Ahead of the next GDC (Game Developers Conference) in early March – now known as the GDC Festival of Gaming – a report has been published to uncover the latest trends shaping the game industry. It also provides a look into the hardware devs are using to develop and test their game projects, and while an overwhelming 83% test on PC, just 28% use a Steam Deck for testing.

The report gives outsiders a closer look at modern game development, touching on hot topics such as generative AI. Of the “over 2,300” respondents, 36% say they use generative AI for work, with ChatGPT being the go-to tool. Of that percentage using AI, 81% say they use artificial intelligence for research and brainstorming, while just under half (47%) use it for code assistance.

Devs are interested in the Steam Deck, but fewer actually optimize for it

According to the game dev survey, 40% says they are interested in better supporting the Steam Deck, but in reality, only 28% report using the Valve handheld as part of development and testing. Linux only accounts for 8% of testing in the same survey, while 12% of devs say they are interested.

It should be noted that the upcoming Steam Machine and Steam Frame aren’t at all included in the survey, as it began before Valve announced its new hardware. Both devices run on SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system that also ships with the Steam Deck. Valve has already confirmed that Steam Deck Verified games will be verified on the more powerful Steam Machine.

We’ve seen a recent trend of game developers, big and small, aiming to optimize for Steam Deck. Polish video game designer Adrian Chmielarz, of dev studio The Astronauts, recently advocated for everyone to support the handheld (if it’s reasonably within scope) as it “actually makes your game better” by forcing you to pay attention to details you may have otherwise glossed over.

Valve has done a fantastic job with its Proton compatibility layer to ensure Windows games run on Linux, and by extension, SteamOS, without much trouble. So, even if a minority of devs are actually optimizing for the handheld, plenty of fresh releases run on the device just fine – assuming it’s not a AAA blockbuster that already pushes desktop gaming PCs to the limit.

About the Author

Charlie Noon

Charlie is the Affiliate manager for PC Guide. He has a vast understanding of most PC hardware and consumer essentials, using his knowledge to provide the best products and the biggest deals.