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Starfield is set to release on September 6th and there's obviously a lot of excitement around it but will it work on Valve's Steam Deck? That's not currently clear.

In a chat with Kinda Funny Games in a video released on June 22nd, one of the hosts Mike brings up the issue of accessibility with Todd Howard of Bethesda. Howard mentions that Starfield will have a "large font mode" which really helps readability due to all the text and specifically mentioned it works better for handhelds.

So after this the same host popped the question about whether Starfield will be "Steam Deck compatible", to which Howard replies "We'll talk about that later down the road". It's clear it won't support Linux directly but the real questions are: how well will it work with Valve's Proton? Will it scale down enough to the Steam Deck to at least be a smooth 30FPS? Obviously right now they're not going to be confirming anything.

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What we can hope is that it has enough options to scale down the settings, and have the latest AMD FSR to really help keep the performance level. I'm excited, so I will no doubt take a look at release.

You can pre-order on Humble Store and Steam.

Update: turns out AMD are the official partner, and so it will be optimized for AMD and FSR 2 which is potentially good news for Steam Deck:

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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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Klaas Jun 27, 2023
It seems that he has learned to make less promises about thinks that he does not know. That's something at least.
ExpandingMan Jun 27, 2023
At least we haven't yet heard anything to make us think it won't run fine on linux desktop. I'm admittedly quite excited about this and will be frustrated if I can't run it.
Liam Dawe Jun 27, 2023
Updated to include AMD partnership details.
leo523 Jun 27, 2023
Probably it's because FSR 2 can run on Xbox and get higher FPS.
tfk Jun 27, 2023
Sixteen times the font size...
Grogan Jun 27, 2023
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I'll never buy anything developed or published by Bethesda now... that's Microsoft. It's not even just vindictive hatred (though, guilty as charged), I simply don't trust that they won't wrap it up in some detestable UWP/Microsoft Store interface either now, or down the road when they convert all their titles. I'll be lucky if they leave the Bethesda games I already have, alone.

It is also my opinion that Microsoft intends to undermine the Steam Deck and what Valve is doing. Look at what they did with that Asus handheld running Windows... Microsoft offering Steam Deck trade-ins. Despite their smarm, the leopard has neither changed its spots nor has it lost its appetite for your face.

P.S. If anybody thinks Microsoft has any noble motives in buying game publishers and the studios under their auspices:

Indiana Jones Game Is Not Coming To PS5 As Bethesda Confirms Xbox-Exclusivity
https://www.psu.com/news/indiana-jones-game-is-not-coming-to-ps5-as-bethesda-confirms-xbox-exclusivity/

QuoteMachineGames’ highly anticipated Indiana Jones game is an Xbox console exclusive, Bethesda’s Pete Hines has revealed while speaking in court yesterday on the opening day of Microsoft’s battle with the Federal Trade Commission.

FTC lawyers asked the executive if Disney had signed a deal with Bethesda parent company ZeniMax prior to Microsoft acquiring the studio to “make an Indiana Jones game for multiple consoles,” with Hines replying “yes.” He later confirmed that Bethesda had amended the Disney agreement so that he game would now be appearing exclusively for PC and Xbox platforms.


Last edited by Grogan on 27 June 2023 at 6:31 pm UTC
denyasis Jun 27, 2023
Crap... and I just started Skyrim for the first time, lol.... Although I'm not finding it very compelling. I'll have to try it some more, maybe it gets better!!

But starfield looks interesting. I love the scifi setting and it looks like a more fleshed out version of Elite or No Man's Sky, which would be awesome!!
rustybroomhandle Jun 27, 2023
Quoting: leo523Probably it's because FSR 2 can run on Xbox and get higher FPS.

The game has been confirmed will launch with a 30fps cap on console.
dziadulewicz Jun 27, 2023
Quoting: GroganI'll never buy anything developed or published by Bethesda now... that's Microsoft. It's not even just vindictive hatred (though, guilty as charged), I simply don't trust that they won't wrap it up in some detestable UWP/Microsoft Store interface either now, or down the road when they convert all their titles. I'll be lucky if they leave the Bethesda games I already have, alone.

It is also my opinion that Microsoft intends to undermine the Steam Deck and what Valve is doing. Look at what they did with that Asus handheld running Windows... Microsoft offering Steam Deck trade-ins. Despite their smarm, the leopard has neither changed its spots nor has it lost its appetite for your face.

P.S. If anybody thinks Microsoft has any noble motives in buying game publishers and the studios under their auspices:

Indiana Jones Game Is Not Coming To PS5 As Bethesda Confirms Xbox-Exclusivity
https://www.psu.com/news/indiana-jones-game-is-not-coming-to-ps5-as-bethesda-confirms-xbox-exclusivity/

QuoteMachineGames’ highly anticipated Indiana Jones game is an Xbox console exclusive, Bethesda’s Pete Hines has revealed while speaking in court yesterday on the opening day of Microsoft’s battle with the Federal Trade Commission.

FTC lawyers asked the executive if Disney had signed a deal with Bethesda parent company ZeniMax prior to Microsoft acquiring the studio to “make an Indiana Jones game for multiple consoles,” with Hines replying “yes.” He later confirmed that Bethesda had amended the Disney agreement so that he game would now be appearing exclusively for PC and Xbox platforms.

Nothing to add here. Thank you for the well put "heads up". Does a significant portion of Linux gamers have a short memory or just being naive? Microsoft Linux zilch or has changed one bit when looked closer...
Grogan Jun 27, 2023
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Quoting: dziadulewiczDoes a significant portion of Linux gamers have a short memory or just being naive? Microsoft Linux zilch or has changed one bit when looked closer...

I wouldn't say that, nobody is actually praising this situation, they just aren't belching forth the brimstone and fire.

The site certainly isn't wrong to showcase a marvelous looking game though (I'd want this one), I just hope folks actually get to play it, "later down the road" as the PR statement goes.
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