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Valve's SteamOS Expansion: Third-Party Handhelds and PC Gaming's Portable Future

Valve’s SteamOS Expansion: Third-Party Handhelds and PC Gaming’s Portable Future

Valve Sets Sights on SteamOS Expansion Beyond Steam Deck in 2025

Valve Corporation has announced plans to expand its SteamOS beyond the popular Steam Deck handheld, with a target launch date set for 2025. In a significant move for the gaming industry, Lenovo is slated to release the first third-party SteamOS handheld device this May, marking a new era for the operating system’s reach.

While the full rollout is still on the horizon, Valve has indicated that it will allow earlier installation of SteamOS on other handheld devices. A beta release is expected after March, potentially enabling the operating system to function on a variety of handheld gaming devices. This move builds on Valve’s previous support for Asus ROG Ally controls and the success of Bazzite, a community-driven fork of the Steam Deck experience, on the Lenovo Legion Go.

Valve has acknowledged Bazzite as a valuable community project but clarified that it is not yet ready for hardware preloading. The company emphasized that manufacturers must partner directly with Valve to sell or modify SteamOS, underlining their commitment to maintaining a unified platform.

The importance of this unified approach is evident in Valve’s strategy for the Lenovo Legion Go S, which will utilize the same SteamOS image as the Steam Deck. This consistency is crucial for ensuring seamless updates and compatibility across devices. Valve has outlined specific partnership criteria, including the ability to provide firmware updates and standardized access to system features.

Currently, Lenovo stands as the sole official partner in this SteamOS collaboration. Valve has refuted claims of an official partnership with GPD, despite rumors to the contrary. The upcoming beta release is expected to enhance the user experience on non-Steam Deck devices, with Valve expressing openness to expanding SteamOS to living room gaming boxes, provided there is interest from potential partners.

As the gaming community eagerly anticipates these developments, Valve has remained tight-lipped about rumors surrounding a potential Steam Controller 2 and a new VR headset. However, the company has hinted at the possibility of more Steam Input compatible controllers in the future, suggesting ongoing innovation in gaming peripherals.

This expansion of SteamOS represents a significant step in Valve’s strategy to create a more unified and accessible gaming ecosystem across various hardware platforms. As 2025 approaches, the gaming industry watches with keen interest to see how this move will reshape the landscape of PC gaming on handheld and other devices.