Valve Steamworks SDK 1.65 Adds Hardware Detection and Proton Support

Valve released Steamworks SDK version 1.65 to give developers better tools for optimizing games on its hardware ecosystem. This update matters because it shifts how developers detect and configure games for specific devices like the Steam Deck and future hardware. Developers can now adjust settings without rebuilding their entire game codebase. This change simplifies the workflow for supporting multiple Valve devices.

New API methods simplify game optimization for future Valve devices

The core of this release involves new API methods within the ISteamUtils interface. Valve added IsRunningOnSteamHardware() to identify the specific type of Steam hardware running the game. This method returns an ESteamHardwareType value for analytics and diagnostic purposes. It replaces the older IsRunningOnSteamDeck() function which is now deprecated. Developers should use these feature-specific methods for functional decisions.

• SDK Version: 1.65
• New API Method: ISteamUtils::IsRunningOnSteamHardware()
• New API Method: ISteamUtils::GetSteamHardwareDefaultConfig()
• New API Method: ISteamUtils::IsRunningUnderProton()
• New API Method: ISteamApps::SetGamePerformanceSetting()

A key addition is GetSteamHardwareDefaultConfig(), which helps games choose default settings tuned for specific hardware. This allows developers to change default video and other settings on future Steam hardware without recompiling the game. The SDK also added IsRunningUnderProton() to detect if the game runs under the Proton compatibility layer on Linux. These tools help ensure games run correctly across different Linux-based Steam devices.

The update expands performance and matchmaking capabilities for developers. ISteamApps now supports SetGamePerformanceSetting() and SetGameRenderResolution() to report user settings to Steam servers. ISteamMatchmakingServers::ServerFriends() provides a list of friends who recently played on a specific server. The Steam Input SDK added enum values for Switch 2, Steam Controller, and Steam Frame Controller action origins. These additions broaden the scope of supported input devices and server features.

This release focuses on technical integration rather than new consumer features. Developers can now fine-tune games for Valve hardware with greater precision. The deprecation of IsRunningOnSteamDeck() signals a move toward a more unified hardware detection strategy. The SDK update provides the necessary hooks for future hardware support.

Source: SteamDeckHQ