What's Happening?
The game 'Masters of Albion', developed by 22cans and led by Peter Molyneux, has been marked as unsupported on the Steam Deck, despite the developers' claims of optimization for handheld play. The game, which launched in early access in April, was expected
to receive a 'Verified' badge from Valve, indicating compatibility with the Steam Deck. However, performance issues, such as low frame rates, have led to its unsupported status. The developers acknowledge Valve's assessment and are focusing on performance optimization to meet the platform's requirements.
Why It's Important?
This situation highlights ongoing challenges with Valve's Steam Deck verification process, which has faced criticism for inconsistencies. The case of 'Masters of Albion' underscores the difficulties developers face in ensuring their games meet the performance standards required for the 'Verified' badge. This issue is significant for the gaming industry as it affects developers' ability to reach the growing market of Steam Deck users. It also raises questions about the criteria used by Valve to assess game compatibility, which could impact consumer trust and satisfaction.
What's Next?
22cans plans to continue optimizing 'Masters of Albion' to improve its performance on the Steam Deck and seek re-verification from Valve. The developers' efforts to address these issues will be closely watched by the gaming community, particularly Steam Deck users. Valve may also need to clarify its verification criteria to provide more transparency and consistency in its assessments. This could lead to broader discussions within the industry about standards for handheld gaming devices and the support developers need to meet them.
