Valve Details Steam Frame, Machine Verification

Valve Corporation, a U.S. video game developer and digital distribution company, announced specific performance and compatibility requirements for its "Steam Frame Verified" and "Steam Machine Verified" programs at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) on March 11, 2026. These new criteria define the expected gaming experience for titles running on Valve's upcoming hardware platforms.

For "Steam Machine Verified," Valve established a target of 30 frames per second (FPS) at 1080p resolution. This program extends the existing "Steam Deck Verified" compatibility model, meaning all games verified for Steam Deck will also qualify for Steam Machine. The verification process for Steam Machine does not include testing for display resolution or user interface legibility.

Conversely, "Steam Frame Verified" sets distinct standards for standalone play, encompassing both virtual reality (VR) and non-VR games. VR titles under this program must achieve 90 FPS, while standalone 2D titles are required to run at 30 FPS at 1280 x 720 resolution. UI legibility is a mandatory requirement for Steam Frame Verified titles, which must also be fully playable with Steam Frame controllers. Valve describes Steam Frame as a standalone VR headset primarily designed for low-latency PC streaming, with support for standalone VR and non-VR experiences, maintaining compatibility with SteamVR and OpenXR.