Forza Horizon 6 is Steam Deck verified for Valve handheld ahead of release date

When Microsoft listed system requirements for its next racing game, it promised to accommodate mobile devices. Players now have more confidence about Forza Horizon 6 compatibility on Valve’s handheld. The publisher has confirmed it’s Steam Deck verified, just in time for the May 15th early access release date.

The best new handheld racer?

The open-world experience is an anticipated addition to Microsoft’s Play Anywhere initiative. Buyers can play the same purchased title on multiple Windows machines. Other gaming handhelds, like the ROG Xbox Ally reviewed by Notebookcheck, are supported. Even so, the company has emphasized that the game is also optimized for Valve’s Linux-based hardware.

Unfortunately, there are limited details about the performance of Forza Horizon 6 on Steam Deck. The marketplace listing explains that the title is “fully functional” and “works great with the built-in controls and display.” Also, the “default graphics configuration performs well” on the device.

Not all Steam Deck verified games behave as expected, and user impressions should provide clarification. It may not be long before benchmarks surface, since a playable build leaked. While buyers have to wait at least until the early access release date, it’s already a victim of piracy.

Performance expectations

If Forza Horizon 5 is any indication, the Japanese scenery could render without too many hitches. The last entry in the series is only rated as “playable” mainly because of some awkward controller inputs. Still, at 1280 x 800 resolution, frame rates often hit 40-60 fps at low and medium presets.

Of course, the follow-up presents more performance challenges. Lighting enhancements like ray-traced global illumination are now options. Yet, the minimum system requirements specify a GeForce GTX 1650 or Radeon RX 6500 XT for 1080p visuals. With the help of FSR, the Steam Deck should hopefully rival these GPUs at a lower resolution.

Even if players own Valve’s upgraded OLED handheld, expandable storage could be an asset. Forza Horizon 6 demands a hefty 156GB+ of free space on drives. To save some aggravation later, the Steam preload is now live.