Steam Machine’s “Verified” Program Will Have “Fewer Constraints” for Developers Than Steam Deck

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Valve has had success marketing the Steam Deck, its handheld gaming PC, with a program that verifies which games work well on the device. They plan to use a similar system for their new pre-built gaming PC, the Steam Machine. According to Valve designer Lawrence Yang, the verification process for this new PC will be less strict than the one for the Steam Deck.

The Steam Deck Verification process checks if games run well on the handheld’s less powerful hardware. It also looks at how easy the game is to use, whether text and menus are readable on the small screen, and if players will need to use the on-screen keyboard. The new Steam Machine is much more powerful – Valve says it’s about six times as powerful as the Steam Deck – so games should run more smoothly. Plus, the Steam Machine has a larger screen and is designed to be used with a connected keyboard, so designers don’t need to worry about those things.

In addition, Yang pointed out that a game confirmed to work on the Steam Deck will also automatically be confirmed for Steam Machines. He explained that if a game is “Verified” on the Steam Deck, it will also be “Verified” on Steam Machine. The main difference with Valve’s new hardware will be the Steam Frame, which will have its own specific requirements. Valve plans to work with developers, going through the same testing and feedback process they use for Steam Deck Verification to ensure compatibility.

Valve announced the Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and a new Steam Controller in November. Although there’s no official release date yet, they’ve been sharing details about the products. For example, engineer Steve Cardinali explained why the Steam Controller uses a dedicated wireless connection instead of Bluetooth to connect to a PC.

Our testing showed that Bluetooth connections at home can be unreliable due to varying wireless conditions – things like crowded networks, interference, and slowdowns when using multiple Bluetooth devices. According to Cardinali, the new Steam Controller’s Puck is designed to solve these problems.

We also wanted to address the problem of wireless receivers causing interference when plugged into a computer alongside other USB devices. By adding a charging feature, we encourage users to place the receiver in a location with minimal interference, and it also makes charging very convenient.”

Here’s a complete overview of Valve’s latest hardware. Plus, there’s ongoing speculation that the long-awaited Half-Life 3 might be released alongside the Steam Machine.

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2026-01-13 19:12