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Best Star Citizen settings for the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) (2026)

On a Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) (paired with a balanced Intel Core i5-8600K-class CPU), Star Citizen runs at roughly 43 FPS at 1080p with our optimized settings — up from about 19FPS with everything maxed. Here's the configuration and what each setting costs.

The Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) is a handheld graphics card with 4GB of VRAM, and Star Citizen is a one of the most punishing games to run on PC. Paired with the Intel Core i5-8600K, it is a real challenge at 1080p — about 43 FPS with FrameCoach's optimized settings, a clear jump from roughly 19 FPS with everything on High.

Across resolutions you can expect around 43 FPS at 1080p and 26 FPS at 1440p, dropping to roughly 15 FPS at 4K. With only 4GB of VRAM, keep textures a notch below max in Star Citizen at higher resolutions to avoid stutter. The biggest free win is FSR upscaling — set it to Quality for a large FPS boost at little visual cost.

ResolutionAll-High FPSOptimized FPS
1080p1943
1440p1226
4K715
💡 Star Citizen: Famously CPU- and server-bound - a fast CPU and 32GB RAM matter more than your GPU; Volumetric Clouds is the heaviest graphics setting.
🚀 Biggest free win: enable FSR (Balanced) — about +55% FPS for a small sharpness trade.
Recommended settings
Upscaling — FSRBalanced+55% FPS
Star Citizen offers FSR upscaling. It helps the GPU side, but the game is famously CPU- and server-bound — a faster CPU and 32GB+ RAM matter most.
Planet Volumetric CloudsLow+14% FPS
Volumetric clouds and gas clouds — one of the heaviest GPU settings. High is a strong step down from Very High.
Shadow QualityLow+10% FPS
Shadow resolution and range. High looks close to Very High while running faster.
Object Container QualityLow+9% FPS
How far detailed objects and ships render — partly a CPU cost in busy cities like Area18. High is fine; lower if cities chug.
Effects / ParticlesLow+7% FPS
Explosions and engine effects. High is plenty.
Texture QualityVery High-1% FPS
Surface sharpness — VRAM-hungry; on 8GB cards keep it at High and pair with 32GB system RAM.

⚡ Fine-tune this for your exact CPU & target FPS →

🎯 Can the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) run Star Citizen? See the verdict →

Star Citizen on other GPUs
Other games on the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU)
Frequently asked

What FPS does the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) get in Star Citizen?

With FrameCoach's optimized balanced settings, the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) averages around 43 FPS at 1080p in Star Citizen — up from about 19 FPS with everything on High.

Can the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) run Star Citizen at 1440p?

At 1440p with optimized settings, the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU) averages roughly 26 FPS in Star Citizen; turn on upscaling or aim for a locked 60 for the best feel.

What are the best Star Citizen settings for the Steam Deck (RDNA2 iGPU)?

Turn on FSR (Balanced), keep ray tracing off for maximum FPS, and ease the heaviest options like Planet Volumetric Clouds and Shadow Quality down a notch. The full per-setting breakdown is above.

FPS figures are estimates from a generalized model (hardware tier × game load × per-setting weights), not live benchmarks — real performance varies by scene, drivers and game version.