Doom: The Dark Ages, the eagerly anticipated installment in the iconic FPS series, is slated for a worldwide launch on May 15, 2025. Developed by Bethesda Softworks and id Software, this action-packed shooter will be available on a variety of platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows. Notably, it will also support Windows-compatible consoles, such as the Steam Deck.
Though the Steam Deck offers impressive hardware capabilities, Doom: The Dark Ages presents specific performance challenges. Initially, the game did not run on the Steam Deck; however, a recent update from Steam resolved the compatibility issue. Players can now enjoy the game on this handheld device, although some settings will require optimization for the best experience.
For gamers looking to maximize their performance on the Steam Deck while playing Doom: The Dark Ages, we’ve compiled a guide outlining the optimal settings to enhance both visual quality and gameplay smoothness.
Optimizing Doom: The Dark Ages for Steam Deck
With the right adjustments, Doom: The Dark Ages can run smoothly on the Steam Deck. Utilizing a modest resolution of 600p, players can achieve an average frame rate of 35-40 FPS, which is satisfactory for a handheld device. To achieve this, we selected the lowest graphics settings, turning everything off or setting it to low.
Activating AMD FSR in Performance mode is essential; this option balances both performance and visual fidelity. Alternatively, if you wish to experiment, you can set the resolution to 800p, the Steam Deck’s maximum native resolution. While this setting yields slightly improved visuals, frame rates tend to drop below 30 FPS, which may not provide the ideal gameplay experience.
Here are the recommended settings for Doom: The Dark Ages on the Steam Deck:
Display Settings
- Window Mode: Fullscreen
- Monitor: Default
- Aspect Ratio: 16:10
- Resolution: 1280 x 800
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Vertical Sync: Off
- Present From Compute: On
- Resolution Scaling Mode: Off
- Resolution Scale: 1.00 (Greyed out)
- Resolution Scaling Target: 60 (Greyed out)
- Performance Metrics: Off
Video Adjustments
- Field of View: 90
- Chromatic Aberration: Off
- Depth of Field: Off
- Sharpening: 2.50
- Film Grain: 0.00
- Upscaler: FSR
- DLSS Features: Greyed out
- FSR: Performance
- FSR Sharpness: 0%
- FSR Frame Generation: Off
Display Calibration
- Enable HDR: Off
- Gamma: Adjust to preference
Motion Blur Settings
- Motion Blur: Off
- Motion Blur Amount: High (Greyed out)
- Motion Blur Quality: Ultra Nightmare (Greyed out)
Advanced Graphics Settings
- Overall Quality Slider: Low
- Texture Pool Size: 1536
- Shadow Quality: Low
- Reflections Quality: Low
- Lights Quality: Low
- Particles Quality: Low
- Decal Quality: Low
- Water Quality: Low
- Volumetrics Quality: Low
- Texture Filtering Quality: Low
- Geometric Quality: Low
- Shading Quality: Low
- Directional Occlusion: Low
Accessibility Features
- Colorblind Rendering Mode: Off
- Intensity: Greyed out
- Strength: Greyed out
- Contrast: Greyed out
- Brightness: Greyed out
By implementing these suggested settings, players can expect a smooth gaming experience while playing Doom: The Dark Ages on the Steam Deck. Although the maximum resolution is limited to 800p, maintaining performance becomes challenging. Therefore, opting for a lower resolution while making necessary optimizations is advisable.
This combination allows you to reach frame rates exceeding 30 FPS, ensuring enjoyable gameplay without compromising too much on visual quality. While further lowering the resolution may lead to decreased clarity, the settings above maintain a balance that enhances your gaming experience.
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