Steam Deck, crossplay and Play Anywhere badges explained

Small badges on game cards and pages carry a lot of information. This is what each one means, where it comes from, and how far to trust it.

Solo, Multiplayer and Co-op

On your Picks cards, a badge shows how a game can be played. Multiplayer means the catalogue lists multiplayer. Co-op is shown for multiplayer games that also list co-op. Solo is shown when no multiplayer is listed. The data comes from the IGDB catalogue, so a very new or obscure game may be marked Solo simply because nobody has added its modes yet.

Crossplay: Full or Partial

Crossplay badges are not guesses. They come from a curated list of games with verified crossplay support, which is why the Crossplay page is shorter than the full catalogue. Full and Partial describe how broad the support is. Full means players on the platforms the game covers can play together, and Partial means some platform combinations can and others cannot. Always check that your own platform and your friends' platform are both covered before you buy.

Steam Deck Verified

Games on the Steam Deck page are marked Verified in Valve's Steam Deck compatibility program. Verified is the strongest rating, but it is Valve's call. A game with no badge is not necessarily unplayable on the Deck, only not verified.

Xbox Play Anywhere

An Xbox Play Anywhere game is bought once and playable on both Xbox consoles and Windows PC, with progress carried between them. The Xbox Play Anywhere page lists every game that supports it. It is a real saving if you play on both.

Game Pass and EA Play

These badges mean the game is currently included with that subscription. Game Pass is split into console and PC. Because catalogues change, a badge is a snapshot, not a guarantee. PlayStation Plus titles are listed on the PS Plus page. The subscription or buy guide explains how to weigh a subscription against buying.

Free badges

A game that is free right now, either through a giveaway or because it is free to play, shows as Free. A free offer is scored as 100 because there is nothing to pay. See free games and free-to-play.

How reliable are badges?

Badges are only as good as their sources. They come from IGDB, Valve, a curated crossplay list and the subscription catalogues, and they are refreshed on a schedule. When a badge decides a purchase, such as crossplay with a friend, confirm it on the store page too.