This is how verified games will work for Steam Machine and Steam Frame

The company details the requirements that titles must meet for their new hardware ecosystem.

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Valve is taking steps towards the release of its new generation of hardware with the Steam Machine. During the GDC 2026, the company has explained how the system of verified games for Steam Machine and Steam Frame will work, two devices that will be part of the new gaming ecosystem of the platform.

Although the Steam Machine project has been delayed recently due to the increase in RAM costs, Valve has taken advantage of the developer event to explain what requirements games must meet to obtain the official compatibility certification.

These will be the requirements for verified games on Steam Machine

One of the most striking details is that the requirements will be less strict than those of Steam Deck, mainly because Steam Machine will have more powerful hardware.

Valve has confirmed several key points:

• Games verified on Steam Deck will be automatically verified on Steam Machine.

• Titles must reach at least 30 FPS at 1080p to obtain certification.

• Full compatibility with Steam controllers and controls will be mandatory.

• No specific interface legibility tests for large screens will be required.

Valve’s idea is that Steam Machine works like a gaming PC designed for the living room, so games will be designed to run correctly on TVs and large screens.

Requirements for Steam Frame, the VR viewer of the Steam ecosystem

Valve has also detailed how the verification system for Steam Frame will work, its virtual reality device.

In this case, only games that run directly on the viewer will obtain certification, without relying on streaming from other hardware.

The performance objectives will be the following:

• 90 FPS for virtual reality games.

• 30 FPS minimum at 1280×720 for non-VR games.

Valve wants to guarantee with these tests a smooth and legible experience within the viewer, especially with regards to the interface and interaction with the environment.

With these first technical details, the company begins to show what the ecosystem that will accompany Steam Machine will be like, a platform that seeks to combine the flexibility of a PC with an experience designed for playing in the living room.