Is it possible to play Grounded 2 on portable gaming PCs like Steam Deck and ROG Ally?
In the world of gaming, handheld devices like the ASUS ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and Steam Deck are becoming increasingly popular for their portability and versatility. One such game that has recently launched in early access is Grounded 2, but how well does it perform on these devices?
For the ASUS ROG Ally X, even with the most powerful settings, the game didn't exceed 40 FPS. To consistently stay above 30 FPS, Grounded 2's resolution had to be lowered to HD (720p). The article suggests that Grounded 2 may run smoother on handhelds in the future due to optimization work and Steam Deck Verification, which are part of the early access roadmap.
For the optimal experience on the ASUS ROG Ally, the recommended settings are:
- Window Mode: Fullscreen
- Resolution: 1600 x 900
- Render Scale: 80%
- Quality: Low
- Frame Rate Limit: 30 FPS
- Depth of Field Blur: Low
- V-Sync: Off (unless no FreeSync/G-Sync)
- Gamma: 38%
- Motion Blur: 0%
- Chromatic Aberration: Off
- Field of View: 85
On the Steam Deck, Grounded 2 runs at around 20 to 30 FPS with settings adjusted down towards low graphics and reduced resolution scale (e.g., 720p or 900p) to maintain playable frame rates. Medium settings at 1080p are generally too heavy and cause frame drops below 30 FPS. Keeping quality low and frame rate capped at 30 is advised for smoothness.
The Lenovo Legion Go performs similarly to the ROG Ally but slightly less powerfully, so 900p resolution and lower-medium settings are recommended for the best balance to hit near 30 FPS. Pushing above 1080p at medium settings causes frame drops and stuttering.
It's worth noting that Grounded 2 does not have built-in graphical options on Windows PC, whether on Steam or Microsoft Store. Resolution scaling and features like AMD FidelityFX and NVIDIA DLSS are not supported in Grounded 2.
While playing Grounded 2 on handheld devices may require some adjustments to settings for a smooth experience, streaming the game through Xbox Cloud Gaming is currently the recommended way to play it on handhelds if you have a good internet connection. Xbox Cloud Gaming renders the game at 1080p and runs around 60 FPS, making it a preferable platform for playing Grounded 2 compared to handhelds.
[1] Source for ASUS ROG Ally settings: [Link to source] [2] Source for Steam Deck and Lenovo Legion Go settings: [Link to source] [3] Source for Xbox Cloud Gaming recommendation: [Link to source] [4] Source for Grounded 2 lacking built-in graphical options: [Link to source] [5] Source for optimization work and Steam Deck Verification: [Link to source]
- The ASUS ROG Ally struggles with the performance of Grounded 2, even on the highest settings, with only about 40 FPS; to achieve a consistent 30 FPS, one must lower the resolution to HD (720p).
- The recommended settings for the ASUS ROG Ally to enhance the gaming experience include fullscreen window mode, 1600 x 900 resolution, 80% render scale, low quality, frame rate limit of 30 FPS, and disabling V-Sync unless using FreeSync/G-Sync.
- On the Steam Deck and Lenovo Legion Go, users may have to adjust settings like graphics and resolution scale to maintain a playable FPS, with medium settings at 1080p on the Steam Deck typically causing frame drops below 30 FPS.
- Unlike on Windows PC, Grounded 2 does not natively support resolution scaling, AMD FidelityFX, or NVIDIA DLSS.
- Players who have access to a good internet connection may find streaming Grounded 2 through Xbox Cloud Gaming preferable over handheld devices as it offers a smoother experience with a rendered resolution of 1080p and approximately 60 FPS.
