Arc Raiders on Steam runs well on the Steam Deck once you make a single prerequisite tweak: force the game to use Proton Experimental. From there, the default Low preset is a solid baseline, and with a careful move to AMD FSR 3 you can nudge image quality up while holding onto playably smooth performance.
Fix launch issues (force Proton Experimental)
- In your Steam Library, highlight Arc Raiders and open Properties.
- Select the Compatibility tab.
- Check “Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool.”
- Pick Proton Experimental, then close the menu and launch the game.
At the time of writing, using Proton Experimental resolves startup problems on the Deck. If you swap Proton versions later, redo these steps.
Recommended Steam Deck settings (FSR 3 balanced mix)
The game detects the Deck’s 1280×800 resolution and defaults to the Low preset, which already lands in the 40–50fps range. To improve clarity without giving up that framerate, switch to AMD FSR 3 and raise a handful of options to Medium as below.
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1280×800 (16:10) |
| Resolution scaling method | AMD FSR 3 |
| AMD FSR 3 Quality | Balanced |
| Motion blur | Disabled |
| Nvidia RTX Global Illumination | Static |
| View distance | Medium |
| Anti‑Aliasing | Medium |
| Shadows | Medium |
| Post‑processing | Low |
| Texture | Medium |
| Effects | Low |
| Reflections | Medium |
| Foliage | Medium |
| Global illumination resolution | Low |
Why FSR 3? Its image is noticeably cleaner than the default TAAU while being faster than TSR by roughly a handful of frames. With these settings, expect the same 40–50fps envelope as Low, and occasionally 50–55fps in lighter areas, but with clearly better detail.
Performance, stability, and what to expect
- Default Low + TAAU: typically 40–50fps.
- FSR 3 Balanced + Medium mix above: typically 40–50fps, with some scenes creeping into the low‑50s.
- Stutter: brief traversal hitches are common. They’re short but noticeable.
- Crashes: changing graphics options mid‑match has caused rare crashes back to SteamOS. Make changes from the main menu when possible.
Controls feel native on Deck
Arc Raiders treats the Deck as a first‑class gamepad device. Contextual inputs and radial menus cover the genre’s many actions without keyboard clutter. The left touchpad mirrors the D‑pad for quick shortcuts, and the right touchpad offers an alternative aiming method if thumbstick precision isn’t your strength.
Battery life and power draw
- Original LCD Deck: heavy drain is expected; one full run from 100% to empty landed around 1 hour 21 minutes in testing.
- Deck OLED: plan for roughly a couple of hours per charge under similar settings, with observed estimates around 2.5 hours.
Power use varies by scene complexity and network conditions. Because the game requires a constant online connection even to boot, many players will be within reach of a charger; use that when practical for longer sessions.
Online requirement and session recovery
Arc Raiders needs an active internet connection to start and play. If a crash or interruption occurs, you can reconnect to ongoing sessions and preserve your haul—though competitors can still take it once you’re back in, as intended by the extraction design.
Quick checklist if something feels off
- Won’t launch: confirm Proton Experimental is forced in Properties → Compatibility.
- Unexpected frame drops: switch the upscaler to AMD FSR 3 on Balanced and avoid TSR.
- Crashing after tweaks: apply graphics changes from the main menu instead of mid‑match.
- Hitching bothers you: consider a 40fps system cap for steadier pacing.
With Proton Experimental set and FSR 3 in place, Arc Raiders lands in the Deck’s sweet spot: a stable 40–50fps, clean-enough image quality, and controls that make sense on a handheld—just keep an eye on the battery.
