Quick answer: EA says STAR WARS Zero Company is not Steam Deck Verified at launch. Independent launch review testing has also reported poor Deck performance, so this is not a title we would buy specifically for Steam Deck without checking current patch results first.
Verified status
The official EA FAQ states that the game will not be Steam Deck Verified at launch. That is the strongest status statement available and should be preferred over a storefront screenshot from before release.
Can it still run?
"Not Verified" does not mean the executable can never start. It means Valve/EA are not presenting it as a verified Deck experience at launch. Compatibility and acceptable performance are separate questions.
PC Gamer's launch review reported very low performance on Deck even after aggressive settings/upscaling. That is one reviewer's test, not a permanent benchmark for every patch, but it supports a cautious recommendation.
Why the desktop minimum spec is not enough
EA's minimum desktop target includes a GTX 1080 / RX 5600 XT / Arc B580-class GPU and a desktop-class CPU target for 1080p/30 Low. The game is also described by EA as CPU-bound. A handheld power envelope is therefore a different performance problem from simply meeting a Windows minimum spec on paper.
What to check before buying for Deck
Check the current Steam Deck compatibility badge, recent patch notes and recent owner reports. If Steam Deck is only a secondary way you might occasionally stream/play, buying for desktop can still make sense; if Deck is your only device, current verified performance should drive the decision.
What “not Verified” means
Steam Deck verification is a Valve compatibility label, not a statement that the Windows build is impossible to launch on handheld hardware. At launch, EA's FAQ says Zero Company is not Steam Deck Verified. That means buyers should not interpret the store experience as an officially validated handheld configuration with guaranteed controls, text readability and performance.
Why performance is the bigger concern
EA describes the PC game as comparatively CPU-bound, and independent launch testing reported poor Deck performance even at reduced settings. A tactics game can tolerate lower frame rates better than a twitch shooter, but sustained drops still affect camera movement and responsiveness. Check current Proton/SteamOS reports after every major patch rather than relying on launch-day results forever.