90 FPS in Cyberpunk? New Steam Deck mod promises performance boost

The Steam Deck allows gamers to play even demanding titles on the go, although this usually comes with compromises in graphics quality and frame rates. To address this, the handheld already uses AMD's FSR upscaling technology, which renders games at a lower resolution before scaling the image up. The new HelixSR mod, available for free on GitHub, could offer an interesting alternative. It makes it possible to use Nvidia's DLSS upscaling on AMD graphics hardware, even though the technology is normally exclusive to GeForce graphics cards.

As Reddit user u/ChewyPinecone demonstrates on Reddit, Cyberpunk 2077 reportedly runs at over 40 FPS on the Steam Deck with HelixSR, even without additional frame generation. According to the user, all it takes is the Steam Deck's built-in graphics preset with motion blur disabled. No adjustments to power consumption or GPU clock speeds were necessary. With Mako frame generation enabled, the game reportedly reaches as much as 80 to 90 FPS. On paper, that would be significantly higher than the frame rates on the Nintendo Switch 2, which runs Cyberpunk 2077 at 30 FPS in Quality mode and up to 40 FPS in Performance mode. However, the additional frames on the Steam Deck are artificially generated. The actual rendering performance remains just above 40 FPS, making a direct performance comparison of limited value.

How much of a performance improvement HelixSR actually delivers is difficult to determine from previous benchmarks. In our Steam Deck OLED review from February 2024, Cyberpunk 2077 averaged 25 FPS at Full HD resolution without FSR upscaling on low graphics settings and around 21 FPS on high settings. However, significantly higher frame rates are already possible without HelixSR when using a lower resolution and upscaling. GamersNexus recorded an average of 44.6 FPS on the Steam Deck OLED at 720p, low graphics settings and FSR 2.1 Quality. Due to the different test conditions, however, these results are not directly comparable.

Mod could improve numerous other games – and other handhelds

HelixSR isn't limited to Cyberpunk 2077 and could also be interesting for other demanding games. Whether the mod actually delivers higher frame rates or better image quality depends on the individual title. It's worth noting that HelixSR is currently limited to compatible DirectX 12 games and AMD GPUs. Potential candidates include Starfield, Remnant 2 and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. All three games use DirectX 12 and support upscaling technologies that can, in principle, be connected to HelixSR through the additional OptiScaler tool.

In PC Gamer's tests, Starfield sometimes dropped to just 18 to 22 FPS in cities on the Steam Deck. Remnant 2 also struggled with performance issues, at least at launch. SteamDeckHQ recorded just 32 to 33 FPS despite using low graphics settings and enabling FSR, with frame rates occasionally dropping below 30 FPS during combat. However, there's no guarantee that HelixSR will actually deliver better results in these games. Performance drops caused by CPU limitations, in particular, can hardly be fixed through upscaling alone. Besides the Steam Deck, other AMD-based gaming handhelds such as the Asus ROG Ally X could also benefit.

90 FPS with a catch: Reddit debates the actual benefits

On Reddit, the demonstration has received mixed reactions. Much of the discussion revolves around how useful the reported 90 FPS actually are. Reddit user u/Gammarevived argues that frame generation only provides a truly smooth gaming experience when the base frame rate is already around 60 to 70 FPS. At the Steam Deck's roughly 40 FPS, noticeable input lag should be expected instead. Other users point to potential ghosting during fast movements or call for frame-time and latency measurements to better assess how playable the game really is.

However, there are also positive reactions from users who see HelixSR as a major step forward for the Steam Deck and other handhelds. Redditor u/Joeykill1992 writes:

“It's so promising that older hardware can continue to be pushed using new software and upscaling techniques. I think this will be the generation of optimization given how the hardware market is.”

The comment neatly sums up HelixSR's main appeal: Better upscaling techniques could unlock further improvements even without new hardware, which may be particularly attractive to many gamers at a time of rising hardware prices. It's not necessarily about achieving the highest possible FPS numbers. The mod makes Nvidia's DLSS upscaling available on AMD hardware, potentially delivering sharper visuals or higher frame rates compared to the existing FSR upscaling – even without additional frame generation. However, independent comparison tests will be needed to determine just how significant these benefits really are.