Can Steam Deck Run Natural Selection 2?
Steam Deck compatibility check and performance analysis
Playable: works with adjustments
Valve's official Steam Deck compatibility rating for Natural Selection 2
Spec-based estimate
On paper its GPU is 57% of the PC recommended GPU. PC specs assume 1080p; the Deck plays at 800p and Valve's test is what counts.
ProtonDB Rating
Community Linux/Deck compatibility
Performance Estimate
Based on the Steam Deck GPU (RDNA 2, about a Radeon RX 560, 4,550 pts) at its native 1280x800. Real performance depends on the game's optimization and Proton.
Spec Comparison
| Component | Steam Deck | Minimum | Recommended | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPU | RDNA 2 (Score: 4,550) | DirectX 11 compatible dedicated video card with 2 GB VRAM (4,000) | DirectX 11 compatible dedicated video card with 4GB VRAM (8,000) | Below |
| CPU | Zen 2, 4c/8t (Score: ~15,000) | Dual-core processor 2.4 GHz (Intel Core 2 Duo, i3), 2.6 GHz (AMD Athlon or FX) | Quad-core processor 3.2 GHz (Intel i5, i7) or 3.6 GHz (AMD Ryzen, FX or Athlon) | — |
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5 | 6 GB | 8 GB | Pass |
| Storage | 64GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 13 GB | 13 GB | — |
| Display | 1280x800, 7" / 7.4" OLED | — | OK | |
PC requirements are written for a desktop at 1080p or higher. The Deck renders at 1280x800, so a GPU below the PC spec on paper doesn't mean it won't run: Valve's test is the one that counts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Steam Deck run Natural Selection 2?
Yes, Natural Selection 2 is rated Playable on Steam Deck: it runs, but may need manual tweaks such as graphics settings or the on-screen keyboard. On paper the Deck's GPU (4,550 pts) is 57% of the PC recommended GPU, but PC requirements assume 1080p and Valve tested it at the Deck's 800p.
What settings should I use for Natural Selection 2 on Steam Deck?
For Natural Selection 2 on Steam Deck, start from Valve's tested defaults at 800p and lower settings if the frame rate dips. On PC the game recommends a DirectX 11 GPU with 4 GB of VRAM; the Deck's GPU is roughly a Radeon RX 560 (4,550 pts) and falls below that on paper.
Does Natural Selection 2 have Steam Deck verified status?
Natural Selection 2 is marked as Playable, not Verified, on Steam Deck. It works but doesn't meet every Verified criterion, so you may need some manual adjustments.
