If you’ve been playing Path of Exile on your Steam Deck, then you’re probably excited for Path of Exile 2’s WASD controls. The new game’s control schemes permit for a new range of capabilities, and maybe even a bit better lazy controller gameplay. However, the prior game was never fully Steam Deck Verified by Grinding Gear Games… but it was pretty close.
When MMORPG.com asked Game Director Jonathan Rogers about Steam Deck Verification during a PoE2 press event interview, Rogers implied it’s quite possible, especially because the prior Path of Exile was just a bit off.
“We were actually recently told by Steam that we’re one issue away from [Path of Exile 1] being verified,” Rogers explained.
Apparently, it’s very close.
But he pointed out one more odd issue: Grinding Gears Games is based in New Zealand, and Valve doesn’t ship the Steam Deck to New Zealand. Therefore… Well, testing would be a little logistically difficult, to say the least. It’s a bit of an odd situation, considering the praise Valve founder Gabe Newell gave the Oceanic Nation once he moved out there.
Regardless of Steam Deck acquirability circumstances, Rogers says the team “should probably get to that at some point.”
“I should probably smuggle one of those in,” he joked(?).
So, will the next game be Steam Deck Verified? It seems Grinding Gears Games is thinking about it, at least. As for other consoles, we confirmed that while there is a dedicated group for console development, they have no official word or confirmation that it will happen yet. We’ll keep our ears on the ground for that.
