Assassin’s Creed Shadows Steam Deck settings should target a steady 30 FPS, especially in towns, rain and busy fights. Stable pacing makes parries, dodges and stealth encounters easier to read.
Key points
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows launched on Steam on March 19, 2025.
- The official Steam page lists AMD FSR and ray-tracing features for PC.
- Steam Deck LCD is capped at 60 Hz, while Steam Deck OLED is capped at 90 Hz.
- Steam’s performance monitor can display FPS and frame-time variation.
Keep the render resolution sensible and cut the most expensive effects first. This profile aims for consistent handheld play, not an unrealistic 60 FPS claim.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Steam Deck settings
Open the game page in Steam, select the gear icon, then Properties. Make sure 1080p has not been forced. Open the quick-access menu with …, select Performance and set a per-game profile.
- Keep 1280 × 800 in handheld mode.
- Set a 30 FPS cap.
- Start with the Low preset.
- Turn ray tracing off.
- Use Balanced upscaling where it is available.
- Lower shadows, volumetric fog and reflections before textures.
The official Steam page lists AMD FSR and ray-tracing features for PC. On Steam Deck, ray tracing is the first setting to disable. Upscaling can recover headroom, but it cannot fix an unstable base frame rate.
Steam Deck settings by display mode
| Setup | Target | Starting profile | Mistake to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| LCD handheld | Steady 30 FPS | 60 Hz, 30 FPS cap, Low, Balanced upscaling | Chasing unstable 40 FPS |
| OLED handheld | Steady 30 FPS | 60 or 90 Hz, 30 FPS cap, Low, Balanced upscaling | Mistaking 90 Hz for 90 FPS |
| Docked Steam Deck | Clear TV image | Start at 720p or 800p, 30 FPS cap | Forcing 1080p rendering |
The LCD Steam Deck display is capped at 60 Hz, while OLED reaches 90 Hz. A higher refresh rate does not create extra game FPS. Valve explains the display limits in Steam Deck display support.
On a 1080p television, render lower and let the display scale the image. For a blank display or cable issue, follow Valve’s dock support steps.
Testing Assassin’s Creed Shadows Steam Deck settings
Do not judge a profile from the title screen. Load a save, let the area settle, then repeat the same route after every change.
- Enable Steam’s performance monitor at level 2 or 3.
- Walk through a busy street for 60 seconds.
- Ride through an open area.
- Start a fight against several enemies.
- Change one option and repeat the route.
If only towns slow down, reduce shadows or fog by one step. If the image is soft everywhere, return from Performance to Balanced upscaling before cutting textures.
Steam’s monitor separates displayed FPS from game FPS when frame generation is active. Valve notes that frame generation does not reduce input latency. Do not use it to hide a weak baseline when parry and dodge timing matters. Read the Steam performance-monitor documentation for the indicators.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Steam Deck mistakes to avoid
Do not copy an old profile without checking the game after a patch or Proton change. Do not change five settings after one drop. You will not know which option helped.
Do not lower textures first. Shadows, fog and reflections are often better targets. A per-game profile also prevents another title’s resolution or FPS cap from carrying over.
Key takeaways
- Start at 1280 × 800, Low and a 30 FPS cap.
- Disable ray tracing before lowering textures.
- Test a dense street, a ride and a fight.
- Avoid default 1080p rendering when docked.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which settings should I apply first?Start with 1280 × 800, 30 FPS, Low, ray tracing off and Balanced upscaling where available.
Lower shadows or volumetric fog by one step first, then replay the same route.
No for this handheld profile. Keep that performance budget for steadier frame pacing and clearer fights.
Use it only when the heavy test route remains unstable with Low and Balanced upscaling. Return to Balanced if motion becomes too soft.
1080p rendering adds a large load. Start at 720p or 800p and let the television scale the image.
Test dodges and parries in a fight with several enemies. Steady input matters more than a higher FPS peak.
No. Reduce shadows, fog and reflections first. Lower textures can harm image clarity without removing stutter.
Check the official Steam page and Steam Deck support after a major update.
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