Obsidian’s latest role-playing game, Avowed, has garnered attention for its ambitious design and immersive world. However, players looking to enjoy this title on portable devices may find themselves facing some challenges. Hardware writer Nick Evanson’s performance analysis revealed that the game experiences significant issues on the ASUS ROG Ally, crashing upon startup. Furthermore, the more widely used Steam Deck also struggles to deliver a satisfactory gaming experience.
Performance Insights
Currently, Avowed holds an “unknown” compatibility rating on the Steam Deck’s store page. Intrigued by its potential, I decided to test the game on this handheld device. The minimum GPU requirement for Avowed is the GTX 1070, a model that debuted in 2016. While recent RPGs such as Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Elden Ring, which also list 10-series GPUs as their minimum specs, have managed to achieve playable frame rates on the Deck, Avowed does not seem to follow suit.
In my attempts to explore the open world with all settings minimized and FSR performance enabled, I recorded a disappointing frame rate of 20-25 fps. Engaging in combat under these conditions seemed unfeasible. While one might consider lowering the resolution below the Deck’s native 1280×800, such adjustments would push the experience into a territory reminiscent of poorly executed Nintendo Switch ports—an experience that few would find enjoyable.
It’s understandable that Avowed is primarily designed to target 30fps on Xbox Series consoles, given its specifications. The GTX 1070 requirement is indeed a step above the GTX 1060 or 970 that many other games demand, which are capable of achieving playable frame rates on the Deck.
For those who can play Avowed on more robust hardware, the experience is markedly better. On an RTX 3070, I found the game to run smoothly at medium-high settings and 1440p resolution. For a comprehensive analysis of Avowed’s performance across various hardware configurations and resolutions, I recommend checking out Nick’s detailed performance breakdown.
