Can Steam Deck Run Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™?
Steam Deck compatibility check and performance analysis
Verified: runs great on Steam Deck
Valve's official Steam Deck compatibility rating for Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™
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) | AMD HD 7870, 2 GB / NVIDIA GTX 660, 2 GB (3,100) | AMD RX 480, 4 GB or RX580, 4GB / NVIDIA GTX 970, 4GB or GTX1060, 6GB (8,600) | Below |
| CPU | Zen 2, 4c/8t (Score: ~15,000) | AMD FX-4350, 4.2 GHz / Intel Core i5-2300, 2.80 GHz | AMD FX-8350, 4.0 GHz / Intel Core i7-3770, 3.4 GHz | — |
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5 | 6 GB | 12 GB | Pass |
| Storage | 64GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 70 GB | 70 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 Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™?
Yes. Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ 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 Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ on Steam Deck?
For Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ 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 Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ have Steam Deck verified status?
Yes, Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ 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.
