Phantom Blade Zero runs well on Steam Machine but stumbles on Steam Deck

Phantom Blade Zero, the wuxia-inspired action game from S-Game Studio, has been put through its paces on Valve's Steam Machine and Steam Deck, revealing a stark contrast in performance between the two Linux-based devices.

Steam Deck: A Stuttering Mess

Testing on the Steam Deck OLED proved disappointing. Even with the Low preset and aggressive Ultra Performance upscaling, the game struggled to maintain 30fps, with frequent drops into the teens during combat. The cinematic camera movements and flashy effects overwhelmed the handheld, making it practically unplayable.

Steam Machine: A Sharper Experience

The Steam Machine fared much better. Using the Medium preset and FSR on Quality, the game ran at 45-60fps in most scenarios. The High preset was also playable, though it occasionally dipped below 40fps. Overall, the desktop Linux experience was smooth, with no major bugs or stuttering.

Controller Quirks and Fixes

One notable issue wasn't graphical but controller-related. The Steam Controller's map button failed to respond during a tutorial, leaving players stuck. This is a known bug, easily fixed by remapping the Select button in SteamOS to mimic a PS5 touchpad click.

Settings Tweaks for Better Performance

For those seeking a balance between visuals and framerate, the Medium preset with FSR Quality is a solid starting point. However, a few adjustments can enhance the experience:

• Turn off Motion Blur—it's purely cosmetic.
• Ignore Anti-Aliasing settings, as FSR overrides them.
• Adjust Dynamic Resolution Quality and Super Resolution Output Scale from their defaults to avoid unnecessary blurriness.

FSR upscaling does introduce some edge roughness at 1080p, but the performance gains are worth it. Cutscenes still cause framerate dips, but actual gameplay remains fluid.

For players deciding between platforms, the Steam Machine offers a viable way to enjoy Phantom Blade Zero's martial arts action, while the Steam Deck falls short. Have you tested the game on a handheld or Linux system? Share your performance tweaks in the comments.