If Valor Mortis crashes, shows a black screen, or closes immediately on SteamOS, use this order: install SteamOS updates, restart, disable overlays and plugins, check the game’s compatibility status, force the latest Proton tool, lower graphics settings, and update the device’s graphics driver. Test after each change. This sequence follows Valve’s SteamOS guidance and the developer’s launch-day notices, while avoiding the unsupported assumption that one particular Proton release is confirmed for this game.
Valor Mortis launched on Steam on October 13, 2026. As of October 19, the Steam store lists Steam Deck Compatibility as Unknown, so Valve has not yet marked it Verified, Playable, or Unsupported.
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Why Valor Mortis can fail on SteamOS
SteamOS can run Windows games through Proton, a compatibility layer that translates Windows executables for Linux-based SteamOS. Valve warns that Proton can still have unresolved compatibility and performance problems, and those problems can change when either Proton or the game is updated. A launch failure therefore does not automatically mean your Steam Deck or handheld is defective.
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The developer’s October 13, 2026 launch-day announcement acknowledges crashes and performance problems. It also identifies specific risks on some AMD Radeon 7000-series systems: RX 7600 systems may shut down during play, RX 7900 XT systems may suffer GPU crashes, and AMD Anti-Lag 2 may not work correctly. Those reports are game issues documented by the developer; they do not prove that every SteamOS black screen has the same cause.
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Start by identifying the failure
Note exactly when the failure occurs before changing settings. The timing determines which branch to try first.
| What you see | Most useful first checks | What it may indicate |
|---|---|---|
| Black screen before the main menu | Update and restart; disable overlays; force the latest Proton tool | A compatibility or graphics-initialization problem is possible, but no Valor Mortis-specific Proton build has been officially confirmed. |
| The game closes while loading or after entering a level | Lower graphics settings; update the graphics driver; check for the Radeon 7000-series warnings | Rendering load, a driver interaction, or a game crash. |
| The whole system shuts down or the GPU resets | Stop repeated testing, update the driver, record the GPU and location, and submit a crash report | A potentially serious hardware-driver-game interaction. |
| Rare visual corruption during a bayonet melee attack | Capture the occurrence and report it | A known launch issue listed by the developer, not proof of a faulty display. |
| Audio cuts out occasionally | Record when it happens and include it in the report | Another launch issue acknowledged by the developer. |
Write down the SteamOS version, handheld or PC model, GPU model, selected Proton tool, whether the symptom is a crash or a black screen, and the last menu, level, or action you saw. This prevents different failures from being mixed together during troubleshooting.
Before you change anything
Make the first test reproducible. Connect the device to its usual power source, close unrelated games and applications, and note whether the problem happens every time or only occasionally. If you can reach the main menu, record the exact menu path that leads to the failure. If the game fails before menus, note whether you hear audio, see a cursor, or return to the Library automatically.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteDo not change Proton, graphics settings, overlays, and drivers all at once. A single controlled change tells you whether that layer affected the result. It also gives Steam Support and the developer a useful comparison instead of a vague statement that the game is broken.
Follow Valve’s recovery sequence
1. Install SteamOS updates and restart
- Open the Steam menu on the Deck or SteamOS device.
- Choose Settings, then System.
- Install every available SteamOS update.
- Choose the restart option when prompted, or restart from the Steam power menu after the update completes.
- Launch Valor Mortis once before changing another setting.
Valve’s Steam Support guidance puts system updates and a restart first because they replace outdated system components and establish a known starting point. If the game works after the restart, do not change Proton or graphics settings unnecessarily.
2. Disable third-party applications, overlays, and plugins
Temporarily exit or disable software installed through Desktop Mode, including overlays, performance plug-ins, injectors, recording tools, and custom interface extensions. The goal is a clean test, not a permanent removal.
- Switch to Desktop Mode if the software is managed there.
- Quit the application or disable its game-specific integration.
- Return to Gaming Mode and restart the device.
- Press Play and observe whether the same failure occurs.
Steam specifically recommends disabling third-party applications when addressing instability. Re-enable them one at a time only after the game launches reliably; otherwise you will not know which component changed the result.
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3. Check the game’s compatibility details
Open the game’s store page or Library details and read the Steam Deck compatibility section. Valve’s categories mean:
- Verified: works out of the box under Valve’s checks.
- Playable: works with manual adjustments or limitations.
- Unsupported: is currently nonfunctional under Valve’s checks.
- Unknown: has not received a final compatibility assessment.
Valor Mortis currently shows Unknown. That label is not a prediction that the game cannot run; it means Valve has not assigned a final category in the checked listing. Treat any successful launch as configuration-dependent until a rating or later game update changes the situation.
4. Force a Proton compatibility tool
- Open Library and highlight Valor Mortis.
- Open the game’s Properties.
- Select Compatibility.
- Enable Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool.
- Choose the latest Proton version offered in the list.
- Close Properties and launch the game.
Valve’s wording is to try the latest Proton version. There is no officially published Valor Mortis-specific Proton version in the developer or Valve notices, so do not treat an internet claim about a particular build as an official requirement. If the latest tool fails, record that result rather than cycling randomly through old versions; you can then report the exact tool selected.
5. Reduce graphics load
If the game reaches a menu or level before failing, lower the overall graphics preset first. If the game offers individual controls, reduce the most demanding options one at a time and retest. Steam recommends a lower preset or reduced individual settings when an application is unstable or overloading the system.
Make one change per test. A successful launch after reducing the preset establishes that load is involved, while a failure before the menu points you back toward Proton, overlays, or initialization rather than in-game quality settings.
6. Update the underlying graphics driver
The developer’s launch-day notice asks players to update AMD and NVIDIA drivers before launching. On a Steam Deck or another SteamOS handheld, install driver and firmware updates supplied through the device’s normal SteamOS update channel. On a SteamOS desktop or other supported PC, use the update path provided for that installation and GPU.
Do not continue repeatedly launching if the machine shuts down or the GPU resets. A normal application crash is different from a power-off or driver reset and deserves a cautious stop, an update, and a detailed report.
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7. Retest and record one change at a time
After each step, launch the game and write down the result: reached menu, entered a level, black screen, application crash, GPU reset, or shutdown. This isolates whether the change affected Proton, graphics load, a plugin, or the game itself. If several settings are changed together, a later success cannot identify the cause and a later failure cannot identify what to undo.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix a black screen before the menus
A black screen that appears before the main menu is most consistent with a startup, compatibility, or graphics-initialization problem, but the official notices do not name a single Valor Mortis Proton build or a definitive black-screen cause. Use the following branch:
- Install SteamOS updates and restart.
- Disable every third-party overlay and plugin for the test.
- Open Properties > Compatibility and force the latest Proton tool.
- Launch again without changing additional settings.
- If it still fails, try the game once after a full device restart and record whether audio, a cursor, or any menu element appears.
If the game reaches a menu after this sequence, lower graphics settings before entering a level. If it never reaches a menu, report the black screen with the Proton tool and SteamOS version instead of guessing that a specific older Proton release is required.
Fix crashes after loading or entering a level
Crashes that occur after a menu or level loads give you a graphics-load and driver path to test.
- Lower the global graphics preset.
- Retest the same level or location so the comparison is repeatable.
- Update the device’s graphics driver and restart.
- Check whether the hardware is an AMD Radeon RX 7600 or RX 7900 XT, both of which appear in the developer’s launch-day warning.
- Submit the crash report with the exact location and action that preceded it.
Do not describe a post-level crash as a launch failure when reporting it. “Crashes while entering the first level” is more useful than “will not run,” because the developer specifically asked players to say where the crash happened.
When the system shuts down or the GPU resets
A complete shutdown, a sudden reboot, or a visible GPU reset is more serious than the game simply returning to the Library. Stop repeated launch attempts, save the hardware details, install available driver and SteamOS updates, and report the incident.
The developer specifically lists possible shutdowns on RX 7600 systems and GPU crashes on RX 7900 XT systems. Those warnings do not establish that every affected system has one of these GPUs, but they make the GPU model an essential part of the report. Include whether the machine powered off, restarted, froze, or returned to Steam, and identify the game location or action if one was visible.
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Known launch-day issues that may not be SteamOS configuration errors
Radeon 7000-series problems
| Hardware or feature | Developer-listed issue | Action |
|---|---|---|
| AMD Radeon RX 7600 | Systems may shut down while playing. | Stop repeated testing, update drivers, and include the GPU model and shutdown behavior in the report. |
| AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT | Systems may experience GPU crashes. | Record the crash or reset, update drivers, and submit the report with the location and selected Proton tool. |
| AMD Anti-Lag 2 | May not work properly. | Record whether the feature was enabled and mention it in the crash report; do not assume it explains every failure. |
Audio cut-outs and bayonet-attack artifacts
The same announcement records occasional audio cut-outs and rare screen artifacts during bayonet melee attacks. These are acknowledged game issues. Capture the scene, note whether the game continued running, and send the details through the crash reporter or the developer’s requested report route. A bayonet-related artifact by itself is not evidence that the display hardware is defective.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Comparing the main troubleshooting choices
| Choice | Best use | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Latest Proton tool | Game will not reach the menu or shows a startup black screen. | Valve recommends it, but it is not a guaranteed game-specific fix. |
| Lower graphics preset | Crash occurs after a menu or while entering a level. | It cannot explain a failure that happens before rendering begins. |
| Disable overlays and plugins | Instability appears only with Desktop Mode tools enabled. | It is a diagnostic test; removing optional software permanently is unnecessary. |
| Driver and SteamOS update | GPU reset, shutdown, visual corruption, or general instability. | Install through the normal update path for the device; do not repeatedly reproduce a shutdown. |
These options are complementary rather than competing permanent fixes. Start with the branch that matches the symptom, then keep the change that produces a repeatable improvement.
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Proton is the translation layer SteamOS uses for Windows executables when a native Linux build is not provided. Its behavior can change with Proton releases, SteamOS updates, game patches, and graphics drivers. For that reason, the latest available Proton tool is the correct first test recommended by Valve, but it is not a guarantee of compatibility.
The official notices do not publish a confirmed Valor Mortis-specific Proton version, a crash-rate percentage, or an independent performance benchmark. If one Proton tool launches and another does not, record the working tool and its version for support; do not present that result as a permanent universal fix.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming Unknown means Unsupported: Unknown means Valve has not assigned a final rating.
- Changing several variables together: You lose the ability to identify the cause.
- Repeating a shutdown test: A power-off or GPU reset is a reason to stop, update, and report.
- Calling every symptom a black screen: Distinguish a pre-menu display failure from an in-level crash, audio cut-out, artifact, or system reset.
- Promoting an unconfirmed Proton build: No game-specific version has been officially published.
- Re-enabling plugins immediately: Restore optional tools one at a time after a clean launch.
How to report a persistent failure
Steam directs users with continuing stability problems to SteamOS or Steam Deck discussions and Steam Support. The developer asks players to use the in-game crash reporter and explain where the crash happened. A useful report contains:
- SteamOS version and the date you tested.
- Steam Deck, handheld, or desktop model.
- GPU model, including whether it is an RX 7600 or RX 7900 XT.
- The Proton tool selected under Properties > Compatibility.
- Whether the symptom was a black screen, application crash, audio loss, artifact, GPU reset, reboot, or complete shutdown.
- The last screen, level, attack, or menu action observed.
- Which troubleshooting step changed the result, if any.
Use the in-game crash reporter when it appears. For failures that prevent the reporter from opening, submit the same details through Steam Support or the SteamOS/Steam Deck discussion channel. The developer’s request is direct: “Please submit your crash reports and tell us where the crash happened so we can track it down!”
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Decision tree for the quickest next step
- Never reaches a menu: update and restart, disable overlays, force the latest Proton tool, then report the black screen with the tool and SteamOS version.
- Reaches a menu but crashes loading a level: lower graphics settings, update drivers, and test the same location again.
- Shuts down or resets the GPU: stop testing, update drivers, check the Radeon 7000-series warnings, and report hardware-specific details.
- Only audio or bayonet visuals misbehave: document the scene as a known launch issue and submit a report.
- Works after one change: keep that configuration, re-enable optional software one item at a time, and record which item causes a regression.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Proton version works for Valor Mortis on SteamOS?
Valve recommends trying the latest Proton version available under Properties > Compatibility. No officially confirmed Valor Mortis-specific Proton version has been published, so treat any working build as a useful test result rather than a universal requirement.
Why is Valor Mortis marked Unknown on Steam Deck?
The Steam store currently lists Deck Compatibility as Unknown. Valve has not yet assigned Verified, Playable, or Unsupported status; Unknown does not mean the game is confirmed nonfunctional.
What should I do if Valor Mortis stays on a black screen?
Install SteamOS updates and restart, disable third-party overlays and plugins, then force the latest Proton tool. If the screen remains black, report the SteamOS version, device, Proton tool, and whether audio or a cursor appeared.
What if Valor Mortis crashes only after I enter a level?
Lower the graphics preset, retest the same location, update the graphics driver, and report the exact level or action that preceded the crash.
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Could an RX 7600 or RX 7900 XT be involved?
The developer lists possible shutdowns on RX 7600 systems and GPU crashes on RX 7900 XT systems. Stop repeated testing, update drivers, and include the GPU model and behavior in your report.
Should I disable AMD Anti-Lag 2?
The developer says AMD Anti-Lag 2 may not work properly. Record whether it was enabled and mention it in a report; the notice does not establish that it causes every crash or black screen.
Where do I report a Valor Mortis crash?
Use the in-game crash reporter when it appears. Persistent SteamOS or Steam Deck stability problems can also be reported through Steam Support or the SteamOS/Steam Deck discussion channel.
What information makes a crash report useful?
Include the SteamOS version, device and GPU model, selected Proton tool, symptom type, last screen or action, game location, and which troubleshooting step changed the result.
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For Valor Mortis on SteamOS, update and restart first, disable overlays, force the latest Proton tool, lower graphics settings for in-level crashes, and update graphics drivers. Stop testing after a shutdown or GPU reset, especially on the Radeon RX 7600 or RX 7900 XT, and report precise hardware, Proton, location, and symptom details.
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