Fenris Creations is exploring Steam Deck compatibility for EVE Frontier, its upcoming survival sandbox spin-off of EVE Online. The development team has begun informal testing to gauge how the title performs on the handheld PC. This effort marks a shift from the traditional keyboard-and-mouse setup that defined the original EVE Online experience. The studio aims to determine if the game can offer a viable portable experience for fans of the franchise.
Studio tests native gamepad controls on handheld PC hardware
EVE Frontier introduces native gamepad support to the EVE universe, a significant departure from its predecessor. Product Manager Scott McCabe and Game Director Sæmundur Hermannsson are personally testing the build on their own Steam Deck units. They describe the current phase as a way to dip their toes into handheld gaming rather than a finalized commitment. The team is evaluating whether the controls feel natural on a controller before making any public promises.
The developers have reported that experiments are already running on the Steam Deck hardware. However, they identified the game launcher as the primary technical hurdle rather than the core game engine. Sæmundur Hermannsson noted that the issue stems from configuration files rather than performance or compatibility bugs. The team plans to focus on refining gamepad interactions while they work through these launcher-related obstacles.
Official Steam Deck certification remains unconfirmed at this stage. Both McCabe and Hermannsson emphasized that these tests are driven by personal curiosity and internal interest. They have not set a timeline for official support or release on the handheld device. The studio is currently prioritizing controller tuning over securing a formal compatibility badge from Valve.
Source: SteamDeckHQ
