Valve has quietly integrated compatibility ratings for the Steam Machine and SteamOS into the Steam store, allowing users to verify game performance across its living room hardware. While previously visible only to SteamOS users, these ratings are now accessible via the Steam Deck compatibility section on desktop and web clients. The update is more than likely targeted around the launch of the Steam Machine, which occurred last month. For those considering the hardware, which can cost the best part or considerably more of $1,000, these labels provide a necessary, if currently obscured, guide to game library readiness.
Valve Integrates Steam Machine Compatibility Ratings
Accessing Steam Machine and SteamOS Compatibility Data
The new compatibility UI, which serves as a precursor to broader hardware support, remains somewhat hidden from casual view. As reported by PC Guide, eagle-eyed customers noticed these ratings appearing overnight without an official announcement from Valve. To view them, users must navigate to the standard Steam Deck compatibility section—located on the right of the page under the languages section—on a game’s store page and click the "Learn more" button. This action opens a fly-out window containing three distinct tabs: Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and a general SteamOS tab.
This update expands on the existing verification system, which categorizes titles as "Verified," "Playable," or "Unsupported." According to Engadget, the Steam Machine tab provides a familiar three-tick approval badge for games that meet specific criteria. The SteamOS tab simply notes whether the game will run on SteamOS via the Proton compatibility layer and whether it needs an internet connection for initial setup or gameplay.
PC Guide Defines Steam Machine Performance Standards
Performance Standards for the Steam Machine
Valve’s criteria for the Steam Machine mirror its approach to the Steam Deck, focusing on out-of-the-box usability. The company requires a minimum of 30 FPS at 1080p resolution for the cubed mini PC, according to PC Guide. A good rule of thumb provided by PC Guide is that anything the Steam Deck can run will run easily on the Steam Machine. The program evaluates controller support, graphics performance, interface readability, and overall out-of-the-box usability, allowing developers to optimize titles for a growing family of SteamOS-powered devices without creating separate experiences for each platform.
While the system aims to bridge the gap between console convenience and PC gaming, some discrepancies remain. For example, Valve’s own title, Dota 2, is currently listed as "Playable" rather than "Verified" on the Steam Machine—as it is on the Steam Deck—due to the occasional appearance of mouse and keyboard icons and the requirement for an on-screen keyboard for text input, Engadget noted. Other titles, such as Devil May Cry 5 and Cuphead, are currently showing up as "Verified." Regarding the recently launched Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, the game fully supports controllers when played on the Steam Machine, displays controller icons, and performs well with the device’s default graphics configuration, earning it a "Verified" badge.
Proton Layer Powers SteamOS Compatibility
SteamOS and the Future of Steam Frame Compatibility
The SteamOS compatibility tab serves a broader purpose by indicating whether a game runs on the Linux-based operating system via the Proton compatibility layer. This rating is likely to apply to most other modern Linux distributions, making it a welcome addition to Valve’s Linux gaming feature set. For developers and publishers, standardized verification can reduce testing complexity while increasing consumer confidence in new hardware.
Valve Prepares 2026 Launch for Steam Frame VR
Looking ahead, users should expect further updates as Valve prepares for its upcoming hardware releases. The company has promised a 2026 launch for the Frame VR headset, and it is only a matter of time before that compatibility rating joins the rest of the pack. While PC Guide notes that Portal 2 was the first game to be rated for the Steam Frame as per SteamDB data, these results are not yet reflected on the official store page. Valve has yet to set an exact date for the Steam Frame interface rollout, but everything points towards an imminent launch this summer.
Find more reporting in our Entertainment section.
