I've been playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, along with Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone, on my Steam Deck. And guess what? This isn't running on Windows; it's all happening on Steam OS.
Here's the game-changer: GeForce NOW. That's right, GeForce NOW recently added Call of Duty to their roster, and they're constantly adding more incredible games. I've been using the GeForce NOW Ultimate, and I'm excited to dive into the details.
First off, let's talk about the visual experience. I've cranked up all the settings to extreme, leveraging DLSS frame generation for incredibly smooth gameplay. However, there's a catch - it's capped at 60 frames per second, even on the OLED Steam Deck. Interestingly, they haven't supported higher refresh rates like 90 or 120 Hz on the Linux distribution for the Chrome browser yet.
Setting up is straightforward. There's a detailed guide here, but here's the gist: As long as you have a decent internet connection, you won't face any issues with ping or lag. The gameplay is smooth, and whether you're into competitive gaming or just want a casual zombie slaying session, the experience is fantastic.
But here's a pro tip from my initial experience: When I first started, the gameplay was jerky, and the frame rate was inconsistent. The culprit? The default setting was at an 800p stream, which caused issues either in GeForce NOW or the browser streaming. The fix? Go into the GeForce NOW client, adjust the settings, and set the resolution to something above 800p. I found that 1920 x 1200 works like a charm, offering a crisp, clear, and responsive display on the Steam Deck.
Now, for those interested in GeForce NOW, there's a free tier available. However, with popular titles like Warzone and Fortnite, expect some lengthy queues but not on the priority or Ultimate tiers.
Additionally, they've paused the 1-month subscriptions for priority and ultimate due to high demand. The current options are £49.99 for 6 months on priority, offering ray tracing but not the 480 versions, and £99.99 for 6 months on Ultimate, which includes the RTX 4080 version.
What's great about GeForce NOW is you don't need a PC to enjoy these games. You can stream from various devices, and all your progress carries over. I've even tested this on my PC, running the games at 1440p with full RTX 4080 and frame generation settings, easily surpassing 200 frames per second.
In conclusion, if you want to enjoy Call of Duty on the go or on devices that usually struggle with high-end games, GeForce NOW is a game-changer. Stay tuned for more gaming tips and tricks, and I'll see you in the next one!