Today we're diving into the exciting world of gaming tech, specifically focusing on the FSR 3 mod and its impact on the gaming experience in Hogwarts Legacy. Having finally gotten our hands on it, we conducted thorough tests to determine the true difference this mod makes and whether it's currently worth implementing.
Initially, the difference is stark, especially in terms of FPS (frames per second). However, there's also a noticeable quality disparity.
Our tests were conducted on the AMD FSR 2, using the Steam Deck with OLED and LCD displays.
The settings were kept consistent - medium with no motion blur or depth of field, and a touch of sharpening for FSR 2. For FSR 3, it's crucial to use the DLSS performance version to avoid severe ghosting, and unfortunately, sharpening is a no-go with this mod, if your turn it on, it will crash the game and you will have to reset your proton files to get up and running again to turn it off.
When using FSR 2 quality, Hogwarts Legacy has significantly improvemed in its later versions, running much smoother on the Steam Deck.
Switching to FSR 3, you must opt for the DLSS performance mode, which does increase FPS but at the cost of extra blurriness and a loss in image quality. Although lighting occasionally looks better, the overall quality takes a hit.
In areas like Hogwarts towers, FPS can vary dramatically. FSR 3 maintains higher FPS but introduces micro stuttering, affecting the feel of smooth gameplay, particularly while exploring indoor areas. Ghosting is still an issue here, albeit minor.
In contrast, outdoor areas like Hogsmeade feel somewhat better, but texture issues and minor ghosting persist.
Input latency is another factor to consider. FSR 3 struggles with lower FPS games, attempting to amplify frames that don't exist, leading to a slight delay. This is most evident in combat scenarios. FSR 2, while dropping frames, offers a more responsive experience.
Overall, while FSR 3 shows potential, especially in open-world segments, it's still a work in progress. The mod, currently funded through Luke's Patreon, is not yet public. The key issues - DLSS sharpness and performance mode restrictions - need addressing before it becomes a viable option for the Steam Deck.
If you're curious about how this mod performs on other handheld devices, check out our Games in Hand and Ally in Hand channels for more insights.
In conclusion, while FSR 3 shows promise, it's not quite ready for prime time on the Steam Deck. We look forward to seeing how this mod evolves and improves game performance in the future.
Share your thoughts in the comments below about this mod and whether you're keen to try it out.
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