Steam Deck verification criteria continues to confuse as Masters of Albion is marked Unsupported, despite devs considering it ‘fully optimised for handheld’
Masters of Albion, a god game developed by 22cans and created by Fable designer Peter Molyneux, has become the latest example of confusion surrounding Steam Deck’s verification criteria. Despite the studio confidently claiming the game is “fully optimised for handheld” and publishing a detailed blog post outlining its Steam Deck compatibility ahead of the game’s late April early access launch, Valve has marked Masters of Albion as “Unsupported” on the platform.
The discrepancy highlights an ongoing problem with Steam Deck verification standards. 22cans states they spent “a significant amount of time” optimizing the experience for the portable device, presenting it as a “smooth, playable experience” worthy of compatibility. Yet Valve’s verification process reached a different conclusion, leaving developers and players confused about what precisely constitutes adequate Steam Deck performance.
This isn’t an isolated incident—the lack of clarity around verification criteria has frustrated multiple developers over the past year. The inconsistency raises questions about whether Valve’s standards are transparent or consistently applied. Some games deemed compatible have reported performance issues, while others that work well are rejected. The verification queue process itself appears opaque, with limited feedback on why titles fail or what specific issues Valve identifies.
For Masters of Albion specifically, the situation is particularly awkward as the game enters early access with developer reassurances about handheld performance undermined by Valve’s official designation. This leaves potential customers uncertain about whether to trust the developer’s optimization claims or Valve’s verification.