While both the Steam Controller and Steam Machine have finally launched, Valve is still keeping quiet about the third product announced alongside them: the Steam Frame. The company has yet to reveal the VR headset’s release date or price, but it looks like things are moving closer to launch, as one Valve-made game has now received a Steam Frame compatibility rating.

For those who don’t know, the Steam Frame will use a compatibility system similar to the one found on the Steam Deck (and now the Steam Machine). The goal is to let users know how well a game works on the headset before they commit to buying or downloading it on their device. Valve officially stated a summer release window for the Frame, and we’re getting ever closer.

Steam Frame compatibility rating arrives for Portal 2

Games with a Verified badge should run smoothly out of the box, no user input required. Titles marked as Playable will work on the device but may need some manual tweaks or settings adjustments for the best experience. Then there’s the Unsupported label, which is reserved for games that either don’t launch properly or suffer from major performance and stability issues.

It seems that Portal 2 has become one of the first games to receive a Steam Frame rating, which could be another sign that Valve is entering the final stages before the headset’s launch. The game has been given a Playable rating.

The compatibility details reveal that the game doesn’t support the Steam Frame’s native display resolution, which could lead to some performance degradation. However, there is also plenty of good news. All gameplay functions are accessible using the default controller configuration, and the game properly displays Steam Frame controller icons. On top of that, the default graphics settings already perform well on the headset.

Overall, it sounds like Portal 2 should provide a solid experience on the Steam Frame, though you may expect all of Valve’s titles to be Verified on the device, not just Playable. Portal 2 is not a VR game (there is a VR mod), so the headset’s native 2160 x 2160 (per eye) resolution doesn’t officially need to be catered for – it will run perfectly well in 2D mode on a virtual screen.

Valve only asks for a 30 FPS minimum target at 1280 x 720 in 2D mode, while proper VR titles have to run at a minimum of 72 FPS at 1728 x 1728 to deem the performance compatible. We’re looking forward to seeing just how well the headset can run Half-Life: Alyx. Valve previously suggested it should be capable enough in standalone mode, but made no promises.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.