Newly discovered code indicates Valve is working on a feature that could surface real-world performance data directly in the Steam Store. The long-standing mismatch between listed system requirements and actual gameplay may soon be easier to understand. The feature appears designed to show estimated frame rates based on anonymized data gathered from players hardware.
The discovery was first shared on ResetEra, where a user named Dex3108 noticed a new line tucked inside the newest Steam client code. The text says: “Select an App and a PC config to get a chart of estimated frame rates, based on the frame rates of other users.”
The wording suggests a future Steam Store feature that would let users enter their CPU, GPU, and memory setup to preview expected performance ahead of purchase. Given how often official requirements fail to reflect real-world results across different PCs, the addition could be a useful improvement.
The estimated FPS feature would build on Valve’s ongoing work to collect gameplay metrics anonymously. A previous SteamOS beta already logs frame rates and system configurations in the background. Valve says the data is used “to learn about game compatibility and improve Steam,” and is not connected to user identities.
Valve has recently begun asking SteamOS users, including Steam Deck owners and users of upcoming Steam Machines, to permit anonymous FPS tracking. The initiative fits into the company’s broader effort to improve store information using aggregated player data.
In a related update, Valve recently introduced the ability for reviewers to attach their hardware specifications directly to user reviews. The change eliminates the need for players to manually type out system details when discussing performance.
It’s still unknown if the estimated FPS feature will make its way to Steam on Windows. Up to now, Valve has mainly focused its data collection on SteamOS and its own hardware.
For SteamOS users, especially on Steam Deck, more detailed performance info could fill in the gaps left by the current “Verified” labels. And with the more powerful Steam Machine on the way, this kind of data could help show how heavier games actually run on small but capable systems.
Pulling together crowd-sourced performance data across PC hardware won’t be easy. Frame rates can change a lot depending on settings, resolution, mods, or upscaling features like DLSS and FSR, which boost performance but also affect visuals. To make the estimates useful, Valve would have to carefully standardize the data.
Even with those challenges, early community feedback has been positive. If it rolls out the way the code suggests, the feature could make the biggest PC game store a much more helpful guide for people navigating all the different hardware setups.
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