With the announcement of the Lenovo Legion Go S handheld gaming PC, the gears are nicely and really turning. Revealed to be the primary formally licensed third-party machine to be operating Valve’s Linux-based OS, we lastly have extra particulars about what to anticipate from the way forward for SteamOS—mainly, Valve is opening the floodgates.
In a current information submit, Valve introduced that SteamOS will develop “past Steam Deck,” with a beta model of the working system turning into accessible for customers to obtain forward of Lenovo’s handheld transport. Considering the Legion Go S is slated for a May launch, that beta could possibly be even nearer than we expect. At any fee, it has been a very long time coming.
Valve says it hopes this soon-to-be-more-widely-available beta model will “enhance the expertise on different handhelds,” with the corporate persevering with work to increase SteamOS assist. Gaming On Linux famous a slight edit that modified ‘gadgets’ to ‘handhelds,’ suggesting an try by Valve to handle expectations; in the intervening time, it could seem that official assist for operating SteamOS in your precise desktop is a risk that continues to be misplaced to the mists.
We bought an inkling extra not too long ago that SteamOS was in attain for non-Deck handhelds again in August when assist for the ROG Ally handheld’s keys was detailed in a Beta replace. Refined wording of SteamOS’ model tips just a few months later strengthened the idea—seems we weren’t simply blowing smoke!
Groaners apart, it appears extremely possible that each SteamOS and by extension, the Steam Deck itself will proceed to win folks over. Versatility is the identify of the hand-held recreation; regardless that SteamOS is Linux-based, Valve’s Proton compatibility layer ensures video games made for Windows work on Steam Deck, so growth studios do not even have to fret about making a Linux port.
Furthermore, SteamOS’ desktop mode on Valve’s personal handheld affords loads of room to tinker and customise your machine. This signifies that even on the Steam Deck itself, you are not locked into solely enjoying on Steam and might set up competitor purchasers to your coronary heart’s content material. For one other instance, downloads over desktop mode had been additionally what number of turned their Steam Decks into stream decks—inelegantly to start with, although devoted apps like Nvidia’s GeForce Now make recreation streaming even breezier.
For these causes and extra, we nonetheless fee Valve’s authentic handheld. But with the Steam Deck 2 nonetheless a methods off, it actually does not damage to see just a few extra SteamOS-compatible choices on the horizon.
