Recent updates pushed by Valve Corporation (as displayed by the third-party database SteamDB) suggest that both the Steins;Gate and Robotics;Notes Elite visual novels have been tested for their compatibility with the upcoming Steam Deck handheld. Both games have been confirmed to be “Playable” in their current state.
So, what exactly does “Playable” mean? As explained by Valve’s page on the topic, games that test as playable may require some extra input on the player’s part to play—this may entail needing to use the handheld’s touchscreen to launch the game, manually choosing a different controller configuration through Steam itself, et cetera. “Verified” games, meanwhile, theoretically don’t require any additional input and are ready to be played as soon as they’re installed and launched.
As it relates to Steins;Gate and Robotics;Notes Elite, testers cited “launcher interaction issues” with both games. Based on how both launchers currently function on PC, the issue in question is likely the player’s inability to navigate them with a controller. Steam Deck users will, most probably, need to utilize the handheld’s touchscreen to get through them.
Robotics;Notes Elite seems to run into a few additional issues: results suggest that the default controller configuration is “not fully functional” on the handheld. It’s unclear what exact issue testers ran into here, but it’s likely resolvable via the use of a modified configuration. The results also note that externally connected controllers are not supported for use by the primary player.
We’ll keep you updated as more information arises on the Science Adventure series’ compatibility with the Steam Deck.
Thanks, @Enorovan.
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