Summary
- Default settings work well for Helldivers 2 on the Steam Deck, although slight tweaks can enhance the experience.
- Shorter missions with Quickplay offer a portable experience on the Deck with few unexpected issues.
- The Steam Deck has a short battery life when playing Helldivers 2 away from a charger, but it is worth the trouble.
The Steam Deck is small but powerful, sometimes managing to run games one would think it's incapable of. This time around, it's Helldivers 2 that's putting Valve's device to the test and the results are wonderful. It's as though the two were made for each other, and the Deck allows Steam users to make the most of the game without being tethered to a console or PC.
Not much tweaking is necessary to get the best experience from Helldivers 2, and the PvE game might be one of the best-looking titles the Deck can run. Make no mistake, it's an intense experience blasting Automatons and Terminids on a large television, but the Deck offers a few perks that consoles can't.
Perfect Settings for Helldivers 2 on the Steam Deck
The default settings for Helldivers 2 are sufficient in almost all cases. However, as players increase their rank and visit planets with more enemies on screen, the game may start stuttering. Fortunately, changing a few settings will remedy this.
The Best Steam Deck Settings to Balance Visuals and Performance
- Resolution - 1280 x 800
- Render scale - the Deck can handle Ultra Quality
- Framerate limit - On (30fps provides a smooth gaming experience; at 40fps, sacrifices will have to be made with visuals)
- Motion Blur - This feature is subjective,
- Depth of field - off
- Bloom - on
- Sharpness - 0.50 is manageable on the Deck
- Texture quality - Medium
- Object detail quality - High
- Render distance - Low
- Shadow quality - Low
- Particle quality - Low
- Reflection quality - Low
- Space quality - Low
- Ambient Occlusion - On
- Screen-Space illumination - Off (can be turned on for a mostly stable experience)
- Screen-Space global illumination - Off
- Vegetation and rubble density - Medium
- Terrain quality - Low
- Volumetric fog quality - Low
- Volumetric clouds quality - Low (even Lowest will help)
- Anti-aliasing - On
With these settings, a relatively stable 30fps experience can be expected, which is adequate for the chaotic battles every Helldiver is thrown into. A bump up to 40fps is achievable, but it requires sacrificing a lot when it comes to graphics.
Hellblade 2's Quickplay is Ideal on the Steam Deck
Some of the missions in Helldivers 2 are long, which can make them feel more like work than play. Fortunately, Helldivers 2 features Quickplay, allowing players to jump into battle without investing too much time on the intergalactic war. That's where the Deck comes in.
Short missions can be played from the comfort of one's bed, resulting in a cozy experience not too different from PC play thanks to the handheld's touchpads. Completing these missions is a great way to gain some XP without having to work too hard. The game is currently ranked "Playable" on Steam, but it runs as well as any Steam Deck Verified title.
Helldivers 2's Space Battles Drain the Steam Deck's Battery
For anyone looking for a PvE game on the Deck, it's hard to do better than Helldivers 2. There is one downside that should be mentioned - the game devours battery charge and one can expect an hour at most if playing on the handheld is not connected to a charger. Ultimately, though, that's a small sacrifice to make for a comfortable, portable experience.
Helldivers 2
- Released
- February 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
The Galaxy’s Last Line of Offence. Enlist in the Helldivers and join the fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in a fast, frantic, and ferocious third-person shooter.
URGENT BROADCAST – SUPER EARTH ARMED FORCES
Freedom. Peace. Democracy. Your Super Earth-born rights. The key pillars of our civilization. Of our very existence. But the war rages on. And everything is once again under threat.
Join the greatest military force the galaxy has ever seen and make this a safe and free place to live.
BECOME A LEGEND
You will be assembled into squads of up to four Helldivers and assigned strategic missions. Watch each other’s back – friendly fire is an unfortunate certainty of war, but victory without teamwork is impossible.
LOADOUTS
Rain down freedom from above, sneak through enemy territory, or grit your teeth and charge head-first into the jaws of combat. How you deliver liberty is your choice; you’ll have access to a wide array of explosive firepower, life-saving armor and battle-changing stratagems… the jewel in every Helldiver’s arsenal.
REQUISITION
Super Earth recognises your hard work with valuable Requisition. Use it to access different rewards that benefit you, your squad, your destroyer ship and our overall war effort.
THREATS
Everything on every planet wants you dead. That’s what we’re dealing with. Each enemy has distinct and unpredictable characteristics, tactics, and behavior – but they all fight ferociously and without fear or morality.
THE GALACTIC WAR
Capturing enemy planets, defending against invasions, and completing missions will contribute to our overall effort. This war will be won or lost depending on the actions of everyone involved.
We stand together, or we fall apart.
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Publishing
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Franchise
- Helldivers
- Number of Players
- 1-4 players (online)
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
- Metascore
- 83
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PC & PS5
