Games verified by the Steam Machine are coming soon, but they will be very different from the Steam Deck.

Valve has confirmed there will be a game verification program on the Steam Machine, but it won't be as rigorous as the Steam Deck program.

Games verified by the Steam Machine are coming soon. Valve has confirmed it will spend time testing thousands of titles on its platform so we can know immediately if a game will work on the game's magical 'black box'. However, while the similar Steam Deck Verified program has fairly strict requirements, Valve says verification on the Steam Machine will have 'fewer constraints,' meaning 'if your game is verified on the Steam Deck, it will also be verified on the Steam Machine.'

This confirmation essentially signals what many may have predicted: the Steam Machine will launch with a much larger, proven game library than the Steam Deck. This is despite the fact that this new best-in-class gaming PC is still limited by running Valve's Linux-based SteamOS operating system and using relatively modest hardware compared to a modern mid- to high-end PC.

Specifically, in an interview with Game Developer, Valve's Lawrence Yang stated that developers hoping to receive the 'Verified on Steam Machine' badge can expect 'fewer restrictions' than the current requirements for verification on the Steam Deck. 'A simple rule is that if your game has been verified on the Steam Deck, it will also be verified on the Steam Machine,' Yang continued.

Valve hasn't revealed exactly how many titles will or have already been verified on the Steam Machine, but with thousands of titles currently being verified on the Steam Deck, it's safe to assume you won't be short of options, even if the best titles on the Steam Deck aren't your thing.

As game developers have pointed out, while verification ratings on the Steam Machine are helpful for gamers, they're also something developers are particularly interested in. Because it's essentially a badge of honor, and Valve has a regular 'Great on the Deck' section to promote titles that have been verified on the Steam Deck. A similar 'Great on the Machine' or 'Great on the Steam Machine' section could work well for both gamers and developers.

While excitement for the Steam Machine is growing, we're still waiting for the official release date and price, although a recent leak regarding the Steam Machine's price suggests it might be more expensive than some of us expect.