The Steam Machine could break down the wall between console and PC gaming as we know it, and that's in part thanks to Valve's Verified Program. Just like on Steam Deck, the high spec cube will use compatibility criteria as a sign whether your game of choice will run, but earning a Steam Machine Verified badge will apparently be easier than on the handheld.
In an interview with Game Developer, Valve designer Lawrence Yang describes the Steam Machine Verified badge process as featuring "fewer constraints." In an effort to simplify what that entails, Yang says, "If your title is Verified on Steam Deck, it will be Verified on Steam Machine," meaning plenty of devs should have that green shield sitting pretty on their storefront pages.
Developers will be thrilled to hear that the Steam Machine Verified process isn't as grueling, and stripping back on constraints makes sense. Unlike the Steam Deck OLED, the new box doesn't have to cater to on-the-go play, integrated controls, and a built-in screen, and even the new Steam Controller is pretty much optional. That is to say that the Machine should feel more like a regular PC, even if many of the best gaming handheld contenders are just tiny rigs, but I am slightly worried about the rules being too lax.
The current Steam Deck Verified system is anything but perfect, and it certainly doesn't provide any tough love in terms of performance. I've personally tested games on Steam Deck that proudly wear the badge, but ultimately end up failing to boost frame rates even above 30fps, and that feels like something that will sting more on the Steam Machine.
Picture the scene - you're just about to kick back with a controller in hand on the couch and a Steam Machine parked in front of your 4K gaming TV. You fire up a shiny new game, without any settings intervention, only to find that it's running like a slideshow. You then try to navigate the settings and tweak graphics, but end up fumbling around since your gamepad seemingly isn't playing ball with the menus.
This isn't unlike a scenario I've experienced using a Steam Deck dock in my living room, and while I don't entirely believe it's on Valve to police system requirements via its Verified program, some guidance would save on performance disappointment, especially if you're hellbent on running everything at 4K 60fps.
I should also stress that Valve hasn't revealed whether full PC controller support is part of its Steam Machine Compatible criteria. If the box does include gamepad compatibility on its checklist, my latter hypothetical scenario shouldn't haunt anyone's session. That said, I do think if the Machine wants to appease both traditional desktop players who use keyboard and mouse as well as couch dwellers, it might have to elaborate on where you should play each game in your Steam library.
Valve is clearly holding back on Steam Machine details right now, which makes sense given we're still waiting for a solid price and release date. However, the company is clearly thinking about the console-levels of comfort offered by its box, as engineer Steve Cardinali touches on how the magnetic "Steam Controller Puck" charger dongle is designed to combat the caveats of using Bluetooth in different home environments.
Cardinali explains that "while Bluetooth is a great wireless connection method, we found in our testing that people’s home wireless environments and PC Bluetooth capabilities are highly variable." This is a reference to the fact that other things, like Wi-Fi and other electronics lurking in your home, can disrupt signals. I actually ran into this exact issue over the holidays after foolishly parking my Nintendo Switch 2 behind my 55-inch TV, only to find that the controllers would no longer pair.
The Steam Machine has the potential to unify PC and console players under one box, and it could change the way we view living room systems forever. I'm optimistic that Valve will use the Verified program to break down those boundaries, but I do think the compatibility symbols will lose their meaning if they become too lenient. The real question will become whether a simple green badge can truly fill you in on the experience ahead, and I'm not entirely convinced yet.
Putting together a makeshift Machine? Swing by the best Steam Deck accessories for ways to create a hybrid setup. Alternatively, you'll want to peek at the best retro consoles and best retro handhelds if you'd rather re-play the classics.
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