Short answer: yes. ARC Raiders runs on the Steam Deck, and Valve rates it Steam Deck Verified. Expect low settings with upscaling and a 40 frames per second cap for a steady experience. It’s a demanding game for the Deck, so it won’t look like it does on a gaming PC, but it’s very playable.
How this post was made: researched and written with Claude, an AI assistant, checked against the sources linked in this post, and overseen by Nersing Pradhan. How we make NP Handhelds
Is ARC Raiders Steam Deck Verified?
Yes. Embark Studios’ extraction shooter launched on October 30, 2025, and gained Steam Deck Verified status that November, GamingOnLinux reported. Verified means Valve tested it and found that it runs well, with full controller support, readable text and no compatibility problems, including its anti-cheat.
Best settings for ARC Raiders on Steam Deck
Steam Deck HQ tested the game at launch and recommended:
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Graphics preset | Low |
| Upscaler | FSR 3, Balanced |
| Frame rate cap | 40 frames per second, set in the Steam Deck’s performance menu |
| Refresh rate | 40Hz on the LCD model to match the cap |
With those settings, Steam Deck HQ measured the Deck drawing roughly 18 to 21 watts, and estimated about 2.5 hours of battery on the OLED model and about 1.5 hours on the LCD model. Game updates can change performance, so treat these as a starting point. We’ll publish our own numbers when we test it on video.
Tips for a smoother game
- Cap the frame rate in SteamOS, not just in the game. The Deck’s own limiter gives more even frame pacing.
- Try FSR Quality if you’d rather have a sharper image and can accept a lower, steadier frame rate.
- Plug in for long sessions. At these power levels, the battery won’t last a long play session.
- Use a wired or strong 5 GHz connection. It’s an online-only game, and a weak connection hurts more than any graphics setting.
Our performance settings guide explains the frame rate cap, refresh rate and FSR options in detail.
Can you play ARC Raiders with friends on other platforms?
ARC Raiders is also on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and it supports crossplay, so you can squad up with friends on other platforms.
Want better graphics?
If you have a gaming PC, you can stream ARC Raiders from your PC to the Deck and keep the PC’s graphics settings, while the Deck stays cool and quiet.
Frequently asked questions
Does ARC Raiders’ anti-cheat work on Steam Deck?
Yes. The game is Verified, which means its anti-cheat works on SteamOS.
What frame rate does ARC Raiders run at on Steam Deck?
With low settings and FSR, testers recommend capping it at 40 frames per second for a steady experience.
Is ARC Raiders free to play?
No, it’s a paid game, sold on Steam and the other platforms it’s on.
Does ARC Raiders run better on the Steam Deck OLED?
The two models have similar performance, but the OLED’s bigger battery lasts longer, and its screen makes dark areas look better.
Watch our Steam Deck game tests on the NP Handhelds YouTube channel.
