Valve has officially unveiled the requirements that developers will have to meet in order for their games to be considered verified for the upcoming Steam Machine. While games that are already Verified for Steam Deck will automatically be granted Verified status for the Steam Machine as well, the new guidelines give an idea about the future of the console/PC hybrid device.
Gamers have been eagerly awaiting the long-rumored new Steam hardware coming from Valve, with it finally being revealed in late 2025. Initially, Valve planned to release all the new devices no later than early 2026, but has had to shift its plans due to the current fluctuations in pricing and availability of computing parts. These new guidelines for developers may indicate good news for hopeful fans, as they indicate that Valve is continuing to move forward with its plans.
Valve Comments on Steam Machine Power
A Valve engineer comments on how powerful the upcoming Steam Machine system will be, and reveals the reasons behind its technical specs.
Valve Details Requirements for Steam Machine Verified Status
During GDC 2026, Valve shared what the requirements will be for developers to have their games classified as Steam Machine Verified on the game platform. As noted, all games that are currently classified as Verified for Steam Deck will automatically receive this classification. For other games, developers will be expected to have the same input expectations as the requirements for Steam Deck Verified status. The verified status won’t require testing display resolution or legibility, but will require developers to maintain 30FPS at 1080p in order to be considered. The performance of the Steam Machine is reiterated to be six times that of the Steam Deck. Developers will also have to ensure that the entirety of their games can be played exclusively with a controller.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
These new pieces of information shed some light on what Valve is expecting from its own hardware. The company has previously stated that it is still attempting to meet a 2026 release for all the new Steam hardware, though it hasn’t offered a specific release window or opened pre-orders to consumers yet. However, moving forward with sharing these requirements indicates that Valve is still putting weight behind its plan, and will likely help to ensure that there are even more games ready for the Steam Machine when it does finally launch.
Gamers may also notice that there’s a difference between what was initially promised regarding the performance of the Steam Machine and what developers need to do in order for their games to be verified. The Steam Machine was advertised as being able to play “most” games in 4K at 60 frames per second, not 1080p at 30FPS. However, that performance metric was specifically with FSR upscaling applied. It seems that Valve is indicating that if a game can meet the base 1080p/30FPS guideline, that once FSR is in effect, the game will meet the higher level of performance promised by the company.
Though this is a step in the right direction, gamers are already impatient and concerned about the release of the new Steam hardware. Many have stated that they wish that Valve would put the Steam Controller on sale ahead of the Steam Machine and Steam Frame, as it’s the piece they’re the most interested in. Others are still worried about the potential cost of the hardware, which hasn’t been revealed. However, leaks have indicated that the Steam Machine could cost around $1,000 USD. It’s unclear how much the Steam Controller or Steam Frame VR headset might cost, though the Steam Controller may be able to more closely match the price of competitors on the market due to it using less advanced hardware than the other devices. In any case, these rumors should be taken with a grain of salt until Valve is ready to share more information.
Source: Steam
