SULFUR Steam Deck performance is the first thing I wanted to check with Perfect Random’s shooter about to leave Early Access. I tested it on my Steam Deck OLED, and since I have a Steam Frame I tried it on the headset too. After two years of updates the game is well optimised, and the Deck result is one of the best I’ve seen in a while.
SULFUR 1.0: what changes as it leaves Early Access
SULFUR is a first-person action-adventure with roguelike runs. You explore dark forests, misty valleys and abandoned settlements, collecting loot, modifying weapons and cooking, but anything you carry can be lost as easily as it was found. It launched in Early Access on Steam on 28 October 2024, and Perfect Random recently announced it has sold more than 500,000 copies.
Version 1.0 lands on 28 October 2026. According to the developer, it brings the complete Enchantments system with its full combined magic matrix and five new combined enchantments, a digital quest log, and the complete progression through the game from beginning to end. There are also new oils that counteract bullet drop, a hitstop effect when you land melee hits, and more balancing, polish, performance improvements and quality-of-life fixes. The game already has more than 60 firearms, hundreds of loot items, bosses, quests and weapon modification. On the same day it launches on Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, and the base price goes up from $24.99 to $29.99 USD, with regional prices adjusted to match.
SULFUR Steam Deck performance on max settings
I ran SULFUR on the highest graphics settings on the Steam Deck OLED, and it easily holds 90 frames per second. Even with a lot of splatter effects on screen, I only saw very minor dips here and there. There’s no need for upscaling or any other tweaks, because a solid 90fps is very easy to hit.
I only tested the OLED model, so I can’t give you LCD numbers. That said, with this much headroom, I wouldn’t expect a huge difference on the original Steam Deck. Valve rates the game Steam Deck Verified, and it passes every check: the default controls work, the button icons match the Deck, the text is legible and the default settings perform well.
SULFUR on Steam Frame: 90fps most of the time
You’d think the Steam Frame would match the Deck, and it comes close. SULFUR runs at 90fps for most of my time on the headset, but in town, and when quite a few enemies are on screen, it regularly drops into the 70s. It still performs very well, and if you want a giant-screen way to play SULFUR, it works.
For controls, I stuck with the Frame’s own controllers rather than switching to a Steam Controller. With all the extra buttons they take a little getting used to, but they’re actually not too bad. Not having to remap anything or rely on extra hardware in flat-screen games is one of the Frame’s big advantages, and it’s a huge win here. Valve rates SULFUR Playable on the Frame, and the only flag is that the on-screen button icons don’t match the headset’s controllers. If you’re curious how a far more demanding game copes on the headset, see my Cyberpunk 2077 Steam Frame performance tests.
I captured my Steam Frame sessions with SFRecorder, one of our free plugins. If you want to record your own headset gameplay, my SFRecorder guide walks you through it.
What about Steam Machine?
I didn’t test SULFUR on the Steam Machine this time, but Valve rates it Verified there as well, with the default controls, button icons and default settings all passing Valve’s checks. If you’re still deciding which of Valve’s devices suits you, I’ve weighed them up in Steam Deck, Steam Machine and Steam Frame in 2026: are they worth it?
Final thoughts
SULFUR is an easy recommendation for Steam Deck owners heading into the 1.0 launch: highest settings, 90fps, and no tweaking needed. The Steam Frame isn’t quite as steady, but it’s still a smooth way to play on a giant virtual screen. SULFUR is available on Steam, and you can get SULFUR on Instant Gaming if you’re after a cheaper key. Will you be diving in once 1.0 goes live?
