In the burgeoning landscape of portable gaming, the Steam Deck continues to stir interest among gamers eager to explore its capabilities. Valve’s official verification system categorizes titles as Verified, Playable, or Unsupported based on compatibility tests. However, this categorization is not without its flaws, as many Unsupported titles have shown to be playable, while some Verified games may not perform as expected. This week, in the third installment of “The Unsupported Report,” we delve into three notable games—Trinity Trigger, Just Cause 2, and Jump Force—to examine the legitimacy of their Unsupported ratings and explore ways to enhance their playability on the Steam Deck.
Trinity Trigger, despite being rated Unsupported, runs remarkably well on the Steam Deck. Having reviewed the game at its release, the author noted that it performed nearly flawlessly, achieving 90 FPS with minimal battery drain. The game had previously not received a rating until just a few weeks ago, leaving many to question the validity of its current status. The absence of any major issues during testing suggests that Trinity Trigger is deserving of a Verified badge rather than its current Unsupported classification. This mislabeling highlights a need for Valve to provide more transparency regarding the Unsupported rating process.
In stark contrast, Just Cause 2 presents a more complex case. Although fondly remembered for its expansive open-world gameplay, it has been marked as Unsupported for the Steam Deck. Reports from users indicate varied experiences; while some claim the game runs smoothly out of the box, others encounter significant hurdles, including an “updating executable” stall that occurs across different Proton versions. After considerable effort, the author managed to get Just Cause 2 up and running by replacing the original executable with a custom version and installing the necessary libraries using protontricks. Once operational, the game maintained a stable 90 FPS, although a few crashes were reported. The technical challenges involved in getting Just Cause 2 to work could deter less experienced users, yet those who persevere may find a rewarding experience awaiting them.
Jump Force, another title facing an Unsupported rating, is particularly intriguing due to its unique premise of merging various anime universes. Although the game has been removed from Steam, players who still own it may wish to explore its capabilities on the Steam Deck. Its Unsupported designation stems from issues with its anti-cheat system, which fails to support the platform. However, employing the Proton GE compatibility layer allows gamers to bypass this hurdle, rendering the game playable. Performance tests indicate that Jump Force generally operates at around 60 FPS, with minor dips during intense scenes. While the game retains local multiplayer options and remote play functionality, its discontinuation means that its online features are no longer accessible.
Ultimately, this week’s exploration reveals noteworthy disparities in the Steam Deck’s game compatibility ratings. Trinity Trigger appears to be a hidden gem that deserves recognition, while Just Cause 2 presents a mixed bag of experiences, and Jump Force, despite its Unsupported status, remains playable through workarounds. The ongoing misalignment between Valve’s verification system and the actual performance of these titles invites further scrutiny and underscores the necessity for continuous updates and better communication from the developer. As the Steam Deck evolves, so too does the gaming landscape, paving the way for a more expansive understanding of what constitutes compatibility in portable gaming.
Looking ahead, next week’s edition of “The Unsupported Report” promises to continue this critical examination of game compatibility. As the community seeks to unlock the full potential of their Steam Deck devices, ongoing discussions around the verification process will become increasingly vital for gamers and developers alike.
