Valve Releases SteamOS 3.6.19 with More Optimizations and Further Hints of SteamOS for Third-Party Handhelds

[AleksandarK]

Valve has rolled out a significant system update for Steam Deck, introducing substantial improvements across all models while delivering specialized enhancements for the OLED variant. The v3.6.19 update focuses on system stability, display quality, and overall performance optimization. Steam Deck OLED owners will particularly benefit from this update, which includes several display-specific improvements, including better color balance at low brightness levels and enhanced display uniformity. A previous memory leak issue affecting OLED units during gameplay has also been resolved, ensuring more stable long-term gaming sessions. The update brings the Linux kernel to version 6.5 and updates the graphics driver to Mesa 24.1, improving system performance and hardware compatibility. Users can expect better responsiveness from the Steam UI and enhanced performance during memory-intensive situations.

External display support has seen notable improvements, with fixes for various blank screen issues and better frame pacing with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) displays. Bluetooth connectivity has also been enhanced, with improved pairing for Apple AirPods and support for additional Bluetooth profiles. The Steam Deck Docking Station also receives attention, with new HDMI CEC features allowing for TV remote input, wake-up functionality, and input switching. The dock's firmware has been updated to improve compatibility with high-refresh-rate VRR displays. LCD model owners haven't been forgotten, with the update promising up to 10% better battery life during light usage and the addition of overclocking controls. Security improvements include fixes for Flatpak vulnerabilities and various system-level security enhancements.




Interestingly, Valve has extended input device support to include additional ROG Ally keys and new controllers like the ASUS ROG Raikiri Pro and Machenike G5 Pro, confirming that the company is planning a wide-scale SteamOS release for multiple handhelds sometimes in the future. PlayStation controller users will find a smoother experience with fixes addressing DualShock 4 and DualSense first-connection issue andh improved calibration for third-party DualShock 4 controllers. The update also enhances the Steam Deck's own capabilities by adding motion sensor support to the built-in non-Steam kernel driver and resolving scroll wheel input binding functionality.

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[Hyderz]

lovely update..

 

[AusWolf]

Nice. What about SteamOS for desktop? Has it been completely axed?

 

[AleksandarK]

Nice. What about SteamOS for desktop? Has it been completely axed?

Its a Linux distro, you could install it like a regular OS, but with more tweaks for user-specific setup. Valve pushes their optimizations upstream, so IIRC every gaming improvement for SteamOS goes to Proton/Wine/etc. Installing regular Arch Linux (now the base of SteamOS) is probably going to suit your needs better.

 

[AusWolf]

Its a Linux distro, you could install it like a regular OS, but with more tweaks for user-specific setup. Valve pushes their optimizations upstream, so IIRC every gaming improvement for SteamOS goes to Proton/Wine/etc. Installing regular Arch Linux (now the base of SteamOS) is probably going to suit your needs better.

I see, thanks. Is that why the download links for both the Steam Deck recovery image and SteamOS desktop installer point to the same file?

 

[AleksandarK]

I see, thanks. Is that why the download links for both the Steam Deck recovery image and SteamOS desktop installer point to the same file?

Yeah, and for official reasons, as Valve doesn't target the general availability of SteamOS now, only for the Deck. Anyways, its probably the best to try it in a virtual machine first

 

[AusWolf]

Yeah, and for official reasons, as Valve doesn't target the general availability of SteamOS now, only for the Deck. Anyways, its probably the best to try it in a virtual machine first

That's what I'll do, as I'm curious. Or even better, I've got some spare drives laying around, I'll sacrifice one for science. I've got high hopes with AMD (considering that the Steam Deck is all AMD, too).

 

[Alkibiades]

Nice. What about SteamOS for desktop? Has it been completely axed?

The closest to gaming focused linux distros would be NobaraOS (Fedora) or PikaOS (Ubuntu)

 

[doc7000]

When I finish my new rig I plan on converting my current one to Linux and I am considering the steam OS for it.

 

[wNotyarD]

The closest to gaming focused linux distros would be NobaraOS (Fedora) or PikaOS (Ubuntu)

There's Garuda (Arch-based) too.

 

[AusWolf]

The closest to gaming focused linux distros would be NobaraOS (Fedora) or PikaOS (Ubuntu)

PikaOS? Never heard of it. I've heard Manjaro is pretty good, too.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Its a Linux distro, you could install it like a regular OS, but with more tweaks for user-specific setup. Valve pushes their optimizations upstream, so IIRC every gaming improvement for SteamOS goes to Proton/Wine/etc. Installing regular Arch Linux (now the base of SteamOS) is probably going to suit your needs better.

Yes, and your Arch-based distros do seem to do much better than Ubuntu-based ones regarding Proton. It's a tad bit of a mystery, as as the games that do work under proton+ubuntu perform really well (as good as Windows, often), but I've ran into more games that won't launch vs an Arch-based distro. I use Manjaro with really good success.

If you want to try SteamOS, there's ChimeraOS, which pretty much is a SteamOS install, down to booting to Big Picture Mode by default, being AMD GPU only, and it even thinking you're on a Steam Deck by offering tips like pressing action buttons around your display that your monitor clearly doesn't have!

 

[Imouto]

Yes, and your Arch-based distros do seem to do much better than Ubuntu-based ones regarding Proton. It's a tad bit of a mystery, as as the games that do work under proton+ubuntu perform really well (as good as Windows, often), but I've ran into more games that won't launch vs an Arch-based distro. I use Manjaro with really good success.

If you want to try SteamOS, there's ChimeraOS, which pretty much is a SteamOS install, down to booting to Big Picture Mode by default, being AMD GPU only, and it even thinking you're on a Steam Deck by offering tips like pressing action buttons around your display that your monitor clearly doesn't have!

Because Ubuntu (and other Debian based distros like Mint) has old as hell repositories. Mainly drivers and kernel are usually really, really outdated.

Regarding distros to try if you are on a handheld I have to mention Bazzite with specific tweaks and fixes.

 

[windwhirl]

Debian

Personally I moved Debian from stable to sid channels, but if someone wants to use Steam and Proton on Debian, testing should do. It's fairly up-to-date and quite stable.

 

[Mindweaver]

Nice. What about SteamOS for desktop? Has it been completely axed?

Holoiso is a good option to try. I haven't tried it in awhile since I bought my Steamdeck.

EDIT: I just noticed it is EOL and no longer supported.. Nevermind

 

[Hoak]

Bazzite is SteamOS for PCs... And is probably both the easiest to configure SteamOS fork, and most performant for gaming on most hardware.

 

[Wasteland]

Bazite is SteamOS for PCs... And is probably both the easiest to configure SteamOS fork, and most performant for gaming on most hardware.

I don't think that's exactly true. Bazzite is built on Fedora Silverblue/Kinoite. SteamOS is Arch-based. Valve recently announced a partnership with the Arch team going forward, in fact.

From the end-user's perspective this probably isn't a meaningful distinction, and I wouldn't discourage anyone from using Bazzite, but it isn't synonymous with SteamOS.

 

[Hoak]

I don't think that's exactly true. Bazzite is built on Fedora Silverblue/Kinoite. SteamOS is Arch-based. Valve recently announced a partnership with the Arch team going forward, in fact.

From the end-user's perspective this probably isn't a meaningful distinction, and I wouldn't discourage anyone from using Bazzite, but it isn't synonymous with SteamOS.

Actually for the vast majority of Gamers it literally is synonymous with SteamOS: same Steam Interface to their games and hardware, same KDE Desktop if they switch to Desktop Mode, same render subsystems for rendering games, access to the same repos and tools, but a lot more. Granted it's built on a different distro than SteamOS, to make supporting a wider range of hardware more efficient and easy for the User -- but saying 'it isn't synonymous with SteamOS:' is like saying 'it isn't Linux'... If you were arguing that it's not technically a fork of the Arch distro, that would be technically correct, but excluding the kernel I'd bet there's more lines of Valve, and SteamOS Contributor code in Bazzite than original Fedora code...

 

[Wasteland]

Actually for the vast majority of Gamers it is literally synonymous with SteamOS: same Steam Interface to their games and hardware, same KDE Desktop if they switch to Desktop Mode, same render subsystems for rendering games, access to the same repos and tools, but a lot more. Granted it's built on a different distro than SteamOS, to make supporting a wider range of hardware a more effective and easy for the User -- but saying 'it isn't synonymous with SteamOS:' is like saying it isn't Linux...

You know what? You're right. I was too literal in reading your post. Just didn't want newbies to feel like they should install Bazzite because it's a Valve product. Other than that, it looks great.