Steam Deck Verified: compatibility badges, checklist and review
30 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
Steam rates how well games play on Steam Deck and Steam Machine, and customers see that rating as a badge in the store and in their library. This guide covers the four badges, Valve's checklist for Verified, how the review works and what you can do with the results, from Valve's Steam Hardware compatibility doc, checked 30 Oct 2026.
What the review is
Valve reviews your game on Steam Deck and Steam Machine against a set of criteria, much like the build review. When it finishes you get detailed results on the Steamworks partner site and a preview of the customer-facing ratings: one for Steam Deck, one for Steam Machine and one for all other compatible SteamOS devices. You have a week to look them over before they are published to the store and to customers' libraries.
Availability is not at stake. Valve says the results do not affect whether your game is available on Deck or Machine, only how it is presented. The compatibility queue is also separate from the normal release review, so neither your review state nor your category changes your release eligibility.
The four badges
The Steam Deck and Steam Machine ratings are independent. But the tests overlap heavily, and Valve says any game Verified on Steam Deck is guaranteed to be Verified on Steam Machine too.
The Verified checklist
To be Verified, a game must meet every one of these. Most failures lead to a Playable badge instead.
Steam Deck alone adds display tests. The game must run at a resolution Steam Deck supports; Valve recommends 1280x800 (preferred) or 1280x720. Interface text must be readable at 30 cm: the smallest font character never under 9 px tall at 1280x800, with 12 px recommended. Display tests are not run on Steam Machine, since screens vary.
Games without a native Linux build run through Proton, Valve's Windows compatibility layer. If the review finds blocking bugs or performance problems specific to Proton, the game shows as Unsupported and the issues go into Valve's tracker; Valve notifies you and retests once they are fixed. If a game has a Linux build, Valve tests that first and falls back to the Windows build under Proton if it fails, submitting whichever result is more favorable.
How a game gets reviewed
Only games are eligible, not demos, DLC, tools or soundtracks, except in exceptional cases. The game must have passed a standard build review first. You can request a review before release, and pick the branch to test; otherwise Valve tests the default branch. Valve aims to finish reviews within a week.
When the results arrive
You get an automated email, sent to everyone who submitted build or compatibility requests for the game and to your partner group's communications accounts. Then you can:
If you do nothing, the results publish automatically after about a week. Valve does not delay publishing for future work. It also re-reviews games on its own, for example for a new Proton version, new tests, or reports that its data was wrong.
What shows on your store page
Customers can browse and buy anything on the Steam store from a Deck or Machine, even games that may not work well there, and store pages show what to expect based on the review. The game details include a Steam Deck Compatibility section with the badge, and a detailed breakdown from Valve's testing. On the device, players can sort and filter their library by compatibility. You cannot remove a game from the Deck or Machine store or library, and there are no extra store or library assets to make.
To add your own notes, post a Steam announcement about your game's compatibility from your community hub, copy its URL and paste it into the Steam Hardware Compat Info field on the Basic Info tab of Edit Store Page. The compatibility details will point customers to it.
Verified landing page. Steam creates a special page for every Steam Deck Verified game at store.steampowered.com/verified/<appid>. It shows the first trailer available on your store page, so it needs Verified status and at least one published trailer marked safe for all ages. Trailer rules are in Steam trailer requirements.
Sources: Steam Hardware compatibility, Steam Deck Verified page. Checked 30 Oct 2026. Valve updates these pages; the Steamworks docs always win.
Where a broadcast fits
Valve's compatibility docs say nothing about broadcasts, and a broadcast plays no part in the review or the badge. A store page broadcast is a separate thing: your game in motion on the store page. Loopcast keeps one running from an uploaded video, billed per minute on air. You can try it free for 7 days, no card needed.
FAQ
What are the Steam Deck compatibility badges?
Verified: the game passes all compatibility checks and needs no configuration. Playable: it works but may need manual work from the user. Unsupported: it does not work on the device. Unknown: it has not completed the compatibility review.
Does a Steam Deck compatibility rating affect my game's release?
No. Valve says the compatibility review queue is entirely separate from the normal release review, and your release eligibility is not affected by your review state or your final category. The rating also does not decide whether customers can get the game on Deck or Machine, only how it is presented.
How long does a Steam Deck compatibility review take?
Valve aims to complete reviews within a week of submission, though review time can vary with the queue. You then have about a week to act before the results publish automatically.
Can I get my game reviewed for Steam Deck before release?
Yes, you can request a review for an unreleased title, but it must have completed a standard build review first. Manual requests are not open to all partners yet; Valve is adding access over time.
What framerate does Steam Deck Verified require?
The default configuration must give a playable framerate: Valve sets this at 30fps at 800p on Steam Deck and 30fps at 1080p on Steam Machine.