Clair Obscur Expedition 33: Handheld PC Compatibility

Community Workarounds

Despite being officially labeled as “Unsupported” on the Steam Deck, the dedicated community has rallied to bring Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to life on Valve’s handheld PC. Through meticulous testing and experimentation, players have unearthed several key settings adjustments that significantly enhance performance.

One of the most crucial optimizations involves utilizing the Steam Deck’s built-in upscaling technology. While the default configuration prioritizes stability, savvy users have discovered that enabling “TSR” (Temporal Super Resolution) yields a noticeable visual improvement without compromising frame rates. Pairing this with a “Medium (75%)” resolution scale preset strikes a balance between visual fidelity and performance, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience.

Furthermore, locking the framerate to 30 FPS is highly recommended. This prevents the game from exceeding the Steam Deck’s processing capabilities, resulting in a more consistent and predictable performance.

Unlocking Hidden Settings

For those seeking even finer control over Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s visual presentation and performance, the Steam Deck community offers a clever workaround to unlock additional graphical settings. By adding the command “SteamDeck=0 %command%” to the game’s launch options within Steam, players can bypass the default restrictions and gain access to a wider range of customization options.

This modification allows for adjustments to various visual aspects, such as post-processing effects and texture quality. However, it’s important to note that unlocking these hidden settings may result in a slight dip in frame rates, as the Steam Deck’s hardware is pushed further. It’s a trade-off that players willing to sacrifice a few frames for enhanced visuals can readily embrace.

Trade-offs and Considerations

While playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on the Steam Deck is undeniably feasible, it’s essential to acknowledge the potential drawbacks. Battery life, a perennial concern for handheld gaming, may be significantly impacted when running the game at higher graphical settings. The Steam Deck’s processing power, while commendable, is still subject to limitations, and demanding games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 can put a considerable strain on its battery.

Furthermore, the Steam Deck’s 7-inch screen, while spacious, may not provide the same level of visual immersion as larger monitors. Smaller details and intricate textures may appear less pronounced on the handheld’s display. Players accustomed to larger screens might find the viewing experience somewhat cramped, particularly during extended gameplay sessions.

Finally, button mapping can be a point of contention for some players. While the Steam Deck’s layout is generally ergonomic, adapting to its controls for a game with complex combat mechanics like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 may require some tweaking and experimentation to achieve optimal comfort and precision.

Beyond Steam Deck: Exploring Other Gaming Handhelds

ROG Ally and Beyond

The ASUS ROG Ally, a formidable Windows-based handheld gaming PC, offers a compelling alternative for experiencing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 with potentially enhanced performance compared to the Steam Deck. Leveraging a more powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and a higher refresh rate display, the ROG Ally is poised to deliver a smoother and more visually impressive gaming experience.

Gamestanza expects the ROG Ally to handle Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 at higher graphical settings and resolutions, potentially even enabling 60 FPS gameplay at 1080p or even 1440p with some adjustments. The Ally’s superior processing power and larger RAM capacity will allow it to manage the game’s demanding assets more efficiently, resulting in a more fluid and responsive experience.

Lenovo Legion Go

The Lenovo Legion Go, another recently announced Windows handheld, also holds promise for running Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 with impressive performance. While its specifications haven’t been fully detailed, early indications suggest that the Legion Go will be equipped with a powerful processor and ample RAM, potentially rivaling the ROG Ally in terms of gaming capabilities.

Gamestanza anticipates that the Legion Go’s dual-screen setup could provide a unique and immersive way to experience Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s story-rich narrative and strategic combat. The additional screen space could be utilized for displaying character information, inventory management, or even an expanded minimap, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

Future-Proofing

As handheld gaming technology continues to advance, the future holds exciting possibilities for running demanding RPGs like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 seamlessly on these devices. With each iteration of new hardware, we can expect to see significant performance gains, allowing for even more graphically intensive and visually stunning experiences on the go.

The convergence of powerful processors, ample RAM, innovative display technologies, and intuitive control schemes will undoubtedly pave the way for a future where handheld gaming devices can rival or even surpass the capabilities of traditional gaming PCs, making immersive RPG experiences accessible to a wider audience.