Valve’s SteamOS, the operating system powering the Steam Deck, is poised for a significant expansion beyond its initial hardware confines in 2025. While conceived as a platform-agnostic OS, its reach has been limited. This year marks a turning point, with Lenovo launching the first third-party SteamOS handheld, the Legion Go S, in May, and Valve enabling SteamOS installation on other handhelds even sooner. A beta version for these devices is slated for release sometime after March, potentially bringing immediate compatibility to some existing handheld PCs. This expansion signals Valve’s ambition to establish SteamOS as the dominant gaming OS on handheld devices.
Speculation surrounds which handhelds will gain initial compatibility, with strong candidates including the Asus ROG Ally, given Valve’s prior confirmation of control support. Furthermore, the success of Bazzite, a community-driven fork of SteamOS optimized for devices like the Ally and Lenovo Legion Go, suggests a ripe ecosystem for broader SteamOS adoption. Valve acknowledges Bazzite’s value as a testing ground for new features and a demonstration of user demand for SteamOS on other hardware. While community projects like Bazzite provide an early glimpse of SteamOS’s potential on various devices, Valve maintains a distinction between community tinkering and official support. Formal partnerships with hardware manufacturers are necessary for pre-loading SteamOS on commercial devices, ensuring a consistent and optimized user experience.
Valve’s approach to external SteamOS adoption is driven by a desire to maintain platform integrity and avoid fragmentation. By partnering with manufacturers like Lenovo, Valve ensures the same SteamOS image, including software updates and performance-enhancing features like precached shaders, is deployed across devices. This unified approach guarantees a consistent user experience and simplifies ongoing development and support. While encouraging community experimentation, Valve emphasizes the importance of official partnerships for pre-installed SteamOS. This strategy maintains a standardized software environment, facilitating smoother updates, and ensuring compatibility with Valve’s ecosystem features.
While Lenovo is currently the sole official SteamOS partner, Valve remains open to collaborations with other hardware manufacturers. They are actively seeking partners committed to firmware updates, boot manager accessibility, and BIOS integration within a semi-standardized framework. This approach prioritizes a consistent user experience and facilitates seamless integration with Valve’s services. Despite speculation, Valve has clarified that they are not currently collaborating with GPD on official SteamOS support. However, the company has hinted at the possibility of broader compatibility, suggesting that various Windows handhelds might run SteamOS effectively.
The potential of SteamOS extends beyond handheld devices. Valve is open to exploring other form factors, including living room boxes, and invites partnerships for pre-loaded SteamOS on such devices. While remaining tight-lipped about rumored hardware developments, including a potential Steam Controller 2 and a VR headset, Valve hints at the arrival of more Steam Input compatible controllers in the future. The implication is clear: Valve envisions a future where SteamOS transcends the handheld market, extending its reach into the living room and potentially even virtual reality.
The future of SteamOS hinges on striking a balance between community-driven experimentation and official partnerships. While Valve acknowledges the value of community projects like Bazzite in testing and refining SteamOS across various devices, it emphasizes the importance of official partnerships with hardware manufacturers. These collaborations ensure consistent software updates, standardized access to system features, and seamless integration with Valve’s ecosystem. This dual-pronged approach allows Valve to leverage community innovation while maintaining control over the platform’s integrity and user experience. By fostering this balance, Valve aims to establish SteamOS as a versatile and ubiquitous gaming OS, capable of powering a diverse range of devices, from handhelds to living room consoles and beyond.
