Does Dead Space Remake work on Steam Deck?

Does Dead Space Remake work on Steam Deck?? Valve’s portable gaming PC is a portable powerhouse, but you’re probably wondering if it can handle a horror game upgrade. Although the showcase giant didn’t give the sci-fi game a “Verified” stamp of approval, we’re here to let you know what to expect when playing Blood Glow on the go.

Steam Deck may be a complete PC, but even the best Dead Space settings won’t necessarily help you get better frame rates on your laptop. That’s not to say Valve’s mighty machine can’t handle new releases, and reducing lighting and shadow effects will go a long way. Being able to run every game on Steam isn’t a guarantee though, and Motive’s pathetic remake is no exception.

Short answer: yes, Dead Space Remake will work on the Steam Deck, and you can actually tackle USG Ishimura on Valve’s handheld. That being said, if you’re looking for an experience to match a PS5 or even a semi-decent setup, its performance might be a bad thing.

Steam Deck Performance in Dead Space Remake

Dead Space Remake is now technically playable on the Steam Deck thanks to a patch from Proton that fixes critical issues with the map. In addition, the card also fixes issues with using variable-rate shading impacting performance, but you’ll still struggle with horribly low frame rates when running handheld.

With all settings set to “low”, we were unable to hit 60fps while playing Dead Space on the Steam Deck. Switching AMD FSR 2.0 to “performance” mode actually boosts framerates to levels well beyond previous ones, but visually it turns the intuitive ship into a blurry mess on Valve’s handheld.

We already know that Motive Remake is demanding, as the system requirements for Dead Space Remake set the bar high when it comes to performance. However, future fixes may help improve performance on the road, as even the RTX 4080 will now sweat.

Dead Space Remake Compatibility with Steam Deck

We’re still waiting for Valve to give Dead Space Remake a Steam Deck compatibility level, as it’s listed as “unknown” on the store. That will no doubt change in the future, but the performances could prevent the cosmic horror from getting “Gorgeous on Deck” status. That is if everything stays the way it is now, but hopefully Motive releases a patch that makes the new version perfectly portable.

If not, you’ll have to wait for Steam Deck 2 to hit the scene, as it should take Valve’s vision of portable performance to the next level. If you plan on playing on a regular PC, check out our Dead Space Weapon Upgrade Locations guide and hop on every Necromorph.