To play a Steam Deck Verified game, connect your Deck to Wi-Fi during first-time setup, sign in to Steam, install the game from your Library, and launch it. A Verified badge means Steam considers the game to work well on Deck with its default setup; you do not normally need to install or force Proton yourself.
What does Steam Deck Verified mean?
Steam assigns one of four compatibility labels. The rating describes Steam’s assessment of how a game works on Deck; it is not a promise that every session will be trouble-free.
| Label | What it means | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Verified | Steam considers the game to work well on Steam Deck by default. | No additional modification should be necessary. |
| Playable | The game works, but may need manual configuration. | You might need to change controller settings or use the touchscreen or mouse to navigate a launcher. |
| Unsupported | Steam does not currently consider the game playable on Deck. | Check the Store page’s Steam Deck Compatibility section for the requirements the game does not meet. |
| Unknown | Steam has not tested the game for compatibility. | The label does not establish whether it will work well or poorly. |
For a Playable or Unsupported title, open its Steam Store page and look under Steam Deck Compatibility to see which requirements are not met. Steam also offers a personalized compatibility breakdown for games in your Library. Steam Support explains the rating categories and compatibility details.
Set up your Deck and install a Verified game
- Connect to Wi-Fi and sign in. During first-time setup, connect to a wireless network and log in to your Steam account. Steam says Wi-Fi is needed during setup for account login. See Steam’s Basic Use & Troubleshooting Guide.
- Open your Library. In the default Steam interface, browse your Steam games and select the title you want.
- Install the game. Choose the install option and wait for the download and installation to finish. Steam describes the Deck’s default experience as supporting browsing, downloading, and playing Steam games. Read Steam’s FAQ about the default Steam experience.
- Launch it from your Library. Start with the game’s default settings. Since Verified means the game should work well by default, forcing a compatibility tool is not the routine first step.
Do you need to install Proton for a Verified game?
No extra Proton setup is normally needed. Steam Deck’s compatibility system handles running Steam games, and Verified means Steam considers the game to work well without additional modification. If a Verified game does not launch or behaves unexpectedly, troubleshoot the Deck before changing its compatibility settings.
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- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display with premium anti-glare etched glass, 7.4" Diagonal display size up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay (content-dependent)
- Carrying case with removable liner
Fix a Steam Deck game that will not launch or runs poorly
Install updates and restart
- Open Steam > Settings > System > Software Updates and install available updates.
- Restart from the update area, or choose Steam > Power > Restart.
- Try the game again before changing other settings.
Retest without third-party applications
If the problem persists, exit or disable third-party applications installed through Desktop Mode, then test the game again. Steam includes this as a troubleshooting step because those applications can affect game behavior.
Try another Proton version only if needed
For a Steam game that still has problems, Steam’s per-game setting is Library > select the game > Menu > Properties > Compatibility > Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool. Steam recommends trying the latest Proton version. Be aware that if only the Linux version is installed, selecting Proton may cause Steam to download the Windows version. Steam’s software guide covers Proton and other troubleshooting steps.
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- International (UK) Version
- 7.4” diagonal, HDR OLED, 1280 x 800 x RGB, up to 90Hz Refresh rate, High performance touch, <0.1 ms Response time, 1,000 nits peak brightness (HDR), 600 nits (SDR)
- SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based)
- 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels), microSD UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC
- 6 nm AMD APU, CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32
Lower graphics settings if performance is poor
If the game launches but performance is unsatisfactory, try a lower graphics preset or reduce individual graphics settings. Change one setting at a time so you can tell whether it helps.
Optional: add storage with a microSD card
You do not need extra hardware to play a Verified game. If you want more room for installed titles, Steam supports UHS-I microSD cards rated Class 3 or better. UHS-II and UHS-III cards are expected to work, but the Deck does not support their higher transfer speeds. Format a card on the Deck at Steam > Settings > System > Format SD card. Steam’s Basic Use & Troubleshooting Guide lists the card requirements and format path.
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Rank #3
- Operating System: SteamOS 3.0
Optional: play on a TV or monitor with a dock
A dock or USB-C hub is optional. Steam Deck can connect to an external display, USB peripherals, controllers, Ethernet, and power. Most USB-C-compliant docks and hubs should work; Thunderbolt and DisplayLink docks may work but are not officially supported. To power the Deck through a dock or hub, it needs USB-C Power Delivery passthrough. Some hubs reserve part of the available power for attached devices. See Steam’s docking guidance.
Quick Recap
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- Valve is entering the gaming console marketplace with the new Steam Deck, a console geared towards PC gamers. The Steam Deck can be docked to a monitor, and used as a PC, or docked to a TV.
- Players can play a huge variety of games at any time with the comfort of a console and the freedom of a PC. Not anti-glare screen.
- Like the name suggests, the Steam Deck will include upgraded 1TB storage, and will include a carrying case. A micro SD slot will also enable expanded storage.
- Valve partnered with AMD to create a specialized APU optimized for handheld gaming, and Valve says the chip will deliver performance to run AAA gaming titles.
- The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
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