Valve is updating its game compatibility rating system to include devices running SteamOS beyond its main handheld, the Steam Deck. This new system will have “SteamOS Compatibility” ratings, which are meant to help users figure out whether games will work properly on non-Steam Deck hardware running SteamOS.
The first focus is on the upcoming Lenovo Legion Go S, the first officially supported SteamOS device outside the Steam Deck lineup. However, Valve clearly sees SteamOS being used on more hardware in the future, which makes it seem like this rating system part of that bigger plan.
The SteamOS compatibility ratings are based on the existing Steam Deck Verified system, but they work with a key difference. While Steam Deck Verified checks how well a game runs and performs, the new system only checks whether the game works at all, including its extra software like launchers and anti-cheat programs, in the SteamOS environment.
This means a game could get a “SteamOS Compatible” rating but still have performance problems, such as low frame rates or overheating, on certain devices. It’s important to keep in mind that there are already problems with games that are “Steam Deck verified,” but this narrower focus simplifies the rating process and lets Valve expand the system quickly.
Unlike the Steam Deck Verified process, which needs manual testing, SteamOS Compatibility ratings are mostly automatic. If a game already has a Steam Deck Verified rating, its SteamOS Compatibility rating is created automatically using some of the same test data. The same waiting list system applies to games that haven’t been tested for the Steam Deck yet, and testing will happen based on how much the community wants it.
This automated method lets Valve quickly assign ratings to many games in the Steam library. Valve expects that over 18,000 games will be marked as SteamOS Compatible at the start. This faster process also means game developers don’t have to do any extra testing or work.
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The new ratings will show up next to the Steam Deck Verified status in the Steam store and app for users on SteamOS devices that aren’t the Steam Deck. This gives a clear and simple way to check compatibility with that specific hardware. These ratings will only appear on SteamOS devices, so things will stay the same in that respect.
While the launch of SteamOS Compatibility ratings is great, it disregards the recent concerns about how reliable the Steam Deck Verified label is. While it’s supposed to guarantee a smooth gaming experience, many users have been vocal on sites like Reddit about performance drops, crashes, or even not working at all after updates.
This shows the need for a more detailed way to judge compatibility, which clearly separates whether a game runs from how well it runs. The new system does not address this; it only tells players whether it will launch. Still, hopefully, this is just the first step to a more detailed rating system.
Source: Steam
