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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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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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141 comments
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Mohandevir Nov 8, 2021
Quoting: zen_xenoI'm glad its been indicated that the power pack in the Deck should be replaceable, with a little effort.

I'm pretty fine with that.

Personnally, being forced to change the batteries, in my SC is the part I hate the most. I broke one of the "ejector sticks" in one of them... I can still change the batteries, but I'm in for a hell of a fight.

Best case scenario: Standard rechargeable batteries that may be recharged with a USB cable, similar to some battery holders for the Xbox 360 controllers.

Edit: This said, I'm not sure you could get 8hours of playtime, on the Steam Deck, with 2 AA batteries... It would require a couple more and add some weight to the device. Don't you think?


Last edited by Mohandevir on 8 November 2021 at 7:56 pm UTC
Mal Nov 8, 2021
  • Supporter
Quoting: zen_xeno
Quoting: Mal
Quoting: randylThe only big drawback to the current base Xbox controller for Windows is that it uses AA batteries instead of a self-contained rechargeable.

Odd. That's the main reason why I don't like ds.

You mean you don't prefer a proprietary offer for something that already has a standardized solution? I for one don't want to be able to go to my nearest store to solve the most common problem in all of consumer electronics, I want to order a special product™. But even better would be if the battery is sealed inside the device, then all I need to do is throw the whole thing away and order a new one!

LOL seriously, I love that Valve used AA batteries in the Steam controller - I order a 20 pack of AA rechargeable every few years. Its just a fact of life that rechargeable batteries wear out over time, why would anyone want to use a proprietary power source instead of a standard one? Makes no sense.

I'm glad its been indicated that the power pack in the Deck should be replaceable, with a little effort.

Also that, it's true.

The other reason is that when they are empty you can simply pause, swap the batteries in the controller with those in the recharger, unpause and go back to your game. With integrated batteries you have to use the cable.

Then on PC that's most often not possible, since most of the controller API won't dynamically detect controllers but only once at startup so you necessarily have to restart the game. It's another one of the little things that consoles have right but devs on PC can't be make to care. It won't even be a feature needed for the deck mark of quality since controller is integrated in the deck.
dubigrasu Nov 8, 2021
Quoting: zen_xenoLOL seriously, I love that Valve used AA batteries in the Steam controller

Hear hear!
I hate those integrated batteries, they go bad and have no easy access to them. I have at least one controller unusable wirelessy because of that.
slaapliedje Nov 8, 2021
Quoting: zen_xeno
Quoting: Mal
Quoting: randylThe only big drawback to the current base Xbox controller for Windows is that it uses AA batteries instead of a self-contained rechargeable.

Odd. That's the main reason why I don't like ds.

You mean you don't prefer a proprietary offer for something that already has a standardized solution? I for one don't want to be able to go to my nearest store to solve the most common problem in all of consumer electronics, I want to order a special product™. But even better would be if the battery is sealed inside the device, then all I need to do is throw the whole thing away and order a new one!

LOL seriously, I love that Valve used AA batteries in the Steam controller - I order a 20 pack of AA rechargeable every few years. Its just a fact of life that rechargeable batteries wear out over time, why would anyone want to use a proprietary power source instead of a standard one? Makes no sense.

I'm glad its been indicated that the power pack in the Deck should be replaceable, with a little effort.
Oh no, I'd much rather have to order specific batteries, and have to pull apart the controller to replace the rechargeable battery, that may or may not work correctly... like my PS3 controllers. I fortunately ordered 3 batteries, only two of which seemed to actually hold a charge...
Mohandevir Nov 8, 2021
Quoting: GuestGreat irony is that the "special" in many devices is a fairly standardised battery anyway that can easily be replaced if you can pry the device open.

So true... Found a hack for my Nvidia Shield controller where the guy swapped the original batteries with rechargeable Duracell. He soldered the metal strip on them and added some electrical tape to wrap them together. He pretends the charge lasts longer than the brand new original ones.


Last edited by Mohandevir on 8 November 2021 at 8:04 pm UTC
dubigrasu Nov 8, 2021
Quoting: Mohandevir...being forced to change the batteries, in my SC is the part I hate the most. I broke one of the "ejector sticks" in one of them... I can still change the batteries, but I'm in for a hell of a fight.
That is true, some batteries are slightly larger and hard to take out.
I do this to avoid fighting with them:

You just pull them out with the ribbon.
dubigrasu Nov 8, 2021
Quoting: Guest
Quoting: dubigrasu
Quoting: zen_xenoLOL seriously, I love that Valve used AA batteries in the Steam controller

Hear hear!
I hate those integrated batteries, they go bad and have no easy access to them. I have at least one controller unusable wirelessy because of that.

Which controller? I'm sure you can buy a replacement if you're willing to attack the casing a little bit.
Is one or two PS3 controllers. I opened them before to clean the stuff inside, but didn't went too far with the battery since I still have one still working.
I may resort to that eventually.


Last edited by dubigrasu on 8 November 2021 at 8:54 pm UTC
Purple Library Guy Nov 8, 2021
Quoting: GuestWhich controller? I'm sure you can buy a replacement if you're willing to attack the casing a little bit.
--He say attack casing.
--Uh, Grond, I don't think the nice man meant . . .
--He say! He say fix problem, attack casing!
--No, Grond, that's not
--RRRAAAAAAAAAA!!!! DIE CASING!!! AARRGGHHRHRH!
(Smash, crunch)
slaapliedje Nov 9, 2021
Quoting: dubigrasu
Quoting: Mohandevir...being forced to change the batteries, in my SC is the part I hate the most. I broke one of the "ejector sticks" in one of them... I can still change the batteries, but I'm in for a hell of a fight.
That is true, some batteries are slightly larger and hard to take out.
I do this to avoid fighting with them:

You just pull them out with the ribbon.
Nice! I have some rechargeable batteries that are 100% smooth on the bottom, as opposed to most batteries that have some sort of lip/wrinkle. They are a pain to get out of the SC.
wit_as_a_riddle Nov 25, 2021
Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: dubigrasu
Quoting: Mohandevir...being forced to change the batteries, in my SC is the part I hate the most. I broke one of the "ejector sticks" in one of them... I can still change the batteries, but I'm in for a hell of a fight.
That is true, some batteries are slightly larger and hard to take out.
I do this to avoid fighting with them:

You just pull them out with the ribbon.
Nice! I have some rechargeable batteries that are 100% smooth on the bottom, as opposed to most batteries that have some sort of lip/wrinkle. They are a pain to get out of the SC.

What I've noticed as a difference between standard alkaline and rechargeable is the shape of the positive end of the battery. The little protruding nipple that AA batteries have. On regular alkaline its a little smaller in circumference and has rounded edges. On all rechargeable AAs I've seen that nipple has hard square corners and a wider circumference.

This difference actually snapped off the terminal of a very expensive GPS I once owned. At first I thought it was a manufacturing error on Garmin's part but the replacement they sent fell victim to the same sharp nippled battery. It's a design flaw one way or the other but I'd place the blame on the batteries. Especially since hearing people also had issues with their Steam controller and rechargeable AAs.
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