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DIRECT ANSWER
What the player needs to know
What handheld testing measured
The figures below come from one outlet testing the review build before the launch patch, and each is reported with the preset, resolution and upscaler it used. They are cited here rather than presented as this site’s own measurements, and they can change once the launch patch and later driver updates land.
The pattern across the three devices is consistent: available memory matters more than the raw graphics processor. The MSI Claw held the steadiest frame pacing of the three, which the testing attributed to its larger 32 GB memory pool rather than to a faster chip.
| Device | Settings tested | Observed frame rate |
|---|---|---|
| Steam Deck | Lowest preset, 720p | Under 30, below 20 in the open |
| ROG Ally Z1 Extreme | Low preset, 720p, XeSS | About 30-40 with 6 GB graphics memory |
| MSI Claw 7/8 AI+ | Lowest preset, XeSS, 1080p | About 30-50 at 30 W |
Why the Deck struggles more than the others
Two things work against the Deck here. The game leans on upscaling as a baseline rather than as a bonus, so a device already rendering at a low internal resolution has little headroom left to recover. On top of that, the testing recorded traversal and streaming stutter on every handheld, and memory pressure made those worse on the devices with less to spare.
That second point is why the ROG Ally improved noticeably when its graphics memory allocation was raised from 4 GB to 6 GB. It is a useful signal for anyone tuning a handheld: on this game, memory allocation is worth trying before dropping the resolution further.
If a handheld is your main system
No official compatibility rating has been published, so there is no badge to rely on yet. Until the launch patch is tested, the safer reading is that the Deck is below a comfortable target for this game while the higher-memory Windows handhelds are workable at reduced settings.
Handheld figures on this page come from testing of the pre-launch review build and are attributed to the outlet that produced them, with the preset, resolution and upscaler stated next to every number. They are not presented as this site’s own measurements and they predate the launch patch. After release, retesting will use a named SteamOS version, game patch and TDP, and will separate sustained frame rate from traversal stutter and shader compilation. An official Deck compatibility rating, if one appears, will be recorded with its date because that badge can change without any change to the game.
- Raise the graphics memory allocation before lowering resolution further.
- Expect stutter during traversal and area streaming, not only low averages.
- Treat pre-patch figures as provisional and recheck after launch.
- Consider streaming from a desktop or console if the Deck is the only device.
Frequently asked questions
Does The Blood of Dawnwalker run on Steam Deck?
It launches, but testing of the pre-launch build could not hold 30 frames per second and saw drops below 20 in open areas.
Is it Steam Deck Verified?
No official compatibility rating has been published. That badge can also change later without any change to the game.
Does it run better on ROG Ally or MSI Claw?
Both performed better than the Deck in the same testing, with the MSI Claw holding the steadiest frame pacing thanks to its larger memory pool.
REFERENCE RECORD
Sources used for this page
Compare the current official PC requirements and understand what minimum and recommended labels do not guarantee about frame rate or settings.