Valve has recently unveiled the essential requirements that games must meet to run on the upcoming Steam Frame headset and earn the prestigious ‘Steam Frame Verified’ badge.
The Latest Updates
During Valve’s ‘Steam Hardware’ presentation at this year’s Game Developers Conference (GDC), the company highlighted two specific benchmarks that games must achieve in standalone mode to qualify for the Steam Frame Verified badge.
For VR games running directly on the headset, Valve specifies a minimum of 90 fps, surpassing Frame’s minimum variable 72Hz refresh rate. XR analyst Brad Lynch provided this information.
Steam Frame will also support the download and native play of non-VR content, with performance requirements being less stringent, demanding a minimum of 30 fps at a resolution of 1,280 x 720.
Comparatively, on the Horizon Store, VR games must maintain a minimum of 72 fps to match Quest’s 72Hz refresh rate, while general media can operate at a minimum of 60 fps.
Valve also stipulates that games must have a “legible UI” and full compatibility with Steam Frame controllers.
Games that are ‘Verified’ or ‘Playable’ on Steam Deck undergo automatic testing for the Frame Verified badge, as shown in the flow chart. Titles that are not supported on Deck due to performance or SteamOS compatibility issues will not be considered.
Regarding PC VR gameplay, Frame’s direct WiFi 6 connection and Foveated Streaming protocol are expected to function without the need for a specific test or verification process.
“If it runs smoothly on your host PC, it will perform well on Steam Frame,” Valve assures, emphasizing that streaming, including VR titles, requires no special integration. The slides from Valve’s Steam Hardware presentation can be accessed here.
Personal Insights
The shift from 72 fps to 90 fps, though seemingly minor, signifies approximately a 25% increase in rendering workload. Developers looking to port their games directly from Quest may need to optimize significantly to meet Frame’s higher performance standard.
While Quest 3 and Steam Frame may not have identical specifications, they appear to be broadly comparable in terms of native rendering capabilities. Upon launch, we might witness more non-VR games attaining the Frame Certified status than native VR games, as developers will either need to optimize existing SteamVR titles for standalone mode or adapt and optimize Quest games for Frame.
Nevertheless, akin to Steam Deck, Valve does not restrict users from downloading and playing any content on Steam, offering guidelines to ensure consumers are aware of complete game compatibility.
Valve’s release plans for Steam Frame, Steam Machine, and Steam Controller have been affected by the ongoing global shortage of RAM and storage, leaving us in anticipation of their availability.
Seeking more Steam Frame updates?
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