Every PC I’ve ever used automatically detects and adjusts resolution to the display you connect to it. Even Nintendo Switch will detect when it’s docked and automatically adjust the display resolution. But on Steam Deck you literally have to adjust the display resolution for every game, every time you switch displays.
Since getting the SD I have shoved my PC into another room to displace the heat (until I get a mini-split) and I just stream from it to the Deck, whether docked at my desk or on the couch or on the big screen. But this really complicates that process unnecessarily.
This has also not been fixed in Nobara or Chimera.
What’s the limitation there?
The limitation isn’t there, it’s deliberate. If you look when you connect to a monitor, the resolutions you can select for a game are resolutions detected by the Deck to be supported by the monitor. The Deck deliberately doesn’t go for the highest supported resolution by Default, I imagine this is because the Deck’s hardware is optimized for lower-resolution play, which is why it usually just stops at 1280x720p cuz the deck itself is 1280x800p which is pretty close.
That’s dumb. What if I’m playing a 2D game like Hollow Knight? It can easily run this game at 4k/60. Or what if I’m streaming from the desktop? Or cloud gaming?
They could at least have it as an option…
E: If anyone wants to actually answer the question instead of downvoting and disappearing, I’d be grateful.
This actually is an option!
I’ve used it to play games from the Deck at native 1080p on my TV.
I’m not at my Steam Deck right now, but I remember it’s in the settings. I think if you go to the game’s settings, look for something like “native” display. You have to go into the settings for each game you want at a larger resolution on an external monitor in game mode and select “native”.
I don’t remember if it needs to first be enabled on the system settings in the display area. (I think it does the right thing for system settings by default in most cases.)
IIRC, desktop mode also automatically supports the native resolution, but game mode is nice and console-like. Desktop mode might be a bit clunkier than what you’d want for couch gaming. Setting the option in game mode for the game is likely your best option.
Yes I mentioned that in my OP. The problem is I have to do that for each game individually, instead of just a global setting…
Oh, sorry. I missed that detail. ☹️ Apologies.
Yeah, I agree that it’s a bother to do it with every game. You’re absolutely right.
This should be some global setting, especially as they even officially sell a dock.
Its linux. Then either get in the config yourself and change the value or quit bitching.
Can’t always expect everyone to hand solve all of your problems for you, no matter how hard you complain
Edit to explain myself a bit, what I have an issue with is that this is a problem with a solution (not in the config), BUT that solution just isn’t easy enough for OP.
They want steam to test and maintain ANOTHER database of all their games for which ones most likely won’t lag in higher resolutions than the one they designed the entire system around.
This ain’t no linux elitism, its just that steam is focusing its efforts on making much more important things usable than simplifying this one specific workflow, which I 100% believe is justified (look how far proton has come solely thanks to steam)
Hey fuckass. I’m not a software engineer and I don’t have time to learn a library of fucking Linux commands. I already have a job.
I absolutely can expect someone else to solve problems for me when I pay them to do so. The Steam Deck was invented and sold to solve problems.
No one asked you for anything. If you don’t have anything helpful to contribute to the conversation then just fuck off.
Just wanted to say, I am a software engineer, and your concerns are valid.
The user experience is surely something Steam wants to improve, and I expect they will iterate both on the current software and future hardware revisions.
I don’t think anyone other than Valve will know why they don’t have the desired functionality. The answers are usually long and boring for this type of problem.
Thank you.
And then again you’d know better than anyone that hardware has its limitations for a reason, so maintaining ANOTHER database like proton just for lightweight games that can run 4k sounds pretty excessive when they’re mostly focused on common issues like booting games. Can’t solve all github issues no matter how hard one wants to try, things take time
Just saying the problem is very fixable and steamos is insanely user friendly, but they can’t be expected to solve every problem ever, again no matter how hard you whine
I’m not “whining” shitstain. I asked a question. If you’d like to provide a fix, feel free. If you’re gonna keep being a dick you can save yourself the time and stop replying to me because I’m just going to block you.
The SteamDeck is intended to be a normal, non-Linux expert, platform first and foremost. Also please don’t be a shithead for no reason.
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For sure but even windows has the registry and macos its terminal, its not uncommon for non-common usage cases to not have a nice pretty setting on the home screen.
I’d say it’d make a lot more people hate the deck if every time they tried to use it on a tv it lagged to ass cause it defaults to the 4k of the television when it struggles at 720 normally.
100% support where steams efforts are going, and I don’t think it should be on menial issues like this
Because if it defaults to the highest level on some games it might lock up the hardware, whereas if you start low you can bump it up until you find the optimal setting
You can change the display settings in Steam before you launch the game, or in the game menu, before you launch the game.
I mean, what’s the point in rendering a game in 4K if the display is only 1080p? It seems like it would mostly be a waste of computing resources.
That would be stupid and I never suggested anything of the sort.
So based on arbitrary categorization of specific games it should know when to display in max resolution when plugged in to an external monitor?
That’s tough to manage and not worth the headache
So it should be left up to the user, like every other graphics settings on every other device…
Sorry, what are you suggesting?
I detailed my suggestion clearly several times at this point. The Deck should operate like every other piece of hardware that automatically detects and switches to the resolution of whatever display you connect to it, unless and until you specify otherwise.
It’s Linux though, that’s typically not what happens unless you configure it to do so
Shoot Steam Support a email