Even as the hardware matures, the Steam Deck remains a top-tier choice for portable PC gaming. As developers continue to optimize their titles for the handheld, Valve is introducing new tools designed to monitor and improve Steam Deck Verified Ratings.
Monitoring Performance through Data
Detailed in a recent blog post, Valve has launched two new tools that allow developers to better gauge how their games are performing on the device. The first tool focuses on collecting frame rate data from players who have opted into data collection.
This feature provides a rolling 30-day average, which is essential for identifying if a recent patch or a Proton update has negatively impacted performance. While this tool is currently limited to games with the "Verified" certification, Valve plans to expand it to "Playable" titles soon to help improve overall device stability.
User Feedback and Steam Deck Verified Ratings Disputes
The second tool puts more power in the hands of the community by allowing players to influence Steam Deck Verified Ratings directly. If a user plays a game for more than 10 minutes during a single session, they will gain the ability to send feedback to both developers and Valve.
Users can use this feature to dispute a game's current certification or provide critical feedback regarding specific issues. This helps ensure that the "Verified" label remains a mark of true quality. Key areas for player feedback include:
- In-game text legibility
- General performance and stability
- Software crashes or bugs
- Optimization regressions
