Steam Machine follows in the footsteps of Steam Deck: Valve explains its new verified games system

Valve clarifies how game compatibility will work on its new living room PC.

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Valve continues to unveil important details about Steam Machine, its new desktop PC focused on living room gaming. As rumors circulate about a price tag over $1,000, the company has now shifted its focus to one of the aspects that interests gamers the most: the verified games system and real compatibility from day one.

The goal is clear: to replicate the positive experience that Steam Deck has had in this area, but adapting it to a much more powerful device. To achieve this, Valve has confirmed that Steam Machine will have its own verification program, inheriting much of the philosophy that we already know in the Steam ecosystem.

Valve details how verified games will work on Steam Machine

During a conversation with GameDeveloper, Valve has confirmed, through designer Lawrence Yang, that Steam Machine will use a verification system inspired directly by Steam Deck, although with less restrictive requirements. The reason is simple: the new hardware will have more power and won’t have the format limitations of a portable device.

According to Yang, any game that is already verified on Steam Deck will be automatically verified on Steam Machine, thanks to full compatibility with Proton and the use of Linux as the base system. This will allow Valve to offer a huge catalog of fully functional titles from launch, without requiring developers to make additional specific adjustments.

Additionally, Valve has also mentioned Steam Frame, its upcoming virtual reality device. In this case, the company will take a different approach, working directly with studios and conducting more exhaustive tests to define what requirements each game must meet. Steam Frame is expected to debut in the first half of 2026, although neither its price nor its final specifications have been officially announced.

With this move, Steam Machine aims to become a real alternative for those seeking a living room PC with direct access to the Steam ecosystem, betting on clear and well-signaled compatibility from the start, one of the major advantages that has already worked with Steam Deck.