Upcoming Lenovo Legion Go Handhelds Teased to Launch on January 7 Along With Surprise Valve Walk-on

[GGforever]

It is no surprise that Lenovo is cooking up the next-generation of Legion Go consoles for launch next month. We have reported on a plethora of leaks surrounding both the affordable Legion Go S, and the Legion Go 2 handheld gaming consoles. Finally, it appears that there is some concrete information regarding their launch - Lenovo, in an email to The Verge, has confirmed new Legion handhelds are dropping next month. But that's not all - according to The Verge, the launch event will have a surprise guest.

Our readers who have been keeping tabs on the Legion Go 2 rumor cycle will recall that we recently reported on a leaked image of the upcoming Legion Go S which had an interesting detail - the handheld features a dedicated button for Steam. Now, of course, we're completely in the dark regarding what that button's presence entails. It is entirely possible that the button is simply for opening the Steam app, or, it could indicate that the Legion Go 2 might run SteamOS - we simply don't know yet.




However, as revealed by The Verge, the invitation for the launch event includes a rather special guest. SteamOS and Steam Deck co-designer, Pierre-Loup Griffais, will be attending the event along with several other AMD, Microsoft, and Valve employees. Unfortunately for us, though, no other details were shared. That said, considering the information at hand, a surprise partnership of sorts between Lenovo and Valve is undoubtedly far from inconceivable.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[Space Lynx]

I'm probably going to buy this if the price is around $649 max...

As long as it comes with SteamOS natively. I really hope ifixit will support this model, I doubt it, but one can hope.

 

[simlariver]

Why would Microsoft attend if Valve is attending ?

 

[Cheeseball]

Why would Microsoft attend if Valve is attending ?

Because one of those Legion Go 2s would run Windows and the other one would be on SteamOS.

Despite Gabe hating Windows, Microsoft has to accept that they need Steam since the majority of gamers use Steam on their OS.

 

[trsttte]

Why would Microsoft attend if Valve is attending ?

Support for SteamOS doesn't mean all users will prefer it. Even the SteamDeck also supports windows and it's easy to see Lenovo having to walk a tightrope between making a better product with SteamOS and not pissing off Microsoft about 99% of their products depend on.

 

[Scrizz]

Is it a surprise walk-on if we know about it?

 

[Chaitanya]

Would be interesting to get side by side gaming performance comparison between 2 OS's.

 

[Zubasa]

Because one of those Legion Go 2s would run Windows and the other one would be on SteamOS.

Despite Gabe hating Windows, Microsoft has to accept that they need Steam since the majority of gamers use Steam on their OS.

TBH, Microsoft doesn't care as much about Windows anymore, Azure it where its at for them.
So even if some gamers goes to SteamOS, at most Microsoft can just bring PC Game pass to SteamOS.
I am pretty sure they make more money on GamePass than Windows licences.

 

[The Quim Reaper]

Why would Microsoft attend if Valve is attending ?

Because only the cheaper variant is (rumoured) to be getting Steam OS.

The more expensive model, the follow up to the Legion Go, is said to be sticking with Windows...unfortunately.

 

[AcE]

Despite Gabe hating Windows

Did he say that or are you making that up?

 

[Cheeseball]

Did he say that or are you making that up?

Nah, he didn't say anything to that extent. He did say he hates closed ecosystems, which is what MS was (or still is?) trying to propagate.

 

[AcE]

Nah, he didn't say anything to that extent. He did say he hates closed ecosystems, which is what MS was (or still is?) trying to propagate.

Never forget how much money Valve earned through steam in windows. Using Linux in their handhelds is just a measure to lower cost and increase control and not a “anti Windows” thing. So thinking GabeN dislikes Windows is highly naive, I’m sorry.

 

[Cheeseball]

Never forget how much money Valve earned through steam in windows. Using Linux in their handhelds is just a measure to lower cost and increase control and not a “anti Windows” thing. So thinking GabeN dislikes Windows is highly naive, I’m sorry.

Who said that it was an anti-Windows thing for Valve? He said he doesn't like the closed ecosystems that Microsoft was trying to move forward with, which was one of the reasons why he wanted to keep the Steam Deck as an open platform (basically still a PC) as it gives choice for the user if for some reason they don't like SteamOS.

 

[HOkay]

I'm holding out hope for native dual boot! There's no reason they couldn't sell the handheld with Windows & SteamOS both pre-installed & the user can decide which to boot into. I'd personally like that as it gives me the best of both worlds. Alternatively SteamOS with a native Game Pass app would do me, but that seems less likely to happen.

 

[AcE]

Who said

You did.

Despite Gabe hating Windows

 

[Cheeseball]

You did.

And? This is just my assumption that he may hate/dislike Windows.

 

[AcE]

And? This is just my assumption that he may hate/dislike Windows.

Already answered this in #12, you're going in circles, buddy.

 

[Cheeseball]

Already answered this in #12, you're going in circles, buddy.

You’re the one fixated on what I said. LOL

I'm holding out hope for native dual boot! There's no reason they couldn't sell the handheld with Windows & SteamOS both pre-installed & the user can decide which to boot into. I'd personally like that as it gives me the best of both worlds. Alternatively SteamOS with a native Game Pass app would do me, but that seems less likely to happen.

The most likely plan is that the Go S has SteamOS and the Go 2 would be the successor of the previous model.

Microsoft should make a Game Pass app on *nix/Mac, but I don’t think they want to provide support on getting any of the offered games to run.

Also Lenovo would have to provide OEM support for both OS which is a headache logistics wise.

 

[evernessince]

I am pretty sure they make more money on GamePass than Windows licences.

Extremely unlikely. Game pass earned 5.62 billion and while direct windows revenue figures aren't available their personal computing division earned 54.7 billion in total.

TBH, Microsoft doesn't care as much about Windows anymore, Azure it where its at for them.
So even if some gamers goes to SteamOS, at most Microsoft can just bring PC Game pass to SteamOS.

The windows OS is pretty much a springboard for Microsoft's brand. It places windows apps front and center to the benefit of Microsoft, keeps people within Microsoft's eco-sytem, gives them immense power over deciding industry standards, gives Microsoft a board user base to bug test their OS, and pushes their brand.

As a result, loosing the gaming market to the steam deck would hurt much more than just the loss in licensing fees. To me this is kind of similar to people saying that Nvidia will abandon gaming. Giving up or loosing your bread and butter stable base market would be insane.

 

[trsttte]

Also Lenovo would have to provide OEM support for both OS which is a headache logistics wise.

The burden of support on an x86 platform is rather small, for windows they just republish what other hw manufacturers release (which is dumb but whatever), for linux they just need to be smart about component choices with stuff that's well supported.

 

[Cheeseball]

The burden of support on an x86 platform is rather small, for windows they just republish what other hw manufacturers release (which is dumb but whatever), for linux they just need to be smart about component choices with stuff that's well supported.

Ah yeah this is true nowadays. Basically providing drivers on the support site and have a standard customer service/technical support line/chat/email for hardware-related issues.

This may also compound why the Go S may use a Z2 (non-extreme) with a 680M, as Rembrandt is well-supported in SteamOS (or any of its derivatives like Bazzite).