Valve begins the war on handheld Windows with a SteamOS general release

The storm clouds have been brewing in the handheld scene for some time. For a while, it seemed like Windows 11 handhelds had it pretty safe with SteamOS's limited availability, even if people tried to get it running on their systems through unsupported means. However, Valve has said time and time again that it's open to allowing third-party devices to run SteamOS, and there were whispers of the company working away to make it a reality. Now, Valve is ready to bring SteamOS to all handhelds with a new update.

Exceptional performance in a compact package

As announced on the Steam website, Valve has released the SteamOS 3.7.0 Preview for all testers to try. There is a slew of interesting features here, including an update to Linux 6.11 and precautions to prevent Bluetooth devices from waking up the Steam Deck even if they're disabled.

However, the highlight (at least, for me) is a note that simply reads "Beginnings of support for non-Steam Deck handhelds." We knew something was coming, and we did see an ominous hint posted a little while ago about a bigger release, but now we have official confirmation that Valve is beginning its rollout of SteamOS to all devices.

If you're unsure what the hype is about, check out why SteamOS is better than Windows on gaming handhelds. If you'd like a counter argument to that topic, try these reasons why some don’t want their Windows gaming handhelds to run SteamOS. Otherwise, you can take a peep at the SteamOS 3.7.0 Preview full patch notes below.

General

Controllers and Input

Bluetooth

Steam Deck Dock

Graphics and Performance

Desktop

Misc

Known Issues

Developer

We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.

Your comment has not been saved

If they could give us a stable desktop OS that also supports game development, I'd leave Windows immediately. Give us a dedicated gaming OS for play and dev Valve.

Except for a few anti-cheat games, and the Steam Deck UI, everything else is easy to replicate on most popular Linux distributions. If you are capable of game development, you should be more than capable of making the required changes to almost any Linux distribution.

The problem with all the comments is that its filled with people who want to spend hours with janky Linux distributions tweaking with games to get them to work. Your average person wants their handheld to work just like a console .. it boots up and works everything with zero adjustments to game settings.

My biggest issue with my last steam deck was compatibility and power. Offering steamos for windows handhelds like the ally would help in the power side, but I still run into not being able to play half the games I want to play (due to launchers, software anticheat, etc.).

But offering a general image to use on PCs would be great for folks who only play steam games. That's not what valve is saying however, they are saying they are open to offering images for specific devices.

For your aging Ally, look into dual booting Bazzite, a Steam OS like experience or Chimera OS.

I have the Lenovo Legion go and I absolutely love it the Windows operating system works just fine I even use it as a desktop for the moment because I don't have a functional Tower. it's powerful enough to run most of the games that are out right now and honestly the leg up it has over the steam deck for me is the way that the system itself is weighted. The steam deck feels very top-heavy while the legion go has its weight evenly distributed also have you seen the kickstand on the legion go it is formidable. Couple that with the larger screen and better resolution as well as better processing power and the detachable controllers there's already a system running a Windows OS that blew the steam deck out of the water in my personal opinion.

I own both the Steam Deck and the Legion Go. And I believe you may be missing the point of this article. Sure the legion Go beats the Steam Deck in technology, but ... I personally couldn't say the Windows experience with Legion Space has been a good experience.

The lack luster experience of Windows 11 coupled with Legion Space drove me to dual boot Bazzite (Steam OS like experience) a couple of years ago. Now I couldn't be happier with my Legion Go.

Having Steam OS on any PC Gaming Handheld alongside Windows is the sweet spot, regardless of the hardware experience

Honestly I figure most of us just want a general PC release. Even if it's half functional and only fully supports amd hardware. Just something we feel secure in logging in out steam credentials into verses some random linux distro from some random group.

I have a steam deck, it's fantastic. But I like many want my main machine not running windows and just as functional as my steam deck. So at this point any type of alpha PC steamos release would be exceptable by most.

What do you even mean by some random groups? Random Linux distro?

But can it print?

I'm still unable to get CUPS working. All the walkthroughs I've found say something like "it stopped working after a certain update."

On the 2-4 times per year I've had to print something, I just print to a PDF, then send it to my phone over Google Drive.

How do I get that Minecraft?

Download GDLauncher with a browser. Let it manage your Minecraft versioning.

This is great!! However, as a user of Bazzite dual booted with Windows 11 on my Legion Go, I can't fathom a reason to switch if Steam OS becomes a reality for all Windows handleds.

While I also own a Steam Deck that dual boots Windows 10, it appears the sweet spot of PC gaming handhelds is a striped down version of WinOS and a Linux OS dedicated to gaming (Chimera OS, Nobara, Bazzite, or steam OS).

Steam os only exists to keep other stores out.

I got rid of janky linux and now i can run whatever i want

No it exists to keep microsoft out

Shows what you know. You can play anything on SteamOS. My brother plays world of warcraft with his Steamdeck.

Yeah, those other stores are just so awesome... I really feel like I am missing out...

I've been using Arch for over a year. Great gaming OS.

No, it's really not lol. Don't be in here trying to convince people to run Arch to game, come on

Here are a few tricks you (probably) haven't heard of.

Don't settle for the default Steam Deck UI.

SimpleDeckyTDP is a plugin that every Steam Deck owner should have installed.

Raspberry Pis are more useful than I gave them credit for.

If you've got a Raspberry Pi and a bit of spare cash, these inexpensive projects will bring some magic into your home

These lesser-known products help you manage your finances or avoid paid software.