What you need to know
- The Steam Deck is a handheld gaming PC from Valve.
- Microsoft shared a list of games that fully support Valve's Proton implementation for the Steam OS.
- More are doubtless on the way.
The Steam Deck is arguably the best pre-made PC ever built, bristling with power that often beats much more expensive pre-built desktop gaming PCs. The pint-size PC runs Valve's SteamOS, but today, they revealed full support for Windows on Steam Deck too with a range of custom drivers.
Indeed, Microsoft and Valve are quite friendly these days, with Xbox bringing all of its main games to Steam. Since Microsoft acquired Bethesda, the subsidiary announced that it is closing its own launcher, and shifting over to Steam in its entirety. Valve CEO Gabe Newell also said that they were interested in working with Microsoft to bring native support for Xbox Game Pass to Steam Deck as well.
While we wait for deeper integration, Microsoft and Valve are hard at work getting their games verified for SteamOS, and today released an update showcasing all the games that are currently verified. The games in question, are as follows.
- Deathloop
- Psychonauts 2
- Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
- The Evil Within
- Fallout Shelter
- Battletoads
- Max: The Curse of Brotherhood
- Sea of Thieves
- Fallout 4
- Forza Horizon 5
- Forza Horizon 4
- Quantum Break
- State of Decay: Year One Survival Edition
Microsoft also shared a list of games that aren't supported, due to anti-cheat implementations. Gears 5, Halo MCC, Halo Infinite, and Microsoft Flight Simulator X are sadly not yet compatible with the Steam Deck, although they should run if you set up full-blown Windows on the Steam Deck. Naturally, there are dozens upon dozens of other games from Bethesda and Microsoft that aren't officially verified, but should work anyway, such as DOOM Eternal, Gears Tactics, Grounded, and so on. Verified games are the titles that are least likely to give you issues, however, and others should be installed at your own risk.
The Steam Deck is arguably the most exciting gaming console in a long time, and watching how Valve and Microsoft further evolve their partnership over the coming months will be most interesting. It stands to reason that many of the best upcoming Xbox games will be supported out of the box, hopefully, allowing you to take your Xbox games on the go. That is, if you can actually get a Steam Deck, that is. They're currently back-ordered until the end of 2022.
