Have you heard the big news for PlayStation fans who also happen to own the Steam Deck? One of Sony‘s most legendary modern franchises just got fully verified for mobile play on Valve‘s handheld PC gaming system.
Let‘s take a closer look at what this milestone means – delving into PlayStation‘s history in the portable space, what Steam Deck verification entails, and why this matters for players and Sony‘s gaming business strategy alike. Stick with me and you‘ll have the complete inside perspective!
The Game Leading Playstation‘s Charge into Steam Deck Verified Territory
The PlayStation title making waves by earning its "Verified" status for flawless Steam Deck execution is none other than Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection.
This slick bundle packages together the two most recent blockbusters in Naughty Dog‘s acclaimed action-adventure franchise – Uncharted 4: A Thief‘s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. It initially launched as a visually-enhanced PlayStation 5 remaster of the PlayStation 4 originals.
While the Collection unfortunately lacks the multiplayer modes included with the PS4 releases, the epic globetrotting single player campaigns remain. Complete with enhanced textures and buttery-smooth 60 FPS gameplay, Uncharted fans can experience Nathan Drake and Chloe Frazer‘s thrilling escapades on the go like never before.
| Game | Originally Released | Metacritic Score |
|---|---|---|
| Uncharted 4 | 2016 (PS4) | 93 |
| Uncharted: The Lost Legacy | 2017 (PS4) | 84 |
So that‘s the what – now here‘s the why. Why does Steam Deck verification matter so much for this beloved PlayStation franchise? The answer lies in Sony‘s evolving corporate strategy regarding the portable gaming market.
Sony Walks Down Memory Lane En Route to Steam Deck
Let‘s go back a decade. The year is 2012, and Sony sits atop the mobile gaming world thanks to the raging success of the PlayStation Portable (PSP). Over 80 million units sold, and gamers everywhere love its blend of console-quality originals like God of War: Chains of Olympus and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker alongside wire-free PS1 classics.
Then PlayStation Vita arrives as Sony‘s next-gen successor to the mighty PSP throne. Slicker and more powerful than any handheld seen before, with an OLED screen that pops, actual console caliber titles, and 3G connectivity and apps galore.
Unfortunately, dismal sales plagued the PlayStation Vita throughout its lifespan. Smartphones and their cheap (or free) apps surged in popularity, while Nintendo‘s 3DS dominated the dedicated mobile gaming space. Just 4 years after launch, Sony threw in the towel and halted first party game production for PS Vita.
| System | Lifetime Sales | Top Selling Game | Key Specs |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSP | 80+ million | GTA: Liberty City Stories (9.3 million) | 480 x 272 screen, 2-4 hour battery, UMD discs |
| PS Vita | 10-15 million (est) | Uncharted: Golden Abyss (2.7 million) | 960 x 544 OLED screen, 3-5 hour battery, cartridges & digital |
Yet times change, and companies change strategies along with them. Now in 2022, Sony ports a growing number of signature PlayStation exclusives to PC. Acclaimed titles like God of War, Marvel‘s Spider-Man and Horizon Zero Dawn prove massive hits, tapping into a fresh audience hungry for Sony‘s cinematic masterpiece gameplay experiences.
Steam Deck verification represents the next phase in this journey – an active push to optimize PlayStation games for mobile play on PC, without the need for developing costly proprietary handheld hardware.
Valve‘s gadget is no true "PlayStation Vita 2" successor, but it may not need to be if Sony plays their cards right.
Okay, Enough Dramatic Backstory – What is Steam Deck??
If you somehow don‘t know already, the Steam Deck is a handheld gaming PC made by Valve Software – the company behind games distribution juggernaut Steam.
Retailing for $399 and up, the Linux-powered Steam Deck lets you play games from your Steam library on a 7-inch portable screen. It features built-in buttons, triggers, control pads and thumbsticks for on-the-go gameplay without lugging around mouse and keyboard.
Under the hood, mobile processors from AMD enable AAA gaming performance to rival (or even beat!) what you‘d see on a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One.
The Steam Deck is not a closed console only capable of specific dedicated games like Nintendo Switch. It‘s an open portable PC. You can install whatever compatible games or software you want – including third party emulators for retro systems. Windows 10 is even optional for maximum flexibility.
And unlike game streaming services, the Steam Deck allows full offline play – downloads are stored locally so no internet connection required. This makes it great for kicking back on trips away from WiFi coverage.
Now let‘s get into what exactly that "Verified" tag means when it comes to playing PlayStation blockbusters like Uncharted out in the wild…
Steam Deck Verification – The Gold Standard for Portable Gaming Excellence
Every game sold on Steam displays a compatibility indicator letting buyers know how well it handles on Valve‘s handheld hardware out of the box. Ratings include:
- Unsupported – Cannot run at all on Steam Deck
- Playable – Functions but with potential stability/control issues
- Verified – Perfectly optimized with seamless mobile play
Verification is the gold standard – it means the developer officially adapted their game for Steam Deck‘s unique touchscreen controls, screen dimensions, processing power limits, etc.
Sony specifically updated Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection to nail this top tier certification. That translates to silky-smooth 60 FPS gameplay for the fast-paced cinematic action the series is famous for…but in the palm of your hands anywhere you roam!
Other PlayStation titles rocking the coveted "Verified" badge include sackboy: A Big Adventure and Marvel‘s Spider-Man Remastered – both also boosted to take full advantage of Steam Deck capabilities.
Why Verify? PlayStation Portability Perfected for a New Generation
You might be wondering why Sony bothers verifying games for Steam Deck in the first place. After all, shouldn‘t they focus instead on driving next-gen PlayStation 5 software sales?
The reality is this mobile-centric move gives Sony opportunities to generate revenue from back-catalog titles long past their prime sales years. Opening PlayStation exclusives to a fresh PC audience – one hungry to play acclaimed franchises they‘ve heard so much about but couldn‘t previously access.
In a sense, you might call Steam Deck verification strategy "fanbase building for the future." Gamers who enjoy their first taste of Uncharted or otherVerified PlayStation greats on Steam Deck may feel compelled to later buy a PlayStation 5. There they can experience the best and brightest new sequelsunavailable anywhere else.
At the same time, verification keeps aging yet beloved PlayStation classics relevant in today‘s increasingly mobile world. Where our phones dominate much of gaming. Franchises like Uncharted thrive on Steam Deck‘s fusion of portable big-screen gaming fused with power to rival PS4 visuals.
For just $399, Steam Deck unlocks PlayStation portability and performance a dedicated Sony handheld could never hope to match in 2023 and beyond. No shock then why more PlayStation titles go the verification route with each passing month!
The door seems wide open for a potential "PlayStation Vita 2" spiritual successor down the road. But for now, Steam Deck marks an exciting new frontier for PlayStation fans ready to embark into the great wide open, thumbs glued to controllers the whole way. All aboard!
