Recommended Display Configuration Table

For the September 18, 2026 update, match the following two settings. No specific refresh-rate, TDP, or Proton configuration is established by these patch notes:

On small screens, scroll the table sideways to read every column.

Setting Option Recommended Value Status Evidence and limits
Full Screen ON Recommended Recommended ON in the official notes; an exclusive-fullscreen or gamescope explanation is not supplied.
Stretch Screen OFF Recommended Recommended OFF in the official notes; the announcement does not prove a scaling-related cause of stutter.
Official store screenshot showing dialogue with The Great Pumpkin and the game HUD
Official store capture showing dialogue with The Great Pumpkin and black borders. This is a game-context image, not a settings-menu screenshot or a Steam Deck benchmark. Image: Ill-Advised Records / Kwalee.

What the performance evidence establishes

The September 18 update supports the two display recommendations. It does not explain the cause of stutter or provide an FPS test matrix. No measured gain can be assigned to either setting from these notes alone [1].

The earlier July discussion includes developer comments about Proton and JavaScript garbage collection. It predates v1.0.1; use it as historical context, not proof of current performance or a prescription to replace game files [2].

  • Confirmed: the two display recommendations and announcement of performance improvements.
  • Limited: map and menu optimizations may help some players.
  • Not established: a universal refresh-rate cap, TDP target, Proton version, or frame-time result.

How to Apply Settings Step-by-Step

  1. Launch Welcome to Elderfield on your Steam Deck

    Check that Steam has installed the September 18 update before comparing settings with the v1.0.1 advice. This page does not prescribe a compatibility-layer change.

  2. Open the Pause / Options Menu

    Locate Full Screen and Stretch Screen in the game's options. The official post does not document a controller-button sequence, so none is asserted here.

  3. Toggle Full Screen to ON

    Highlight Full Screen and ensure the toggle is enabled.

  4. Toggle Stretch Screen to OFF

    Verify that Stretch Screen is disabled, matching the developer's recommendation.

  5. Resume Play and Verify Transitions

    Observe whether your original symptom changes. If it persists, record the area, action, game version, and device settings for a report. Improvement is not guaranteed [1].

Additional v1.0.1 Handheld Improvements

The same update lists other game-wide fixes. They are not device-specific recovery instructions:

  • Unstuck Safeguard: The notes describe a failsafe for saves already stuck in terrain, without specifying when it runs or how to trigger it manually.
  • Pause-menu buttons: Buttons can still open after dragging them without changing their order; the notes do not specify a trackpad-only fix.
  • Attack timing: The developer shortened attack waits and sped up the basic attack animation. This is a gameplay change, not a measured input-latency result.
  • Crash Prevention: Resolved crashes triggered by dusty area effects, fog transitions, and non-English animal dialogues.
Important Boundaries & Unverified Items
  • No Hardware FPS Guarantee: While the developer reports significant performance improvements, this guide does not claim a permanent locked 60 FPS across heavy fog and particle weather conditions.
  • No Speculative Proton Flags: The checked sources do not establish a specific Proton version or launch flag for v1.0.1. We cannot promise that the default runtime works reliably on every setup.
  • Physical Hardware Testing Disclosure: As an independent documentation hub, our guidance is compiled from official developer patch notes and clearly dated community discussion. We do not claim in-house hardware laboratory testing.