Valve Reveals Performance Standards For Upcoming Steam Machine And Steam Frame
Gaming company Valve has outlined the performance and compatibility requirements developers must meet for their games to receive verification on its upcoming hardware platforms, the Steam Machine and the Steam Frame.
The announcement was made during the Game Developers Conference, where Valve shared new guidelines aimed at ensuring a smooth gaming experience across its next generation of devices.
The company noted that verification requirements for the Steam Machine will be less strict than those applied to the Steam Deck. According to Valve, the Steam Machine is expected to deliver roughly six times more performance headroom than the handheld gaming PC, giving developers greater flexibility in meeting compatibility standards.
Under the new guidelines, games that are already verified for the Steam Deck will automatically qualify for verification on the Steam Machine. Titles that only fall short of full Steam Deck verification due to factors such as resolution settings or text readability will also receive automatic approval for the new device.
However, games that face other challenges – including performance limitations or compatibility issues with SteamOS – will continue to be labelled under categories such as “Playable,” “Unsupported,” or “Test.”
Valve also explained that Steam Machine verification will not include strict requirements for resolution or text legibility. This decision reflects the company’s expectation that users will connect the device to a variety of displays, including televisions, monitors and the Steam Frame, across multiple screen resolutions.
Instead, the main performance criteria focus on gameplay functionality. Verified games must support gamepad and gyro controls, allow multiple controllers to be connected, and maintain at least 30 frames per second at 1080p on minimum graphics settings.
Valve has previously stated that the Steam Machine is capable of delivering gameplay at 60 frames per second in 4K resolution, although that figure relies on upscaling technologies.
For the Steam Frame – a virtual reality headset designed to run both VR and traditional content — the verification process will be more demanding. The system will evaluate performance and compatibility for games installed directly on the device, while streaming performance will depend on the capabilities of the host computer.
The Steam Frame will also support traditional non-VR games through a theatre-style viewing mode. For such titles to be verified, they must run at a minimum of 30 frames per second at 720p on the device’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor.
VR titles, however, will need to achieve at least 90 frames per second to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience for players.
Unlike the Steam Machine, games verified for the Steam Deck will not automatically receive verification on the Steam Frame. Developers will still need to ensure their titles meet the headset’s performance and compatibility standards.
Valve also advised VR developers to carefully consider whether to release their software as x86-based programs or as Android applications. The Steam Frame can translate Windows-based x86 code to Linux through Proton and then to Arm architecture via FEX, while Android applications can transition directly into SteamOS through Lepton.
Games that already support Arm-based platforms, such as the Meta Quest headset, are expected to adapt more easily to the Steam Frame environment.
Valve initially planned to release the new devices alongside an updated Steam Controller in the first quarter of 2026. However, ongoing memory shortages affecting the technology industry have delayed the launch.
The company still hopes to introduce the hardware later this year, though rising RAM costs could push the final retail price higher than originally expected.
