Valve has officially revealed the requirements that developers will have to meet in order for their games to be considered verified for the upcoming Steam engine. While games that are already verified for Steam Deck will automatically be granted Steam Machine Verified status as well, the new guidelines provide a glimpse into the future of the console/PC hybrid device.
Gamers have been eagerly anticipating the long-rumored new Steam hardware coming from Valve, with it finally being revealed at the end of 2025. Initially, Valve planned to release all the new devices by early 2026 at the latest, but had to push back their plans due to current price fluctuations and availability of computer parts. These new developer guidelines may indicate good news for hopeful fans, as they indicate that Valve is moving forward with its plans.
Valve Comments on Steam Machine Power
A Valve engineer comments on how powerful the upcoming Steam Machine will be and reveals the reasons behind its technical specifications.
Valve Details Steam Engine Verification Status Requirements
During GDC 2026, Valve revealed what the requirements will be for developers to have their games classified as Steam Machine Verified on the gaming platform. As mentioned, all games that are currently classified as Verified for Steam Deck will automatically receive this classification. For other games, developers are expected to have the same entry expectations as the requirements for Steam Deck Verified status. Verified status will not require display resolution or readability testing, but will require developers to maintain 30 FPS at 1080p to be considered. We repeat that the performance of the Steam Machine is six times higher than the performance of the Steam Deck. Developers will also need to ensure that their entire games can be played exclusively with the controller.
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This new information sheds some light on what Valve expects from its own hardware. The company has previously said it's still trying to meet a 2026 release for all new Steam hardware, though it hasn't yet offered a specific release window or opened pre-orders to consumers. However, moving forward with sharing these requests suggests that Valve is still focused on its plan and will likely help ensure that even more games are ready for the Steam Machine when it finally launches.
Gamers may also notice that there is a difference between what was originally promised regarding Steam Machine performance and what developers have to do to get their games verified. The Steam Machine was advertised as being able to play “most” games in 4K at 60 frames per second, not 1080p at 30 FPS. However, this performance metric was specifically using FSR upscaling. Valve seems to be implying that if a game can meet the 1080p/30FPS baseline that once FSR is in effect, the game will meet the higher level of performance that the company promises.
Although this is a step in the right direction, gamers are already impatient and worried about the release of new Steam hardware. Many have said they wish Valve would put the Steam Controller on sale ahead of the Steam Machine and Steam Frame, as it's the piece they're most interested in. Others are still concerned about potential hardware costs that have not been disclosed. However, leaks suggest that the Steam Machine could cost around $1,000. It's unclear how much the Steam Controller or Steam Frame VR headset might cost, though the Steam Controller may be able to better match the price of competitors in the market by 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
