Valve's SteamOS, the operating system powering the immensely popular Steam Deck, is poised to break free from its confines and conquer new handheld territories.
This year marks a significant turning point for SteamOS. Not only will Lenovo launch the first officially supported third-party SteamOS handheld, the Legion Go S, in May, but Valve has also announced plans to open up SteamOS to a wider range of devices.
A Beta for Other Handhelds is on the Horizon
According to Pierre-Loup Griffais, a lead designer on the Steam Deck and SteamOS, a beta version of SteamOS for other handhelds is slated for release sometime after March. This exciting development suggests that users might soon discover that SteamOS simply starts working seamlessly on their existing devices.
While Valve hasn't explicitly named which handhelds will be compatible, strong contenders include the Asus ROG Ally, which has already received some level of official support from Valve. Additionally, the Linux gaming community has demonstrated that Bazzite, a popular Steam Deck fork, runs remarkably well on the Lenovo Legion Go.
Bazzite: A Community-Driven Force
Speaking of Bazzite, Valve expressed admiration for this community-driven project. "We have nothing against it," stated Lawrence Yang, another lead designer. "It's a great community project that delivers a lot of value to people that want a similar experience on devices right now." Griffais echoed this sentiment, acknowledging Bazzite as a valuable tool for testing and showcasing the latest advancements in SteamOS.
However, Valve emphasized that Bazzite is not yet suitable for pre-installation by hardware manufacturers. While users can freely download and install the SteamOS image, companies are required to partner with Valve for official distribution and modifications.
A Unified SteamOS Platform
This partnership approach is crucial for maintaining a cohesive and consistent SteamOS experience across all supported devices. By ensuring all devices run on the same SteamOS image, Valve can guarantee access to identical software updates, precached shaders, and hardware compatibility tweaks. This unified approach enhances performance and ensures a seamless gaming experience regardless of the specific handheld.
The Road Ahead: Partnerships and Possibilities
Valve is currently focused on its partnership with Lenovo for the Legion Go S, and hasn't confirmed official support for other manufacturers like GPD. However, the company remains open to collaborations with other hardware vendors interested in pre-loading SteamOS on their devices.
While Valve didn't provide specific details about rumored projects like a Steam Controller 2, VR headset, or a living room box, they did hint at the possibility of increased Steam Input compatible controller support in the future.
Conclusion
The future of SteamOS looks incredibly bright. With the imminent release of the SteamOS beta for other handhelds and the growing interest from hardware manufacturers, we are entering a new era of PC gaming on the go. This expansion of SteamOS will empower gamers with greater freedom and choice, allowing them to enjoy the power and versatility of SteamOS on a wider range of devices. As Valve continues to refine and expand SteamOS, the future of portable PC gaming looks more exciting than ever.
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