# Horizon Forbidden West gets Steam Deck Playable badge despite poor performance

> **Key takeaway:** Valve upgraded Horizon Forbidden West from Unsupported to Playable on Steam Deck, but testing shows the game drops to 19-25 FPS during exploration and combat even on lowest settings.

**Published:** 2026-10-19T17:02:39+00:00 
**Source:** Steam Deck HQ (Reviews & Optimizations) 
**Category:** open-gaming 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/horizon-forbidden-west-gets-steam-deck-playable-badge-despit.html 

## Summary
Steam Deck HQ tested Horizon Forbidden West after Valve changed its compatibility rating from Unsupported to Playable. The reviewer found that even with settings dropped to Low and FSR 3 upscaling, the game suffers severe framerate drops into the 19-25 FPS range when running into new areas or during combat. The author argues the game remains effectively unplayable and should not carry the Playable badge.

## Performance issues on Steam Deck
- Default High preset must be manually changed to Low for any playable framerate
- Upscaling set to FSR 3, the lowest available option
- Visual quality described as "horrible" with constant blurriness, especially during camera movement
- Framerate hits 30 FPS only after scene loading completes
- Drops to 19-25 FPS when running into new areas or during combat
- Original Unsupported rating was changed to Playable with only the note that graphical settings require manual adjustment

## Why it matters
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the consistency of Valve's Steam Deck Verified program, where badge upgrades may not reflect actual user experience.