The Anticipation for SteamOS on Other Handhelds
The community’s anticipation for Valve’s SteamOS to be available on handheld gaming devices besides the company’s own Steam Deck is growing. Last week, there was a hint suggesting the operating system’s impending release for ASUS’s ROG Ally handheld. However, after speaking with Valve designer Lawrence Yang, it’s clear that the release is not yet on the horizon.
Current Development Status
In response to questions about a new entry in the SteamOS release notes reading “added support for extra ROG Ally keys,” Yang indicated to PC Gamer: “SteamOS isn’t ready to run out of the box on other handhelds yet, but we’re continuing to work on adding support.” This statement underscores that while development is ongoing, the release of SteamOS for third-party handhelds is not imminent.
A History of Delays
The wait for SteamOS has been protracted. The original Steam Deck launched over two years ago in February 2022, with Valve promising a standalone version of SteamOS soon afterward. When the revised Steam Deck OLED was released last year, Valve confirmed that their focus was on adapting SteamOS for other handhelds, not a general release for x86 PCs or laptops. Yet, here we are in mid-2024, and there is still no substantial update on the release.
Valve’s Perspective
From Valve’s perspective, there may not be a pressing need to release SteamOS for competing handhelds or as a general build for wider compatibility. SteamOS serves as a significant unique selling point (USP) for the Steam Deck. While broader availability is highly desired by the community, the incentives for Valve may not be straightforward. Consequently, while limited third-party support is trickling into beta releases, a fully-fledged SteamOS release for other devices remains uncertain.
