Marco is a frame generation plugin for Steam Deck and other SteamOS devices that generates additional frames to make games feel smoother, with features including fixed and adaptive frame generation and per-game profiles. As with all third-party frame gen tools, there are some things you need to have organised first before you can start using it. So follow along as we show you what you need to use MAKO Frame Gen on Steam Deck and how to start using it.

Takeaways:

  1. Set up Mako for frame generation on Steam Deck.
  2. Configure Mako and Lossless Scaling for smoother gaming.

Important Requirements

  • Before installing Marco, make sure you have a licensed copy of Lossless Scaling purchased and installed through Steam. Marco requires a file from Lossless Scaling to provide its frame generation functionality.
  • You will also need Decky Loader installed on your Steam Deck, as Marco is installed as a Decky plugin. If you do not already have Decky Loader set up, install it before continuing.
  • Finally, make sure your SteamOS installation is fully up to date.

How to Install MAKO Frame Generation on Steam Deck

How to Install MAKO Frame Generation on Steam Deck

  • Start by switching the Steam Deck to Desktop Mode by pressing the Steam button, selecting Power, and choosing Switch to Desktop.
  • Open your browser and go to the Marco GitHub page
  • Find the Releases section and open the latest release.
  • Scroll down to the Assets section and find the Marco Decky ZIP file.

Install MAKO Frame Generation on Steam Deck

  • Make sure you download the Decky version rather than the renderer package, as the renderer package is intended for a different installation method.
  • Save the ZIP file to your Downloads folder. Do not extract it, as Decky will install the plugin directly from the ZIP file.
  • Once the download has finished, go back to Gaming Mode.

Installing Marco

  • Press the Quick Access button (the three-dot button) on the right side of the Steam Deck, and open Decky using the plug icon.
  • Select the Settings cog in the top-right corner and scroll down until you find Developer Mode. Enable it.
  • A new Developer section should now appear.
  • Open it and select the option to install a plugin from a ZIP file.
  • Choose Browse, go to your Downloads folder, and select the Marco Decky ZIP file you downloaded earlier.
  • Give Decky a few seconds to complete the installation.
  • Marco should then appear in your installed plugins.
  • Open Marco from the plugin list and select Install Marco Renderer.
  • Installing the ZIP only installs the plugin interface.
  • The renderer is required for the actual frame generation functionality to work.

  • Once the renderer has finished installing, restart your Steam Deck.

Configuring Marco

  • After restarting, open Marco from Decky's plugin menu.
  • The main setting you will need to configure is the frame generation mode.

Fixed lets you choose a multiplier of 2x, 3x, or 4x.
For most games, 2x is a good starting point because it provides smoother motion without adding as much latency as higher multipliers.

Adaptive works differently.
Instead of locking frame generation to a specific multiplier, you set a target frame rate and Marco dynamically adjusts frame generation depending on the game's performance. For example, on a Steam Deck OLED, you could set a target of 90 FPS and allow Marco to adjust automatically.

Marco also includes an Ultra Performance option that can reduce GPU overhead and improve frame generation performance. The trade-off is that it can introduce additional visual artifacts, so it is worth testing on a game-by-game basis.

Another useful feature is per-game profiles. Marco automatically saves your settings for individual games, meaning you do not have to configure the same options every time you launch them.

Enabling Marco in Games

  • To use Marco with a particular game, open the Marco plugin and scroll to the bottom.
  • Select Copy Launch Option.
  • Next, open your Steam Library, select the game you want to configure, and open its Properties.
  • Find the Launch Options field and paste in the command you copied from Marco.
  • Close the Properties window and launch the game.
  • You will need to repeat this process for each game you want to use with Marco.

Frame generation works best when the game already has a reasonable native frame rate. Around 30 FPS or higher is a good starting point. If the base frame rate is too low, the additional latency from frame generation can become more noticeable.

For that reason, it is better to test Marco on individual games rather than enabling it everywhere. Start with 2x frame generation and adjust the settings based on the game's performance, latency, and visual quality.