Valve and handheld gaming hardware compatibility and performance updates

Valve has clarified the various compatibility ratings used across its hardware ecosystem, including Steam Deck, Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and SteamOS. Because these systems run on Linux, games often rely on compatibility layers like Proton to function. Valve utilizes a verification system to inform users of game performance and controller support. Ratings include ‘Verified’, meaning the game works without manual adjustments, and ‘Playable’, which indicates that some manual settings or interactions, such as using a touchscreen or on-screen keyboard, may be required.

In handheld performance news, a new mod named ‘HelixSR’ has enabled NVIDIA’s DLSS 3.7 upscaling technology to function on AMD hardware, specifically the ROG Ally X and Steam Deck. The mod works by tricking the hardware into recognizing the technology as AMD’s FSR 3.1, allowing for DLSS image reconstruction. Early testing suggests performance benefits, with one test showing HelixSR upscaling at 1080p took approximately 7 milliseconds compared to 11 milliseconds for FSR 4. Currently, the mod is limited to DirectX 12 games and may require the ‘OptiScaler’ tool for games lacking native FSR 3.1 support.