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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesVerified means a game passes Valve’s Steam Deck compatibility checks without requiring you to configure anything to access its functionality. Playable means it works on Deck but may need a manual step, such as choosing a controller layout, opening the on-screen keyboard, or using the touchscreen to navigate a launcher.
Verified vs. Playable at a glance
| What Valve checks | Verified | Playable |
|---|---|---|
| Setup and access | Passes all compatibility checks; users do not need to change settings to access game functionality. | The game functions, but a user may need to perform a manual step. |
| Controls and input | Default controller setup provides access to all content without first changing in-game settings; on-screen button prompts match the active inputs. | May require a different controller layout or another manual input step. |
| Text entry | Required text can be entered through a supported on-screen keyboard flow or a built-in controller-only method. | May require manually opening the on-screen keyboard. |
| Launchers and warnings | Does not depend on unsupported-device warnings or difficult-to-navigate launchers that obstruct a seamless experience. | May still function even if a launcher or other step requires manual navigation. |
| Display and performance | Meets Valve’s display and default-configuration performance criteria. | Playable status does not mean the game failed these specific criteria; the label can reflect a manual-work issue instead. |
The labels describe Valve’s compatibility review, not a promise that every player will get identical performance at every setting. See Valve’s Steamworks compatibility checklist for the current criteria.
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What Verified means in practice
A Verified badge indicates that Valve’s review found the game meets all of its compatibility criteria and can be used without setup work to reach its functionality. The review considers more than whether the game launches: it covers controls, text entry, display legibility, performance in the default configuration, and how smoothly the game handles launchers and warnings.
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Controls, prompts, and text entry
Deck’s physical controls and default controller configuration should let players access all content without first changing in-game settings. Button prompts should correspond to the active inputs. When the game requires text entry, players need a supported on-screen keyboard flow or a built-in method that works with a controller.
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Performance and display
Valve’s current checklist sets a default-configuration threshold of 30 fps at 800p for Deck. That is a rating criterion, not a measured result for every title or a guarantee under every user-selected setting. The game must also support a Deck-compatible resolution. At 1280×800, Valve specifies a minimum character height of 9 pixels for readable interface text and recommends 12 pixels.
A seamless path into the game
Unsupported-device warnings and launchers that are difficult to navigate can prevent a Verified rating. A game may still function and receive Playable if the obstacle involves a manual step rather than a blocking compatibility problem.
What Playable means—and what it does not
Playable is not the same as “does not work.” It means the game functions on Deck but may require some user intervention. Examples Valve gives include selecting a community controller layout, opening the on-screen keyboard manually, or using the touchscreen to move through a launcher.
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Those examples describe possible friction, not a fixed list of problems every Playable game has. Check the specific game’s compatibility details and be prepared for a manual step; the badge alone does not identify which one applies.
Unsupported and Unknown labels
Unsupported
Valve uses Unsupported when a game does not function on Deck because of Proton or hardware incompatibility. Proton is Valve’s compatibility layer for running Windows games on the Linux-based system.
Unknown
Unknown means the game has not completed Valve’s compatibility review, so Steam does not have reviewed information about its Deck experience. It does not, by itself, establish whether the game will work.
A rating changes how Steam presents a game; it does not determine whether customers can access the game on Deck.
Ratings can change over time
A compatibility rating is a snapshot, not a permanent guarantee. A game may change, developers may add controller or anti-cheat support, or Valve may address Proton issues and add functionality. Valve’s March 4, 2022 announcement illustrated the distinction with a game that showed controller prompts almost all the time but occasionally told players to “press F”: that was its example of Playable rather than Verified. The 99% figure in that illustration was not a statistic about the Steam catalog; Valve’s current checklist is the better guide to today’s criteria.
Valve put the time-sensitive nature of ratings this way in that announcement: “Whenever we talk about compatibility rating numbers, we emphasize that this is just a snapshot of a single moment, and that ratings change over time.” The statement is from Valve’s Steam Deck team, not an individually named speaker. Read the March 4, 2022 Steam Deck announcement for that historical explanation.
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- 【30-50% More Battery & Efficient Performance】 Play your favorites longer with up to 50% more battery life. By fitting a larger battery and a power-efficient OLED panel, this device provides extended gameplay sessions. It’s the perfect travel companion for long flights or commutes. The updated AMD APU ensures high-speed performance for AAA titles while maintaining incredible energy efficiency.
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- 【Responsive Touch & Enhanced Connectivity】 Enjoy a vastly improved touchscreen with higher fidelity and faster haptics. We’ve added a dedicated Bluetooth antenna to improve connections for multiple controllers. Whether using the built-in trackpads or the included external controller, this allows for precision play in everything from FPS to complex strategy games.
Where to check a game’s rating
Steam shows compatibility ratings for games in your library and lets you filter library views by rating. Use the badge as a quick guide, then consult the game’s compatibility details if you need to know what manual step may be involved. The rating concerns the game’s compatibility with Deck, not a recommendation for one Deck model over another.
Valve’s Steam Deck product page lists OLED configurations, while its compatibility information is assessed game by game.
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Valve also publishes recommendations for developers, including offline access for single-player content. A recommendation should not be treated as an individual Verified or Playable requirement unless it appears in the current compatibility checklist.
Quick Recap
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