The Steam Deck Verification system is designed to tell players how well a game runs on the Steam Deck before they buy it. Games are labeled as Verified, Playable, Unsupported, or Unknown, based on performance, controls, text readability, and overall experience on the handheld. And now, it seems like Valve is making some changes to improve the system.

In theory, a Verified badge means a game should run smoothly right out of the box, with no tweaks needed. In practice, that hasn’t always been the case. Over time, Steam Deck users have pointed out several games marked as Verified that still suffer from stutters, poor performance, or control issues, with Borderlands 4 being the most recent example. Valve now appears to be addressing those concerns directly.

Steam Deck beta update adds new feedback option and FPS data

According to the patch notes of the latest Steam Deck beta client update, Valve is changing how user feedback works. When a player disagrees with a Deck Verified rating, Steam will now ask for a reason. This step is optional, but it gives Valve better insight into why a rating may not match real-world experience. Players can also now attach their hardware specs when writing or updating a Steam user review.

Valve is also adding new tools to gather more accurate data. It has introduced an option to share anonymous framerate data. When enabled, Steam will collect gameplay performance data without tying it to your Steam account. Instead, it’s linked only to the type of hardware being used. This will help improve game compatibility ratings and make Deck Verified labels more accurate over time. For now, this feature is in beta and focused mainly on devices running SteamOS (like the Steam Deck).

• Added the option to provide anonymized framerate data. When enabled Steam will collect gameplay framerate data, stored without connection to your Steam account but identified with the kind of hardware you are playing on. This data will help us learn about game compatibility and improve Steam. This feature is currently in Beta with a focus on devices running SteamOS.
• When submitting feedback on whether you agree with a Deck Verified rating, if you disagree we’ll now ask for the reason. Providing a reason is optional.

Source: Steam

Outside of Steam Deck verification, the update includes several quality-of-life improvements. For instance, it helps the Steam Deck display higher-resolution capsule images in the Recent Games carousel when online. Multiple bugs have also been fixed, including issues with installing games in large libraries, controller input focus problems, and visual flickering in gaming mode.

Furthermore, a new PC specs option for Steam reviews has been added, making it clearer to users the exact hardware a person is using for their review. This certainly comes in handy, considering many Steam reviews (often negative ones) focus on performance and optimization. Valve already implemented a way of finding reviews from Steam Deck users back in 2024.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

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