Can Steam Deck Run The Elder Scrolls® Online?
Steam Deck compatibility check and performance analysis
Verified: runs great on Steam Deck
Valve's official Steam Deck compatibility rating for The Elder Scrolls® Online
Spec-based estimate
On paper its GPU is 53% 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) | Direct X 11.0 compliant video card with 1GB RAM (NVIDIA® GeForce® 560 or AMD Radeon™ 6870) (1,200) | Direct X 11.0 compliant video card with 4GB of RAM (NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 970 or AMD Radeon™ RX 570) or higher (8,600) | Below |
| CPU | Zen 2, 4c/8t (Score: ~15,000) | Intel® Core™ i5 2300 or AMD FX4350 | Intel® Core™ i5 2300 or AMD FX4350 | — |
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5 | 4 GB | 8 GB | Pass |
| Storage | 64GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 150 GB | 150 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 The Elder Scrolls® Online?
Yes. The Elder Scrolls® Online is Deck Verified by Valve: it runs well on Steam Deck with full controller support and readable text. On paper the Deck's GPU (4,550 pts) is 53% 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 The Elder Scrolls® Online on Steam Deck?
For The Elder Scrolls® Online 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 GeForce GTX 970; the Deck's GPU is roughly a Radeon RX 560 (4,550 pts) and falls below that on paper.
Does The Elder Scrolls® Online have Steam Deck verified status?
Yes, The Elder Scrolls® Online is officially Deck Verified by Valve. It meets all of Valve's compatibility criteria: controller support, readable text, full-screen display and good performance on Steam Deck.
