Steam Deck gets unofficial Lossless Scaling plug-in claiming up to 3x FPS boosts, but there's a catch
A new community-made plug-in is reportedly bringing real-time frame generation to the Steam Deck, and stirring up some quiet controversy along the way. Designed for Decky Loader, the plug-in integrates Lossless Scaling Frame Generation (LSFG) directly into SteamOS Gaming Mode, enabling users to potentially double or even triple frame rates across a broad mix of games, from modern AAA titles to PS2-era emulation. Early user demonstrations suggest Elden Ring can go from 30–40 FPS to around 80–90 FPS, while Shadow of the Colossus, when emulated, appears to push past 100 FPS.
The plug-in builds on LSFG-VK, a Linux compatibility layer created by PancakeTAS, who has since publicly distanced themselves from the Decky release. In a Discord message, they stated, “I was not involved in this Decky plugin… Please don’t judge LSFG‑VK based on this,” criticizing the default 30% flow scale for causing visual glitches and noting that performance mode is disabled out of the box, a setup they argue isn’t optimal for the Steam Deck's hardware.
Despite the concerns, Reddit is lighting up with excitement, though many are keeping one eye on the fine print. User TheBLKMN praised the plug-in’s simplicity and performance, saying: “10/10, it just works. Don’t notice much visually, there is some slight lag felt, but that’s to be expected… Make the harder to run games look smoother, which is all I wanted!”
Another enthusiastic user, soft‑tack, described LSFG as “freaking amazing,” calling it “magic launch commands” that let the Deck emulate DLSS-level smoothness.
However, others warned of drawbacks. Fast_Trigger noted: “Input lag and artefacts are what killed it for me.” And Snowmobile2004 said, “Lossless scaling can’t remove frame drops, if anything it’ll amplify existing ones 2×.”
Despite the criticism, the plug-in is seemingly gaining traction for its ease of use. It supports DirectX 9–12, Vulkan, and OpenGL, works with non-Steam games, and requires no modification to game files. Users need only buy the Lossless Scaling app from Steam ($6.99), install the plug-in via Decky Loader, and apply launch options per title.
This isn’t the first time open-source collaborations have flared into friction. The community’s seen similar drama before, like Proton-GE being repackaged without credit, or GOverlay layering over MangoHUD without syncing up. At the heart of it all is the same lingering question: when does sharing turn into stepping on toes?
Community members on r/SteamDeck and the Decky Loader Discord suggest tweaking a few key settings, such as setting Flow Scale to 85–100%, enabling Performance Mode, and using a 2× FPS multiplier to strike the right balance between responsiveness and visual clarity. For a closer look, the walkthrough video below breaks it all down clearly and is worth a watch.
