Valve’s Steam Machine will have “fewer constraints” for games to be Verified than Steam Deck — plus, an explanation for that weird Steam Controller puck

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Valve, the company behind Steam, created a lot of excitement when they announced the Steam Machine last November. People are eager to learn more about this PC, designed for use in the living room, which aims to combine the best aspects of PC and console gaming. This interest is fueled by Valve’s success with the Steam Deck, which really popularized handheld gaming PCs.

As the expected early 2026 launch of the Steam Machine gets closer, people are curious about how hard it will be for game developers to earn a “Verified” badge. Valve awards this badge to games proven to run well on the Steam Deck after testing, and they plan to do the same for the Steam Machine.

The publisher recently explained in an interview with Game Developer that it’s now easier for developers to get their games certified for Steam Machines. Designer Lawrence Yang said they’re reducing the requirements, meaning there will be “fewer constraints” to meet for “Steam Machine Verified” status.

Valve stated that games already confirmed to work well on the Steam Deck will likely also be verified for Steam Machine. They also plan to use a similar testing process and offer developers feedback when verifying games for SteamVR, ensuring they meet the necessary standards.

Basically, any game that’s confirmed to work well on the Steam Deck will also work on the Steam Machine. This is likely because the Steam Machine has more powerful hardware, similar to the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, ensuring smooth gameplay. It will also be simpler for game developers to get their titles verified for the Steam Machine, which should lead to a wider selection of verified games being available.

The Verified badge is great news for game developers and publishers. It lets players know a game will run smoothly, making it a strong way to attract buyers and boost sales. Because PC gamers often check performance before purchasing, verification shows a game is likely to work well on standard computers.

In the same interview, Valve engineer Steve Cardinali discussed the new Steam Controller, which is designed like the Steam Deck and will come with the Steam Machine (and also be available for purchase on its own). He highlighted the controller’s companion accessory, a small device that acts as both a wireless receiver and a charger.

Cardinali explains that the controller’s unusual design solves a few common problems with standard wireless controllers. While it *can* still connect via Bluetooth, Valve opted for its own adapter to ensure reliable performance in environments crowded with other Bluetooth devices, which can often cause interference and connection issues.

Wireless adapters sometimes experience interference when plugged into the back of a computer alongside other devices. To help Steam Controller users avoid this, Valve designed the controller with a USB cable and the ability to charge, so people would be more likely to place it in an open area where it could get a clearer signal and stay charged easily.

The company designed the Steam Controller and its trackpads to be incredibly user-friendly – they wanted it to simply work, right out of the box. Hopefully, that’s the experience users will have, and we’ll find out for sure when the controller and Steam Machine are released soon.

What do you think about the Steam Machine? Are you planning to buy one when it’s released? Also, what are your thoughts on the new Steam Controller? Share your opinions in the comments below!

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2026-01-15 00:39