It looks like Valve's Steam is working on a feature that should probably already exist: a frames-per-second (FPS) estimator based on your device's actual hardware.

Having an idea of the level of performance you'll likely get from a game before you buy it takes some of the guesswork out of figuring out how a title will run on your PC. Of course, Framerate Estimator won't be 100% accurate, but it'll at least give you some idea of performance, while removing the need to manually compare your GPU and CPU against a game's listed performance requirements.

The feature first appeared in notes surrounding a recent Steam app update (via Tom's Hardware). Alongside a straightforward FPS number, Framerate Estimator also displays a graph based on the actual performance of other players using similar components. This means that Valve is pulling anonymous performance data from users' PCs that have opted in. The option is currently available only in beta on the PC Steam app.

Framerate Estimator will be especially useful for the Steam Deck

Anything that takes the guesswork out of PC gaming is a solid step forward

At least at first, Framerate Estimator seems focused on SteamOS devices like the Steam Deck and, eventually, the Steam Machine (when it finally releases). The feature will also work well with the ability to attach PC specs to reviews, which Valve recently added to Steam. I can see Framerate Estimator being really useful for people with lower-end and mid-range PCs that are on the fence about how a high-end, resource-intensive game like Crimson Desert will run on their rig.

Even in my case, where I have a pretty high-end gaming PC with a GeForce RTX 5090 and a Core Ultra 7 265F, it would be great to know how far I can push a game FPS-wise at 4K before I click the buy button, especially if a title is CPU-bound (I'm looking at you Marathon).

It's unclear when Framerate Estimator will get a full release, but given it's being tested in beta in the Steam app, its release likely isn't far off.