Valve’s handheld gaming device, the Steam Deck, can play the newly released Borderlands 4 at speeds up to 40 frames per second when users tweak its graphics settings and use special speed-up tools. However, players report annoying delays in controls and uneven, jerky movement during gameplay, making the experience less smooth than hoped.
Borderlands 4, launched on September 11, 2025, is a fast-paced shooter game that demands strong hardware for the best performance. The Steam Deck, a portable console, struggles with demanding games like this, but tech experts and players have found ways to improve it.
By overclocking the graphics part—essentially pushing it to run faster than normal—and enabling a frame generation feature that creates extra images on the fly, the game can reach 40 frames per second. This makes actions like shooting and moving feel more responsive compared to the base 30 frames per second without tweaks.
However, these improvements come with downsides. Input lag, where there’s a noticeable delay between pressing a button and seeing the action on screen, becomes more obvious, frustrating players during intense fights.
Stuttering, or sudden pauses and jerks in the game’s motion, also occurs, especially in busy scenes with lots of explosions and enemies. These issues stem from the Steam Deck’s limited power compared to larger gaming computers or consoles like the PlayStation 5.
Community tests, shared on forums like Reddit and YouTube channels such as Retro Game Corps, show that with these adjustments, the game looks decent on the Deck’s screen but isn’t perfect for competitive play. One tester noted, “It’s playable for casual fun, but the lag makes aiming tricky, and the stuttering breaks the flow.”
Valve has not yet released an official update for Borderlands 4 on Steam Deck, but Gearbox Software, the game’s developer, is working on patches to help handheld devices.
For now, Steam Deck owners interested in Borderlands 4 might need patience or consider playing on a more powerful setup. The game is available on Steam for $59.99, and tweaks like these require some technical know-how from users.