Valve has been constructing as much as this for months, first in preview, then beta, and now lastly in a full secure 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 sequence.
Till now, those that wished to strive SteamOS on these Home windows handhelds might shoehorn the Steam Deck’s unique restoration picture onto their machine, or opt for a similar experience 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 “help for all gadgets that isn’t formally ‘Powered by SteamOS’ just isn’t ultimate.”
However even if you happen to 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 occurring in desktop mode (sadly not gaming mode but) due to HFP/HSP profiles. You possibly can flip in your Steam Deck LCD from throughout the room with a Bluetooth controller, a function beforehand unique to the OLED mannequin, which is useful whenever 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’ll be able to frame-limit variable refresh charge shows, and management the P-state frequency of sure AMD CPUs.
And, an updated SteamOS FAQ appears to counsel that Valve is able to increase SteamOS past Lenovo and the Steam Deck. “We’re at the moment 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 trade 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 front room console too. Valve has been shifting gradual and regular, however it looks like a master plan for Steam Machines could finally be coming into focus.