Valve has been constructing as much as this for months, first in preview, then beta, and now lastly in a full steady launch: a brand new model of SteamOS that brings model new options to the Steam Deck and helps third-party handhelds like Lenovo’s Legion Go and Asus’s ROG Ally collection.
Till now, those that wished to attempt SteamOS on these Home windows handhelds may shoehorn the Steam Deck’s unique restoration picture onto their machine, or choose for the same expertise like Bazzite. However now, Valve explicitly provides instructions for getting that picture engaged on a Legion Go or ROG Ally, even because it warns that “assist for all gadgets that’s not formally ‘Powered by SteamOS’ just isn’t remaining.”
However even in case you don’t care about rival handhelds, SteamOS 3.7 has a lot of enhancements for the Steam Deck. I’ve been asking Valve to let me use my Bluetooth earbuds’ microphone since launch, and it’s lastly taking place in desktop mode (sadly not gaming mode but) because of HFP/HSP profiles. You’ll be able to flip in your Steam Deck LCD from throughout the room with a Bluetooth controller, a function beforehand unique to the OLED mannequin, which turns out to be useful if you’re docked to a TV.
Talking of leaving it docked, now you can set a Battery Cost Restrict to 80 % for longevity’s sake in case your handheld is at all times plugged in, you possibly can frame-limit variable refresh fee shows, and management the P-state frequency of sure AMD CPUs.
And, an updated SteamOS FAQ appears to recommend that Valve is able to increase SteamOS past Lenovo and the Steam Deck. “We’re presently working with choose companions on formally licensed Powered by SteamOS gadgets. Please attain out to us at poweredbysteamos@valvesoftware.com for extra details about licensing SteamOS to your machine,“ one reply reads.
However the business continues to be ready for Valve’s different shoe(s) to drop. Rumors are nonetheless heating up that we’re near the launch of Valve’s wi-fi VR headset “Deckard,” and that it may be pointing the best way in the direction of a SteamOS-powered lounge console too. Valve has been transferring gradual and regular, nevertheless it looks as if a grasp plan for Steam Machines may lastly be coming into focus.