We've been wondering what Valve had planned to show off Steam Deck compatibility for games and now they've launched Deck Verified as their answer.
Valve say they are reviewing the entire Steam catalogue on the Steam Deck, with each of them gaining a category that it falls under that will show up across Steam from the store to your own Steam Library. The ratings will be split across Verified, Playable, Unsupported and Unknown. This is good because there's a lot of reasons why games will mix between perfect and unplayable on Steam Deck and the Arch Linux-based SteamOS it ships with.
To be actually Verified the games need to hit these four points:
- Input - The title should have full controller support, use appropriate controller input icons, and automatically bring up the on-screen keyboard when needed.
- Display - The game should support the default resolution of Steam Deck (1280x800 or 1280x720), have good default settings, and text should be legible.
- Seamlessness - The title shouldn’t display any compatibility warnings, and if there’s a launcher it should be navigable with a controller.
- System Support - If running through Proton, the game and all its middleware should be supported by Proton. This includes anti-cheat support.
When you're playing on a Steam Deck, the first tab in the Steam store will also only highlight games that are "great" on the Steam Deck too.
Check out their video explainer below:
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Direct Link
Direct Link
Want to see what their plan is? You can check it out on Deck Verified.
Valve also put up a Steam Deck Compatibility Review Process guide, which goes over the steps required for developers to take a look at. It gives an interesting insight into exactly what Valve and developers will be doing. Developers however will not be able to remove their game from being listed as Valve say the Deck is "an extension of Steam onto a new portable PC form factor, and so customers both expect and have access to the same store and library that they would on any other PC".
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
Quoting: Liam DaweI do really hope that they get buy-in from the game devs. There's a window between failing the tests and the results of the tests being put up where Valve send an email to the developers saying "fix your shit." It would really suck to have a game that has the mark, loses the mark, then a couple of weeks later gets the mark back again. The only way to avoid that situation is for devs to properly test things themselves (which Valve are clear that they should do) before they push any updates. It still remains to be seen whether enough of them actually will.Quoting: BielFPsThe only thing that's not clear is who will evaluate if each game meets the requirements: The consumers, the developers or (most unlikely) Valve itself?Valve made it pretty clear they are ultimately the ones who make the ratings.
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Quoting: mphuZQuoteSteamOS can run this gameWhat do they mean by this concept?
Native? Proton? WHAT?
It doesn't matter. Atleast to the end user. It might matter to us, because we like to know these things and tinker... But on a "I want to play a game" level, it doesn't really matter what framework it uses.
I'm pretty sure that's the point.
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Quoting: CatKillerI fully expect that Valve's response would be "good luck with that." Politely, of course.I second that, but I also expect someone making some noise before.
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Quoting: mphuZValve don't particularly care either way. They're taking away the "compatibility tool" popup, at least on the Steam Deck, that we've previously had when first running a game through Proton. As much of the Steam catalogue as at all possible, running well on Linux, by hook or by crook, is the objective from Valve's point of view. There'll probably still be the SteamOS icon (but not Tux) for native games, I expect.QuoteSteamOS can run this gameWhat do they mean by this concept?
Native? Proton? WHAT?
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At last, this is a good move pushing developers more actively into caring about having a native version/port in the first place, while the "competitor is hoping for Proton". 
Also, it's somehow the revenge of the superior 16:10 resolution the damn TV/movies industry so cold-bloody killed. 8-)
Last edited by sudoer on 19 October 2021 at 2:11 am UTC
Also, it's somehow the revenge of the superior 16:10 resolution the damn TV/movies industry so cold-bloody killed. 8-)
Last edited by sudoer on 19 October 2021 at 2:11 am UTC
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Where do you actually see these icons when you open a game listing on Steam's site? I don't really notice any.
Last edited by Shmerl on 19 October 2021 at 2:10 am UTC
Last edited by Shmerl on 19 October 2021 at 2:10 am UTC
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Quoting: MohandevirBefore worrying about the 100% compatibility mark, I would try to get the same tests on Windows 10-11 with Windows games... It might be lower than 90%.FYI Batman: Arkham Asylum GOTY works on Windows 11. I just tested it.
Ex: My son was never able to run Batman Arkham Asylum on Windows... I did with Proton.
I mean... 100% support doesn't exist, even on Windows, so...
Very cool article and approach Valve is taking in my opinion. 100% compat was never realistic and I don't think they should have ever implied that. Being able to check my Steam Library for compatibility is a big plus. I look forward to that.
Overall, I think this could be a big positive for gaming period in addition to mainstreaming Linux gaming.
1 Likes, Who?
PublicNuisance Oct 19, 2021
I give this all of a week after launch to find that many games that have a certain rating fail the expectations of that rating.
I don't see that happening at all. There is a better chance of customers installing Windows on the Steam Deck than that happening. Proton has shown that it will only lower the amount of native Linux titles being made not increase it.
Quoting: KorsI'm counting on Steam Deck to skyrocket Linux usage, or at least to bring more games to linux based OS
I don't see that happening at all. There is a better chance of customers installing Windows on the Steam Deck than that happening. Proton has shown that it will only lower the amount of native Linux titles being made not increase it.
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furaxhornyx Oct 19, 2021
Quoting: GuestThe chosen terms are not very clear to me.
"Verified, Playable, Unsupported and Unknown"
Is "Playable" better or worse than "Verified"? What does "verified" even mean? It could mean it has been verified as not working.
"Unsupported", ok, but it doesn’t tell if it’s working or not.
"Unknown" is of course not helping much either.
I’m not asking for the answers, just saying they should choose terms that immediately make sense.
I checked the compatibility page, the french terms seemed more clear to me than the english ones. Nice job translaters
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: PublicNuisanceI don't see that happening at all. There is a better chance of customers installing Windows on the Steam Deck than that happening. Proton has shown that it will only lower the amount of native Linux titles being made not increase it.
Chances of customers installing any OS on Steam Deck? Pretty low and not likely to ever be high - it's same with installing an OS anywhere really.
Chances of developers releasing something for Linux becasue of Steam Deck? Depends on the marketing I guess, but they can get pretty good and way higher than the above for sure.
Last edited by Shmerl on 19 October 2021 at 4:10 am UTC
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