Steam tests feature that shows estimated FPS before purchase

Steam is developing a store tool to display estimated FPS before purchase, based on anonymous user data; the Deck has an advantage due to standardized hardware.

What is being developed

Steam is developing a feature for the store that would display estimated performance in FPS before purchase. The estimate would be based on real data collected from players with similar hardware.

Valve has already started asking users to opt-in to share performance data anonymously. Steam Deck users have already reported prompts asking for permission to collect frame rate and frametime metrics. The data network appears to be already functional.

Why the Deck is the primary target

This approach makes more sense for the Steam Deck and standardized hardware: since every Steam Deck uses the same CPU, GPU, and resolution, estimates can be more accurate. On a Deck, it would be possible to see something like likely 45–60 FPS on medium settings, with grounded confidence.

Challenges on Windows PCs

For Windows PCs, the challenge is greater. The variety of CPU and GPU combinations, driver versions, and background applications makes precise predictions difficult.

Other factors also influence, such as in-game settings, resolution, and technologies like frame generation, which can distort the FPS count.

How this may change the shopping experience

Today, Steam only shows minimum and recommended requirements, which do not always indicate the expected FPS nor with which settings you would reach that rate.

The new system would use aggregated data to indicate what players with your hardware are actually achieving. With Steam's scale, the company has the capacity to make this viable, as it already collects hardware information and conducts hardware surveys among its users.

The feature still depends on user adoption, but if implemented, it could make purchasing choices more informed and less dependent on generic requirements.

What do you think of this idea? Would you trust an FPS estimate based on data from other players with similar hardware to guide your purchase?

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