Survival games usually follow a predictable rhythm. You chop wood, you build a hut, you fight off a wolf. But The Alters by 11 bit studios isn't "usually." It’s a claustrophobic, high-concept sci-fi drama about Jan Dolski, a guy who has to create literal clones of himself—each representing a different path his life could have taken—just to survive on a hostile planet. Because the game is built on Unreal Engine 5 and features some pretty intense base management and lighting effects, the big question for handheld fans has been whether The Alters Steam Deck experience is actually playable or just a stuttering mess.
Honestly? It's better than you'd think, but it requires some serious tinkering to get it right.
Why The Alters is a Unique Beast for Handhelds
Most people see a "base builder" and think it'll run on a potato. That isn't the case here. The mobile base in the game, a massive wheel-like structure called the "Base," is a complex piece of geometry that shifts and moves. When you're inside, the lighting is moody and reflective. When you're outside on the surface of Volas, the environment is harsh.
This isn't a low-fi indie title. It’s a resource-heavy production.
Running The Alters Steam Deck setup means asking the hardware to handle complex branching narratives and high-fidelity textures simultaneously. 11 bit studios, the team behind This War of Mine and Frostpunk, doesn't do "simple" visuals. They do atmosphere. Atmosphere usually costs frames. If you try to run this at "Ultra" settings out of the box, your Deck will probably sound like a jet engine taking off within four minutes.
The Performance Reality Check
Let's talk numbers, but keep it real. On the standard LCD Deck or the newer OLED model, you aren't hitting a locked 60 FPS. It just isn't happening. Even on the lowest settings, the game has enough going on under the hood—physics, AI for the various "Alters," and lighting—that 30 to 40 FPS is your realistic target.
You've got to use FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution).
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Without it, the GPU usage spikes into the high 90s almost immediately. Setting FSR to "Balanced" or "Performance" is the sweet spot. Yeah, it makes the image a little softer. You might notice some ghosting around Jan as he runs across the rocky terrain of Volas. But the trade-off is a game that doesn't turn into a slideshow when three different versions of yourself are arguing in the kitchen.
Dialing in the Best Settings for The Alters Steam Deck
If you want to actually enjoy the story without your hands getting uncomfortably warm, you need a specific configuration. It's about balance. You don't want the game looking like a PS2 title, but you also need to see the subtle facial expressions of your clones—that's where the emotion is.
The "Sweet Spot" Configuration:
- Frame Rate Limit: Set this to 30 FPS in the SteamOS Quick Access Menu. It feels way more stable than a fluctuating 45.
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz (standard) or 90Hz if you're on the OLED, but keep that 30 FPS cap.
- Resolution: 1280x800.
- Upscaling: FSR 2.0 or 3.0 (depending on the latest patch) set to Balanced.
- Textures: Medium. The Deck has enough VRAM to handle this without much hit.
- Shadows: Low. This is the biggest performance killer on the Deck for this game.
- Post-Processing: Low or Medium.
It’s tempting to crank the shadows up because the game is so atmospheric, but honestly, on a seven or eight-inch screen, the difference between "Medium" and "Low" shadows is negligible compared to the massive boost in stability you get.
Controls and the "Trackpad" Advantage
Playing The Alters Steam Deck version highlights one of the device's best features: the trackpads. The game involves a lot of UI navigation. You're managing menus, looking at skill trees for your different Jans, and clicking through dialogue options.
Using the analog sticks for a cursor-heavy interface is a nightmare.
Mapping the right trackpad to "Mouse" input makes the base management side of the game feel like a breeze. It’s intuitive. You feel like a commander at a console rather than someone struggling with a controller. The native controller support is decent, but the "mouse" precision for clicking on specific nodes in Jan’s memory tree is a game-changer.
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Battery Life: The Great Vanishing Act
Don't expect to play this on a cross-country flight without a massive power bank. Even with optimized settings, The Alters Steam Deck power draw is significant. On average, you’re looking at a total system drain of 22-25W.
That gives you about 90 minutes on an LCD Deck.
Maybe two hours on an OLED.
The game is demanding. It pushes the APU. If you’re playing at home, stay near a charger. If you’re on the move, prioritize lower brightness and turn off Wi-Fi if you don't need cloud saves to sync immediately.
Common Issues and Fixes
Since the game uses Unreal Engine, you might run into the occasional "Fatal Error" crash or a hang during a loading screen. This is often related to shader compilation.
Pro tip: Always check if you're running the latest GE-Proton version. While the official Proton Experimental usually works fine, GE-Proton often includes specific fixes for video playback and audio syncing that can plague 11 bit studios' titles on Linux. If the cutscenes are stuttering or showing a "color bar" screen, switching to GE-Proton is almost always the fix.
Another thing: the text size.
In the base-building view, some of the icons and resource numbers are tiny. It's a common problem with PC-to-handheld ports. Use the Steam + L1 magnifier tool if you’re struggling to see exactly how much "Rapidium" you have left. It's a lifesaver for your eyes.
The "Alters" Themselves: Why it Matters for Handheld
The core of the game is the relationship between the Jans. One might be a scientist, another a blue-collar worker, another a terrified survivor. They have different needs and different temperaments. Managing their "morale" while you're sitting on a couch or a train feels weirdly personal. It’s an intimate way to experience a very psychological story.
The Steam Deck's sleep/wake function is perfect for this. You can play through one "day" cycle on Volas, put the device to sleep when the sun goes down, and pick it right back up when you have another fifteen minutes. It turns a potentially stressful management sim into something you can digest in bites.
Is It Verified?
As of the latest updates, the game’s status on the Steam store can fluctuate between "Playable" and "Verified." Usually, the "Playable" rating comes from the small text size issues mentioned earlier. Mechanically, it works perfectly. You don't need a keyboard. You don't need a mouse. You just need a bit of patience for the initial load times.
The developers at 11 bit have a history of supporting their games post-launch. Look at Frostpunk—it received years of refinement. We can expect The Alters Steam Deck performance to only get better as they optimize the engine's overhead and maybe even add a specific "Handheld" graphics preset.
Comparing the Experience
If you have a powerful desktop rig, you'll obviously get a prettier experience there. The ray-tracing (if you have the hardware) makes the base look incredible. But there is something about the "chunky" feel of the Steam Deck that fits the industrial, retro-futuristic aesthetic of Jan’s base. It feels like you're holding a piece of equipment from the game itself.
Summary of Actionable Steps
Getting the most out of your time on Volas doesn't have to be a headache. Follow these steps to ensure the game doesn't crash or chug:
- Force Proton Experimental: Go to the game's properties, then Compatibility, and check the box to force a specific tool. This ensures you have the latest fixes for Unreal Engine 5 games.
- Set a 30 FPS Cap: Don't chase high frame rates. A steady 30 is much better for your battery and your sanity than a jumpy 45.
- Use FSR Balanced: This is the "magic" setting that keeps the game running smoothly without making it look like a blurry mess.
- Optimize Shadows and Effects: Lower these first. They have the highest impact on performance with the lowest impact on actual gameplay.
- Adjust Trackpad Sensitivity: In the controller settings, give yourself a bit more "acceleration" on the right trackpad to make navigating the base menus feel more snappy.
The Alters Steam Deck journey is one of the most interesting sci-fi experiences available on the platform. It’s a game about the "what ifs" of life, played on a device that’s basically a "what if" for the entire gaming industry. It’s a heavy, moody, and deeply rewarding experience if you’re willing to spend five minutes in the settings menu before you start your first clone.
Just remember: you're going to need a lot of power, both for Jan’s base and for your Deck's battery. Keep the charger handy, keep your clones happy, and try not to let the planet kill you before the sun rises.