Star Wars Galactic Racer Steam Deck: Verified, 30 FPS
Star Wars Galactic Racer Steam Deck guide: Verified at launch, but plan on 30 FPS at Low settings. Tested settings, known stutter, offline play and Linux notes.
Editorial update · Source publication dates are listed below · Independent fan guide
Star Wars: Galactic Racer is Steam Deck Verified, but you should plan on about 30 FPS, not 60. The badge means the default controls, button prompts and text work on the handheld. Testers running it at the Low preset with FSR saw gameplay between roughly 30 and 40 FPS, and the developer FAQ itself describes a stable 30 FPS experience with appropriate settings.
Is it Steam Deck Verified?
Yes. Digital Citizen reported that the game received Valve's green Verified badge at launch on October 6. Verified means the default graphics and controller configuration work, on-screen prompts match the Deck's buttons and in-game text is readable without changes. It does not promise a particular frame rate.
Two caveats travel with the badge: the first setup needs an internet connection, and external Bluetooth controllers may need switching manually. ProtonDB's community reports rate it Platinum, meaning it runs with only minor issues.
How well does it run?
| Tester | Settings | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Steam Deck HQ (October 6) | Low preset, FSR Performance | Gameplay about 30–40 FPS; cutscenes up to about 90 FPS |
| GamingOnLinux | Lowest quality, FSR Balanced, 30 FPS cap on a Steam Deck OLED | Arcade time trials and online races mostly held 30 FPS with some drops |
| Developer FAQ | Appropriate settings | Stable 30 FPS target |
Steam Deck HQ called it "a decent experience" for portable play but not optimal, and said stable performance above 30 FPS is unlikely on those settings. GamingOnLinux found it playable but visually rough at the lowest settings. Neither test found a setup that holds 60 FPS during races.
What settings should you use?
Guides that tested the Deck converge on the same starting point. Use these, then lock the frame rate so it stays consistent:
- Resolution 1280×800 with resolution quality around 50%.
- All quality settings on Low, VSync off.
- AMD FSR on Performance (Balanced if you accept a little less frame rate for sharpness).
- Cap at 30 FPS through the Steam overlay's performance menu for steady pacing.
Some players push resolution quality to the mid-50s for close to 45 FPS, but busy tracks with many racers drop well below that. A locked 30 is the consistent option in a racing game where sudden drops hurt more than a lower average.
Known issues on the Deck
Testers and players report stutter at the start and end of cutscenes regardless of settings. It does not affect races themselves. The developer's known-issues list and hotfix notes are the place to check whether it has been addressed; the patch notes page tracks fixes as they arrive.
Heavier scenes, such as tracks with many racers or effects, cause the biggest drops. If a particular planet feels worse, the planets guide describes what each location throws at you visually.
Can you play offline on the Deck?
The first launch needs an internet connection for setup. After that, the developer FAQ says the single-player modes can be played offline, which suits a handheld. Online races and cross play obviously need a connection. Note that the PC version uses Denuvo Anti-Tamper with a five-machine activation limit, which is covered on the Denuvo page.
Does it run on Linux and other handhelds?
There is no native Linux version: Steam lists Windows only. It runs through Proton, which is how the Deck plays it, and GamingOnLinux reports it running well on SteamOS and desktop Linux. Other Windows handhelds are a separate question; compare their hardware with the PC system requirements, which call for an SSD and a GPU at RTX 2060 level or above for the minimum spec.
Should you buy it for the Deck?
If 30 FPS at low settings is acceptable for portable sessions, yes: it is Verified and the campaign's run-based structure suits short play sessions. If you want 60 FPS on the go, the Deck is not there yet. Players without a capable PC can also stream it through Amazon Luna with Prime, covered on the Amazon Luna page.
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