Is Dune: Awakening Compatible with the Steam Deck and ROG Ally?

The much-anticipated "Dune: Awakening" finally has a launch date, and it’s not as far off as you might think. Gamers are in for an extra treat, too, with the newly released benchmark tool that lets them preview the game’s performance on their devices ahead of time, seeing firsthand just what kind of experience they can expect.

This feature is a boon for those using portable gaming systems like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally. Even though there’s no official compatibility statement from Steam yet, the free benchmark tool allows users to test the waters themselves without any hassle—a chance to assess their setups well before the game officially drops.

On giving the benchmark a whirl across various handhelds, including the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go S, the results were encouraging. However, it’s worth noting that the final game’s performance may vary, influenced by other factors such as server latency. For now, this tool offers a snapshot based on current settings, and we’d like to believe it offers a true glimpse of what’s to come.

Can You Play Dune: Awakening on Steam Deck?

Testing the benchmark on a Steam Deck yielded some surprising results. Here’s a quick rundown of the settings:

• Resolution: 1280 x 800
• Graphics settings: Low
• FSR 3: Performance
• Frame Gen: On
• Vsync: Off
• Proton version: Experimental

With these configurations, the Steam Deck achieved an average frame rate of 67.7 FPS. This impressive performance provides some wiggle room to perhaps tweak settings higher while maintaining playability.

There are a few snags, though. While the frame rate shines, the frame time graph is erratic, leading to occasional drops to 35-40 FPS in certain segments. Frames Generated (Frame Gen) remains stuck on, and peculiar to handhelds, the FSR 3 setting is locked to Performance mode, unlike on desktops where it defaults to Balanced.

Yet, with two months to go before release, there’s hope for improvements both within the game’s code and Proton’s capabilities. Already, moving from Proton 9.0.4 to Proton Experimental boosted the average FPS from 57.7. This bodes well for further enhancements closer to the release date, even if it heavily relies on Frame Gen.

Can You Play Dune: Awakening on the ROG Ally, Legion Go, and Legion Go S?

In terms of raw performance, the Steam Deck naturally falls behind due to its reliance on Linux and Proton. However, consistently positive performance on the Steam Deck often translates to even better outcomes on Windows-based devices like the ROG Ally.

Testing was conducted on both the ROG Ally X and the newly introduced Legion Go S, powered by an updated AMD Z2 Go chip. Here’s what we found, starting with the Legion Go S:

• Resolution: 1280 x 800
• Graphics settings: Low
• FSR 3: Performance
• Frame Gen: On
• Vsync: On

The experience on the Legion Go S aligns closely with that on the Steam Deck, maintaining an FPS between 67 and 76, although the occasional dip below 40 FPS was noted. Despite the AMD Z2 Go’s slightly improved specs, the VRAM allocation of 8GB seems overkill, as the Steam Deck used just over 4GB in comparison.

Meanwhile, the ROG Ally X demonstrated its superior capacity, managing smoother performance and more robust settings:

• Resolution: 1280 x 720
• Graphics settings: Medium
• FSR 3: Performance
• Frame Gen: On
• Vsync: On

The ROG Ally X flexed its muscles, comfortably handling higher settings and reaching an FPS of up to 103. Although some frame rate dips occurred, they were no more severe than a drop to 56 FPS, suggesting ample headroom for higher graphical tweaks while still maintaining a desirable 60 FPS.

Yet, the inescapable influence of Frame Gen introduces some concerns. Since it’s permanent in the benchmark, assessing its true impact without it isn’t possible. This is somewhat worrisome, especially considering the notorious demands of games built on Unreal Engine 5, such as "Avowed."

While much remains to be seen, especially regarding overall gameplay, these initial benchmark results give handheld gamers a promising glimpse into what "Dune: Awakening" could deliver on portable devices.