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About Aperture Desk Job
Aperture Desk Job is a free, short‑form experience that places you in the role of an entry‑level employee on their first day at Aperture Science. The game leans into the absurdity of corporate life while keeping the tone light and humorous, set in the same expanded universe as Portal.
Designed specifically for the Steam Deck, Desk Job doubles as a tutorial for the handheld’s controls and features. Though it is not a sequel to Portal, it offers a quick, action‑adventure‑casual slice of gameplay that can be enjoyed in a single sitting.
01 / THE GUIDE
Gameplay premise
You assume the role of a new hire at Aperture Science, eager to climb the corporate ladder while seated at a desk. The narrative focuses on mundane office tasks turned absurd, reflecting the series’ humor without involving portal puzzles.
The experience is single‑player and free to play, offering a concise story that can be completed quickly. It does not require any prior knowledge of the Portal series, though it shares the same universe.
- Observe the on‑screen prompts to understand the flow of tasks.
- Take note of the humor; it often hints at the next interaction.
02 / THE GUIDE
Steam Deck integration
Desk Job was created as a free playable short for Valve’s Steam Deck, using the handheld as a teaching tool for its controls and features. The in‑game actions remain seated at a desk, in keeping with the game’s comedic premise.
Because it runs on the Deck, the title showcases the device’s ability to handle a full‑screen experience with controller input, making it a convenient entry point for new owners.
- Use the Deck’s built‑in controls to follow the tutorial sections.
- Experiment with the handheld’s ergonomics to stay comfortable during play.
03 / THE GUIDE
Controller support
The game lists full controller support, including DualShock and DualSense compatibility, as well as Steam Input API support. These are the controller-related features listed by Steam.
No keyboard‑only or mouse‑only options are mentioned, so players should rely on the supported controllers for the intended experience.
- If you use a supported controller, follow the on-screen control prompts.
- Switch between DualShock and DualSense to compare button layouts.
04 / THE GUIDE
Audio features
Aperture Desk Job provides stereo sound, delivering the series’ characteristic audio cues and background music in two‑channel format. The sound design reinforces the comedic office atmosphere while keeping players aware of in‑game events.
Stereo Sound is listed among the game’s Steam features.
- Adjust your headset volume to catch subtle dialogue jokes.
- Listen for stereo cues that indicate off‑screen actions.
05 / THE GUIDE
Platform availability
Desk Job is officially released for Windows and Linux platforms, aligning with Valve’s cross‑platform approach. macOS is not listed among the supported systems, which are Windows and Linux.
Family Sharing is enabled, allowing the title to be shared with other accounts on the same device, which is useful for households with multiple players.
- Check your Steam library’s Family Sharing settings before installing.
- Verify your Linux distribution meets the basic Steam runtime requirements.
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