.
All of the above applies to devices with no limits and plugged into a power outlet. In other words, at full power. It's also worth noting that the results are based on what was achieved with the controllers before the game's release, so performance should be even better.
Are those 30fps enough?
For many, maybe not. There are gamers who don't want anything below 60fps. But I've played Horizon Zero Dawn for a long time at 30fps, and it's playable. The problem, for me, isn't that average; it's whether there are significant drops. I seem to remember that in Doom 2016, which has been verified, I hit a point where it dropped to an unplayable level; I don't remember if it was below 10fps. I also don't remember if it was a one-time glitch or if I increased the VRAM to 2GB to get through that stretch, but the fact is that an average of 30fps is fine for most users. If there aren't significant drops, of course.
Doom: The Dark Ages is available on Steam for €79.99.