Beyond the Badge: Why Valve's New Performance Data Matters
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
Valve is moving past binary 'Verified' labels toward real-world frame rate data, signaling a shift in how handheld PC performance is measured.
Q: What is the recent change Valve has made to the Steam Store regarding game performance?
A: As Ars Technica first reported, Valve has begun sharing anonymized frame rate data on many Steam Store pages. This data, which Valve has been collecting from opt-in players since February, is presented as averages and histograms specifically for the Steam Deck and the Steam Deck OLED.
Q: Why is this data necessary if Valve already has the "Steam Deck Verified" program?
A: Ars Technica reports that the "Verified" status announced in 2021 does not always correlate with actual performance. For example, while both Skyrim: Special Edition and Cyberpunk 2077 carry the Verified badge, the former typically hits 50–60 FPS, while the latter averages between 30–40 FPS. The new data allows users to distinguish between these different levels of performance.
Q: Does this data apply to games that Valve has labeled as "Unsupported"?
A: Yes. Ars Technica notes that the data is particularly useful for "Unsupported" titles. Valve may label games as Unsupported because they are still working on support or because graphics settings cannot be configured to run well. However, real-world data shows that games like Silent Hill 2, Starfield, and Assassin’s Creed Syndicate maintain playable frame rates. On the Steam Deck OLED specifically, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate averages close to 60 FPS.
Q: Are there any caveats to the accuracy of this frame rate data?
A: Valve acknowledges that the data can be biased by players who use frame rate limits or enable VSync. Additionally, the measurements do not account for custom in-game settings that users may adjust to optimize performance. Despite this, Valve states the frame rate data generally consolidates within relatively narrow ranges.
Q: Can this data help with games that have specific technical hurdles, such as anti-cheat software?
A: It can. Ars Technica highlights Watch Dogs 2 as an example; the game is officially Unsupported due to anti-cheat compatibility issues with SteamOS, but the new data reveals that single-player modes average over 40 FPS.
Q: Is Valve planning to expand this type of performance transparency to general gaming PCs?
A: While the Steam Deck's fixed hardware makes data collection simpler, Valve has indicated it is seeking ways to help developers understand the customer experience. Ars Technica reports that JSON files found in the Steam client in April suggested a "Framerate Estimator" tool. This potential tool would allow users to select a specific PC configuration and an app to see estimated frame rates based on other Steam users' data, moving beyond standard Minimum and Recommended hardware requirements.