No one really knows how it will fare Steam Deck until it goes on sale this month, but the fact that it’s been delayed a couple of months has allowed Valve to work longer to make sure the device is up to the task when it finally does go on sale. For example, the company recently updated Half-Life 2’s user interface, presumably to make it more compatible with your console’s touch screen, and it seems something similar has happened with Gate 2.
Given the Gate 2 was developed by Valve, it makes sense that the developer and publisher is tweaking their own games in time for the release of Steam Deck. Originally planned for Christmas 2021, the device had to be delayed due to material shortages, but the extra weeks seem to have been a good opportunity to make some last minute adjustments, and to ensure that as many games as possible are compatible on February 25.
As for the settings themselves, as in Half-Life 2, the user interface of Gate 2. Although no details are given, it makes sense that the menu and HUD have been increased in size to accommodate touch screen use. Although it’s over 10 years old now, this platformer is one of the most influential sci-fi games in the industry, with a memorable story and a roster of hilarious characters, so it’s understandable that Valve wants to port it to their next device.
In addition to general game tweaks and bug fixes for Portal 2, there are some new drivers for Linux that could extend your device’s battery life. Steam Deck. Initially it was advertised that he could run the aforementioned puzzle game for up to six hours at 30 FPS. Hopefully these latest controllers will extend this duration by adjusting the VRS (Variable Rate Shading) on the fly based on whether the Steam Deck is running on AC or battery power.
Currently, the Steam Deck has over 100 verified games, based on third-party databases. There’s still a long way to go before Steam’s 50,000 games are fully playable, but there’s still time, and no doubt those that aren’t supported on launch day will get some updates afterwards. Overall, things seem to be heading in the right direction for the device, and time will tell if the extra wait was worth it or not.