Valve has long been a data-driven company, regularly gathering insights about gaming PCs through its monthly hardware survey. Recently, the gaming giant has taken a significant step forward by planning to utilize frame rate data from its vast user base to provide estimates on how well games will perform on individual systems.
Performance Insights from Steam
This initiative began about a month ago with a beta version of SteamOS that started collecting performance metrics. A recent discovery by a user on ResetEra, reported by PC Gamer, revealed a code string in the latest Steam update indicating that this performance data will soon be used to estimate game performance on users’ hardware. While these estimates are not yet visible on game pages, the potential for such a feature is promising.
Steam is not the first digital storefront to offer performance estimates; the Xbox app and the Windows Store have been providing similar information for years. However, the details offered by these platforms have often been vague. For instance, when browsing Game Pass, users might see a message stating, “Should perform great on your device,” which lacks specificity.
In contrast, the anticipated Steam performance estimates appear to be more comprehensive. According to the code found on ResetEra, users will soon have the option to input their CPU, GPU, and RAM specifications to receive a tailored performance estimate. For those using Steam on their existing gaming setups, the platform will automatically generate projections based on their current hardware configuration. This capability stems from Valve’s extensive history of collecting user hardware data.
The introduction of frame rate estimates could be particularly beneficial for the Steam Machine and other Valve hardware. If the Steam Machine achieves strong sales, Valve will have access to a wealth of nearly identical hardware configurations, allowing for more accurate performance assessments across a range of games.
Concerns have been raised about the Radeon RX 7600M-level GPU in the mini gaming PC, but with the forthcoming performance information readily available on each game’s store page, users will be able to ascertain how well the Steam Machine can handle various titles. Currently, this frame rate data collection is still in the beta phase, meaning it may take some time before the feature becomes widely accessible. Once implemented, it promises to assist gamers in determining whether their hardware is capable of running the latest releases effectively.
Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra