In brief: One of the key advantages of the Steam Deck over other more powerful handheld gaming PCs is its operating system, which mimics a game console interface while running within a Linux PC environment. Valve has long planned to make this OS available on other devices, and the latest Steam Deck software update hints at the first mention of a rival handheld.
Speculation is rising that Valve might release its well-regarded Linux build for third-party hardware, following a mention in this week’s Steam Deck firmware patch notes. This move could significantly impact the burgeoning PC handheld market.
The SteamOS 3.6.9 beta notes primarily include bug fixes and additional external controller support. However, a line at the end confirms firmware support for “extra ROG Ally keys,” possibly referring to the buttons on the Asus ROG Ally handheld PC.
This development aligns with Valve’s earlier comments on extending SteamOS to a broader range of systems. Last year, Valve expressed to PC Gamer that releasing a general SteamOS version is a high priority, targeting first other handhelds and PCs using gamepads, before making it available for all PCs.
Rival handhelds such as the ROG Ally, MSI Claw, Lenovo Legion Go, Ayaneo, and GPD Win all utilize Windows, which supports more software than SteamOS. However, Windows, built for large screens and keyboards, can be cumbersome on small devices with gamepad-only controls. Offering SteamOS for a variety of portable PCs could significantly enhance the user experience.
Valve’s Lawrence Yang explained that the project resources were diverted to work on the Steam Deck OLED, highlighting that Valve’s teams and employee count are not large. Driver optimization remains the main challenge. Many games run well on the Steam Deck because Valve optimizes SteamOS graphics drivers and shaders for a known, static hardware configuration. Incorporating devices from other manufacturers would add complexity.
Hobbyists have developed SteamOS clones like Bazzite and HoloISO that can run on various hardware, although the complicated installation process conflicts with a handheld PC’s pick-up-and-play ethos.
Additionally, HoloISO doesn’t officially support Nvidia GPUs. Allowing OEMs like Asus to ship devices with SteamOS preinstalled could expedite the wider adoption of Valve’s software.
