Early testing suggests a proposed Linux kernel patch could significantly improve the Steam Deck’s worst-case gaming performance, with 1% low frame rates reportedly rising by up to 31%. This matters because 1% lows are a useful measure of stutter and frame-time consistency, so an improvement could make demanding games feel smoother even where average frame rates change little.

The result is preliminary and appears to come from a specific testing scenario rather than a guaranteed improvement across all games. The patch has not yet been established as a standard Steam Deck update, so its eventual impact will depend on further testing, kernel adoption and Valve’s software support.