Steam may add a framerate estimator feature
▼ Summary
– Valve is developing a “framerate estimator” tool for Steam, as indicated by new text in a recent client update.
– The tool will provide estimated framerates for games based on anonymized hardware and performance data shared by users.
– Users will select or input their PC’s CPU, GPU, and RAM configuration to generate personalized estimates.
– The estimates will be presented as a chart and will show the number of user data entries used for the calculation.
– This feature relies on voluntary data sharing from Steam users to improve game compatibility insights.
Valve appears to be developing a new framerate estimator tool for its Steam platform, building on the hardware data collection program it launched earlier this year. The company recently added text referencing the feature in a client update, indicating it will leverage aggregated, anonymized performance data from users to generate game-specific performance predictions.
The evidence for this upcoming feature was discovered in the JSON files of an April 3 Steam client update. The code includes a subheader describing a function where users can “Select an App and a PC config to get a chart of estimated framerates, based on the framerates of other Steam users.” This suggests Valve is preparing to convert the data it has been gathering into a practical utility for its community.
Rather than relying on automated system scans, the tool seems designed to work with user-defined hardware configurations. According to the referenced inputs, estimates will be generated based on a player’s selected CPU, GPU, and system RAM specifications. These specs could be entered manually or pulled from a saved profile within the Steam client itself.
For each game, the interface is expected to display a predicted frame rate alongside a crucial piece of context, the “Number of matching training entries.” This figure would show users how much real-world performance data from similar systems was used to calculate the estimate, providing a gauge for its reliability. The move represents a logical next step for Valve’s data initiative, potentially giving PC gamers a powerful new resource for setting performance expectations before they purchase or install a title.
(Source: Ars Technica)
