Steam Deck Developer Checklist ~ DeckFilter

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Compatibility score

Not Verified-ready

0% of Verified gates passed. Fix red items first.

Verified gates: 0/75
Best practices: 0/55
Bonus items: 0/26

0 / 36 items

How to read this checklist

Verified gates: Checks based on Valve compatibility requirements. Missing one can keep a game out of Verified territory.
Best practices: Valve recommendations and Deck issues players notice quickly.
Bonus items: Extra checks that are good for players, but not required for Valve's compatibility review.

SteamOS / Linux Compatibility

Game launches and runs on SteamOS without requiring workaroundsIf Proton workarounds are needed, document them clearly. A player should not need forum hunting to launch the game.

Anti-cheat is absent or supports SteamOSIf the game has no anti-cheat, this is already satisfied. If it does, it needs to work on SteamOS, not only Windows.

No kernel-level anti-cheat, unsigned drivers, or secure boot dependenciesThese remain unsupported on SteamOS. The game must work without them.

Required video and audio playback works on SteamOSTest intro videos, cutscenes, tutorials, and audio middleware. Unsupported codecs can make an otherwise playable game fail.

Graphics settings are NOT saved to cloud saveValve specifically flags this as a common pitfall. Cloud settings cause conflicts across hardware.

Multiple display aspect ratios supported (beyond just 16:9)Steam Deck is 16:10. Valve flagged aspect ratio support as a common pitfall.

Proton compatibility tested on stable channel (not only Experimental)Ensure the game works on Proton stable before relying on Experimental workarounds

Verified Gate: Core Requirements

All gameplay functionality accessible via default controller configurationThis is a hard Verified requirement. Nothing must require keyboard/mouse.

Default graphics configuration is sensible on Steam Deck hardwareThe out-of-box experience should be playable without manual tweaking. This can be a custom Deck default profile, but players must still be able to change graphics settings.

Text entry works with a controller or opens the on-screen keyboardIf players need to name a save, character, lobby, or profile, text input must not require a physical keyboard.

In-game UI text is legible on a 7" 1280×800 displayHard Verified requirement. Valve tests this explicitly.

On-screen glyphs match the active controller inputPrompts should match Deck, Steam Controller, Xbox, or the active input. Keyboard and mouse glyphs should not appear for controller actions.

Input & Controls

No forced keyboard/mouse input prompts during normal gameplayButton prompts must adapt to controller context. No pop-ups asking to press a key.

Steam Input API integrated for controller glyph mappingValve's explicit recommendation. This enables correct glyphs across all Steam hardware.

Mixed input works cleanly for gyro, trackpad, and controller playMouse-style camera movement and joystick/controller input should work together without locking each other out or constantly swapping prompts.

Multiple simultaneous controllers supportedValve recommends this even for single-player games. It matters when docked with external controllers.

Full button remapping availableSteam Input provides this at the OS level, but in-game remapping still helps players who prefer custom controls.

Steam Deck haptics implementedGoes beyond standard rumble and uses the Deck's HD haptic actuators.

Performance

Graphics scalability options available: low/medium/high presets at minimumValve says defaults are fine but settings must not be hidden. Players need to tune.

Reset graphics settings restores Deck-appropriate defaults on Steam DeckIf the game applies custom Deck defaults, the reset/default action should return to those Deck defaults on Deck hardware, not desktop-oriented settings.

Extended graphics settings remain visible and editableDeck defaults and presets should not hide advanced options. Players should still be able to inspect and override individual graphics settings.

Vulkan renderer is available where practicalValve recommends Vulkan for performance and battery life, especially when the engine already supports it well.

Framerate cap options exposed (30, 40, 45, 60)Letting players cap FPS helps battery life and frame pacing. This is useful for Deck users.

FSR or XeSS upscaling supportedAllows players to run at lower internal resolution for better performance without a big quality hit

Dedicated Steam Deck graphics preset availableA visible Deck preset is a nice extra, especially when it can be selected manually and all individual graphics settings remain editable.

TDP/power draw is reasonable under default settingsHeavy CPU/GPU usage drains battery fast and causes thermal throttling. Profile under load.

Display & UI

Supports Steam Deck resolution, preferably 1280×800Steam Deck testing expects a supported Deck resolution. 1280×800 is preferred; 1280×720 should still work cleanly.

No UI elements are cropped or inaccessible at 1280×800Test every menu screen, HUD element, and tooltip at native resolution

HDR output supported and correctly flaggedOLED Steam Deck supports HDR. Flag HDR support correctly so it activates properly.

UI scales correctly when docked at 1080p or higherMany Deck players dock to a TV. UI designed only for 800p can look stretched or tiny.

System Integration

No unsupported device or operating system warning appearsDo not show warnings that SteamOS, Linux, Deck hardware, or the GPU is unsupported when the game is running on Deck.

Launcher is avoidable or fully controller-navigableIf a launcher is required, it must meet the same controller, text input, and display expectations as the game itself.

Cloud saves enabled and workingEssential for players switching between Deck and desktop PC

Game functions fully offline (no required network connection)Deck is used away from home. Games that demand online connectivity frustrate users.

Save on quit / game state preserved when force-closed via Steam buttonPlayers close games abruptly. Long progress loss is a dealbreaker for Deck users.

Audio output switches correctly between speakers, headphones, and BluetoothDeck users swap audio frequently. Test all three paths.

General notes

Why this checklist exists

This checklist exists because games still ship with hidden graphics settings, or sync device-specific graphics settings through Steam Cloud, even in 2026. After talking to developers who cared about Steam Deck support, it became clear that some details are just easy to miss. Maybe the guidance was overlooked. Maybe some of it appeared in Steamworks later.

This does not replace Valve's review process. It is a quick pass over the things players and reviewers notice fast: controller prompts that do not match the device, tiny UI text, awkward defaults, missing on-screen keyboard support, launchers that need a mouse, and the other small Deck problems that add up.

The first version came out of a conversation with Steam Flow about where Steam Deck verification, developer assumptions, reviewers, and real players do not always line up.