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Start with this order: update SteamOS, restart the device, disable third-party overlays and plugins, try the latest Proton tool from the game’s Compatibility settings, lower the graphics load, and update the handheld or PC’s AMD or NVIDIA driver. Retest after every change. Valor Mortis launched on Steam on October 13, 2026, and the store still lists Steam Deck Compatibility as Unknown (checked October 19, 2026), so there is no Valve-assigned Verified, Playable, or Unsupported rating to rely on yet.
These steps address the common causes of a crash, a black screen before the menu, or a Play button that appears to do nothing. The developer has also acknowledged launch-day crashes and performance problems, including specific Radeon 7000-series risks. If the game still fails, submit the in-game crash report with your hardware and the exact point of failure, then contact Steam Support or use the SteamOS/Steam Deck discussions.
What the SteamOS status means
Valor Mortis is a Windows-targeted Steam release. Where a native Linux build is not provided, SteamOS runs the Windows executable through Proton, Valve’s compatibility layer. Proton translates the game’s Windows calls for Linux and the Steam Deck graphics stack; a Proton, game, driver, or overlay update can therefore change whether the title starts or remains stable.
Valve’s store page currently shows Steam Deck Compatibility: Unknown. That label means Valve has not assigned a final Verified, Playable, or Unsupported category in the checked listing. It is not a prediction that the game will fail, but it does mean you should expect to perform manual troubleshooting rather than assuming out-of-the-box support.
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Do these checks before changing Proton
Install every SteamOS update and restart
From Gaming Mode, open Steam > Settings > System, install any available SteamOS update, and choose Restart when prompted. A restart matters because it replaces the running system and graphics components; simply returning to the game after an update can leave the old session in memory.
Remove variables from the test
Temporarily exit or disable software installed through Desktop Mode, including overlays, performance plug-ins, frame-rate tools, recording utilities, and other third-party additions. Valve specifically recommends disabling third-party applications when diagnosing instability. Re-enable them one at a time only after the game launches reliably.
Check the compatibility panel
Open the game’s Library entry, select the gear icon, choose Properties, and open Compatibility. Note whether Steam displays a compatibility warning and which Steam Play tool is selected. Do not assume that a community report naming a Proton build applies to your hardware; no Valor Mortis-specific Proton version has been officially published.
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Work through the sequence in order. Launch Valor Mortis after each step and record what changed. Testing one variable at a time tells you whether the failure is caused by the runtime, graphics path, plug-in, driver, or the game itself.
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- Update SteamOS. In Steam > Settings > System, apply the available update and restart.
- Disable third-party software. Return to a clean Gaming Mode session with overlays and Desktop Mode plug-ins stopped.
- Inspect compatibility information. In Library > Valor Mortis > gear icon > Properties > Compatibility, confirm the current Steam Play setting.
- Force a Proton tool. Enable Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool, then choose the latest Proton version offered by Steam. Valve’s guidance is to try the latest version; it has not identified a dedicated Valor Mortis build.
- Launch once with a lighter workload. If the game reaches its menu, select a lower graphics preset before entering a level. If it does not reach the menu, continue with the same forced Proton setting rather than changing several options at once.
- Update the underlying graphics driver. On a Windows PC, install the current AMD or NVIDIA driver from the hardware vendor. On a Steam Deck or another SteamOS handheld, install the SteamOS updates supplied for that device. The developer’s October 13 launch notice specifically asks players to update AMD and NVIDIA drivers.
- Retest and document. Write down the Proton tool, SteamOS version, handheld or PC model, GPU, whether the symptom was a crash or black screen, and the last screen or action you saw.
Fixes by symptom
Black screen before the menu
A black screen that appears before menus is consistent with a compatibility or graphics-initialization failure, but the available official notices do not name a single Valor Mortis Proton build as the cause. First install SteamOS updates and restart, then remove overlays and plug-ins. Next, force the latest Proton tool through the Compatibility panel and launch again.
If the display remains black, wait briefly once to distinguish a slow first shader or pipeline setup from a hard hang, then press the Steam button and see whether the SteamOS interface responds. If the overlay opens, close the game from the menu and retry with the same clean configuration. If the whole device is unresponsive, hold the power button only long enough to recover, then avoid repeated launches until the system and graphics drivers are current.
Play button returns to the library or nothing appears
Verify that the game is fully installed and that Steam has finished any pending update. Then repeat the clean sequence: restart SteamOS, disable third-party software, and force the latest Proton version. A launch failure before any window appears can occur while Proton is creating its prefix or while the graphics API initializes, so changing several Proton builds in succession makes the result harder to interpret.
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Crash after entering a level
Once the menu works, reduce the overall graphics preset and, if necessary, lower individual settings that increase GPU load. Valve recommends reducing graphics settings when an application is unstable or overloading the system. Apply the change, play until the previously observed crash point, and record whether the crash moved or disappeared.
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Check the GPU against the Radeon 7000-series warnings in the developer’s launch notice. A crash tied to a particular level, effect, or action should be included in the in-game report rather than treated as proof that the Steam Deck display or storage is defective.
System shutdown, reboot, or GPU reset
Stop repeatedly launching the game. A complete shutdown or graphics reset can indicate an interaction between the game, driver, and hardware rather than an ordinary application crash. Install the latest available SteamOS or vendor driver, disable overlays, and test once with a lower graphics load. Include the exact GPU model and the location in the game when reporting the incident.
Audio cuts out
The developer lists occasional audio cut-outs as a known launch issue. Check that the operating system and game are updated, but do not assume an audio cut-out explains a simultaneous black screen or shutdown. Capture the moment and report what was happening in the game, along with your Proton tool and hardware details.
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Visual artifacts during bayonet attacks
Rare screen artifacts during bayonet melee attacks are also listed by the developer. If artifacts appear only during that action and the system remains responsive, capture a report and note the weapon, scene, and graphics settings. If artifacts persist across the SteamOS interface or appear with a shutdown, treat the event as a broader driver or hardware problem and stop testing until drivers are updated.
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Known launch issues documented by the developer
The pinned Known Issues – Launch Day announcement, dated October 13, 2026, acknowledges performance issues and crashes and asks players to submit crash reports and identify where the crash happened.
| Hardware or symptom | What the notice says | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| AMD Radeon RX 7600 | Systems may shut down while playing. | Update the AMD driver, stop repeated tests, lower graphics load, and include the exact GPU and location in the crash report. |
| AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT | Systems may experience GPU crashes. | Update the AMD driver, disable overlays, and report the GPU crash with the scene or action that preceded it. |
| AMD Anti-Lag 2 | The feature may not work properly. | Turn the feature off temporarily if it is enabled, then retest with one configuration change at a time. |
| Audio | Occasional audio cut-outs are reported. | Document the location and action when sound disappeared and submit the in-game report. |
| Bayonet melee | Rare screen artifacts can occur during bayonet attacks. | Capture the event and report it; do not assume every black screen has the same cause. |
These are developer-acknowledged launch issues, not a statement that every SteamOS black screen or crash has one of these causes. The RX 7600 and RX 7900 XT warnings are specific to those GPUs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing a Proton tool without guesswork
Proton is the layer between the Windows game and SteamOS. Its compatibility can change when Proton or the game changes, which is why a result from one release may not match a later update. Valve’s documented action is to enable Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool and try the latest Proton version shown in Steam.
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Reducing graphics load safely
If you can reach the options menu, begin with the lowest available preset and restart the level. Then raise one setting at a time only after a stable session. This approach distinguishes a general load problem from a single effect or feature that triggers a crash.
- Use a lower overall preset before changing several individual options.
- Keep overlays and performance plug-ins disabled while testing.
- After each change, reproduce the same scene or action that previously failed.
- For a shutdown or GPU reset, stop testing and update the driver instead of continuing to lower settings indefinitely.
How to submit a useful crash report
The developer asks players to use the in-game crash reporter and say where the crash happened. A report that includes only “it crashed” gives maintainers little to reproduce. Include:
- SteamOS version and whether the device is a Steam Deck or another handheld/PC.
- Exact GPU model; identify an RX 7600 or RX 7900 XT explicitly if applicable.
- Valor Mortis Proton tool selected in the Compatibility panel.
- Whether the symptom was a normal crash, black screen, complete shutdown, reboot, audio cut-out, or visual artifact.
- The last menu, level, room, weapon, or action visible; for bayonet artifacts, identify the attack.
- Whether SteamOS updates, a restart, disabled overlays, lower graphics settings, or a driver update changed the behavior.
For persistent stability problems, Valve directs users to SteamOS/Steam Deck discussions and Steam Support. Attach the same reproducible details there, including the time of the failure and whether the Steam overlay still responded.
What not to conclude from one failed launch
- Do not treat “Unknown” as “Unsupported.” It means Valve has not completed or published a final category for the checked listing.
- Do not assume every black screen is a hardware defect. A pre-menu failure can occur during Proton or graphics initialization.
- Do not assume one community Proton recommendation is official. No game-specific Proton version has been published in the launch information.
- Do not keep testing through a shutdown. Update drivers and report the event, especially on the Radeon models named by the developer.
- Do not change several variables at once. You lose the ability to identify whether Proton, an overlay, graphics load, or a driver fixed the problem.
When to wait for an update
If SteamOS is current, third-party software is disabled, the latest Proton tool has been tested, graphics settings are reduced, and the driver is current, a repeatable failure may require a game or Proton update. Continue to use the crash reporter with the exact location and hardware details. The developer’s launch notice confirms that crashes and performance issues were being tracked, but it does not promise a specific fix date or a universal workaround.
Practical decision tree
- Does the whole device shut down or reset? Stop testing, update the driver or SteamOS, and report the GPU and location. Pay particular attention to the documented RX 7600 and RX 7900 XT risks.
- Is the screen black before menus but SteamOS still responds? Disable overlays, force the latest Proton tool, and retry.
- Does the game reach a level and then crash? Lower the graphics preset, reproduce the same scene, and check the GPU against the developer’s known issues.
- Are there audio cut-outs or bayonet-only artifacts? Treat them as known launch symptoms, capture the exact action, and submit a report.
- Does nothing change after all steps? Send Steam Support and the developer a complete configuration and reproduction report rather than repeatedly reinstalling or switching random Proton builds.
The most defensible expectation for October 2026 is that Valor Mortis may run on SteamOS through Proton, but compatibility is still officially unclassified and launch issues are acknowledged. A clean, logged test sequence gives you the best chance of finding a local workaround and gives the developer the information needed for a game-side fix.
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