Valve’s New SteamOS Compatibility Rating Eases Handheld Gaming
Valve has rolled out a fresh SteamOS Compatibility Rating to sit alongside its Steam Deck Verified badge. Aimed at any portable device running SteamOS—from the Lenovo Legion Go S to upcoming hardware—this new label guarantees that a title will launch and support essential SteamOS features, without vowing specific performance targets or input precision.
Why Introduce Another Label?
As SteamOS spreads beyond Valve’s hardware, gamers often find themselves wondering which titles will even start on third-party handhelds. The original Deck Verified program intertwined simple launch checks with performance benchmarks optimized for the Steam Deck’s custom components. The result? A “Verified” badge that sometimes misled users when games launched but suffered stutters or crashed on Valve’s device, let alone on other handhelds.
Valve’s answer was a stripped-down, device-agnostic evaluation focused strictly on software-level compatibility. By narrowing the assessment criteria, Valve aims to eliminate confusion and help gamers know which games will at least boot and work with Steam’s core features.
How the Compatibility Rating Works
Rather than testing frame rates, controller response, or battery drain, Valve inspects three non-performance categories:
- Anti-Cheat Support: Verifies that popular anti-cheat systems (Easy Anti-Cheat, BattlEye, etc.) function correctly under SteamOS, ensuring multiplayer titles launch without security blocks.
- Launcher/DRM Compatibility: Flags games requiring third-party launchers—like Ubisoft Connect or EA Desktop—to avoid surprises when SteamOS can’t natively handle a separate client.
- Key Feature Integration: Confirms access to Steam overlay, cloud saves, network play, and other built-in services, so gamers don’t lose out on functionality after boot.
Performance metrics, power consumption, and hardware-specific input tests remain exclusive to the Steam Deck Verified program. As Valve explains, benchmarking across countless device configurations is impractical, and subjective performance grades can create false expectations.
Deck Verified vs. SteamOS Compatibility
The existing Steam Deck Verified label still matters for those owning Valve’s handheld: it combines compatibility checks with gameplay performance benchmarks tailored to the Deck’s AMD-based architecture. The new SteamOS Compatibility Rating, by contrast, says “This game will run on any SteamOS device,” regardless of processor, GPU, or controller layout. Both badges will appear side by side on the Steam storefront, giving users clear filters to find games suited to their hardware.
Impact on Third-Party Handhelds
Valve expects over 18,000 titles to carry the compatibility badge by launch. That’s a boon for devices like the Lenovo Legion Go S, which boasts an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go chip and dexterous ergonomics. While frame rates and visual fidelity will still hinge on each handheld’s specs, at least shoppers can now be certain that a game will start up and offer key SteamOS features.
Beyond Lenovo, companies such as Asus, Razer, and MSI have signaled interest in SteamOS devices. The new rating lowers entry barriers by ensuring prospective buyers aren’t left with unbootable games or broken DRM chains.
Community Reaction
Initial responses from the handheld gaming community have been broadly positive. Enthusiasts on forums like Reddit’s r/SteamDeck praise the clarity the new badge brings, while developers appreciate the reduced certification complexity. Some indie studios report that the simpler checklist has cut validation times and costs compared to the full Deck Verified process.
Still, a few voices warn that the lack of performance data could lead to buyer’s remorse if a game technically runs but is frustratingly sluggish on lower-end hardware. Valve counters that performance expectations are best left to user reviews and in-depth benchmarks on each device.
Looking Ahead
With SteamOS handsets poised for growth, Valve’s compatibility rating is a pragmatic step toward a more transparent ecosystem. Gamers gain peace of mind about launch success and core features, while manufacturers and developers navigate fewer unknowns. As the handheld market continues to expand, Valve’s streamlined approach could inspire similar cross-platform labeling in other gaming ecosystems.