We are inching closer to Valve releasing an official, unmodified version of SteamOS for third-party handhelds and PCs, a significant push to broaden its gaming ecosystem beyond the Steam Deck. While the final build remains pending, tech reviewer The Phawx recently showcased an unofficial SteamOS 3.8 installation on the ASUS ROG Ally (2023), offering a glimpse into its current capabilities—and limitations. Running on Ally's Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip, SteamOS already delivers solid performance in titles like Batman: Arkham Knight (73.3 FPS) and Horizon Zero Dawn (55.9 FPS) at 720p. However, challenges persist: hardware-specific features like Ally's VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) work, but its TDP controls and dedicated buttons remain non-functional. In Cyberpunk 2077, the Steam Deck narrowly outperformed the Ally (47.8 vs. 45.8 FPS), a result attributed to Valve's bespoke optimizations for its own hardware. The lack of TDP adjustment also led to inefficiencies, with some games defaulting to 20 W power draws.

Valve's upcoming "Powered by SteamOS" branding initiative aims to standardize third-party integrations, requiring partners to use official system images and launch directly into SteamOS. Early collaborations, like Lenovo's CES-announced Legion Go S, also contribute to this goal. Meanwhile, updates like SteamOS 3.6.19 have expanded support for devices such as the ROG Ally and third-party controllers, suggesting broader compatibility ahead. Valve's expansion could position SteamOS as a rival to Windows in the portable PC space, leveraging its gaming-first interface and growing developer support. While The Phawx's demo has shown SteamOS's potential, Valve's official release—expected to resolve current hardware quirks—will determine its viability for partners. As competition heats up, SteamOS's success may hinge on balancing open accessibility with the tailored optimizations that made the Steam Deck a hit. Further software tweaks will bring ecosystem stability and improved performance, and we expect Valve's partners to join and develop better integration with SteamOS, too.

Hackers successfully cracked the Linux version of Sid Meier's Civilization VII four days before its scheduled February 11 release. The compromise stems from the Linux build's DRM-free architecture, which contrasts its Windows counterpart's Denuvo anti-tampering protection. The cracked version, identified under the signature "Linux-Razor1911," has proliferated across multiple file-sharing networks and torrents, presenting immediate challenges for publisher 2K and developer Firaxis Games. The straightforward exploitation process utilizes standard Linux mounting protocols and executable script deployment. While the crack enables immediate access to the base game, circumventing official distribution channels could compromise essential network features and post-launch stability patches.

The persistent vulnerability of DRM-free releases on alternative operating systems potentially influences future platform support strategies among major publishers. Widespread pre-release piracy could significantly impact initial sales figures and threaten future native Linux port development. Firaxis Games and 2K, game publishers, are presumably investigating the crack, though the DRM-free nature of the Linux release limits their immediate response options. As the official launch approaches, this incident shows the ongoing challenge of balancing platform-specific security measures with maintaining broad operating system support in modern game development. While the SteamOS and Linux community represent a significantly smaller market than Windows gamers, it still has a noticeable impact on publishers relying on sales from all compatible platforms.

With Lenovo's announcement at CES 2025 of the Lenovo Legion Go S, we are pleased to share that their "Powered by SteamOS" model is the first handheld officially licensed to ship with Valve's SteamOS. We built this operating system to provide a seamless user experience optimized for gaming, while retaining access to the power and flexibility of a PC. SteamOS is the same operating system we run on Steam Deck, and the team is making updates to ensure it fully supports the Lenovo Legion Go S and provides the same seamless experience customers expect.

In addition, the same work that we are doing to support the Lenovo Legion Go S will improve compatibility with other handhelds. Ahead of Legion Go S shipping, we will be shipping a beta of SteamOS which should improve the experience on other handhelds, and users can download and test this themselves. And of course we'll continue adding support and improving the experience with future releases.

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.

At this point, it's basically taken for granted that Lenovo will be launching its cut-down Legion Go S gaming handheld at CES 2025, and a fresh leak from Evan Blass via The Verge points to another Legion Go handheld—a direct replacement for the current-generation Go—launching alongside the Go S. While the Go S will supposedly be powered by the less powerful AMD Ryzen Z2G and its Radeon 680M iGPU, the full-fat Legion Go 2 will likely use a more powerful processor and iGPU, suggesting that a Ryzen Z2 Extreme SoC is on the way.

Perhaps the most compelling thing about the new Legion Go handheld, though is that it will reportedly feature an OLED display. Despite the new display tech, though, the Legion Go 2 will supposedly have the same display size, detachable controllers, and FPS mode, although the images shared by Blass show significantly rounder controller edges, which should make the chunky handheld less cumbersome to hold. The leaks make no mention of SteamOS or a Steam button for the Legion Go 2, suggesting that it will still be a Windows-first gaming handheld, and the Legion Space button is still present on the face of the Legion Go 2 featured in the leaks.

We have already witnessed a multitude of rumors surrounding the Legion Go S gaming handheld. The product is expected to boast an AMD Ryzen Z2 chip, which, unfortunately, will be based on the older Zen 3+ architecture and features a Radeon 680M iGPU. The system will include 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory, and an 8-inch, 1200p IPS display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. As for pricing, the Legion Go S is expected to cost around €600, and most likely cheaper outside of Europe, putting it in the ballpark of the Steam Deck OLED. Now, leaker Evan Blass has shared a few more images of the device, further revealing a few more details.

Firstly, the image reveals the colorways that the Legion Go S will be available in: black and white. Interestingly, the image also reveals what appears to be a button that is dedicated for Steam, which, so far, we have only seen in the Steam Deck. As VideoCardz notes, there is no concrete information at the moment regarding the purpose of the button. It is possible that the Legion Go S might run SteamOS, although the button might also exist to simply open up Steam. Unfortunately, the leak gives us no further information regarding the product. The Legion Go S is expected to see the light of day at CES 2025, which, luckily for us, happens to be just around the corner.

Valve's headquarters is cooking something big, as the company has unveiled new branding guidelines for "Powered by SteamOS" as it prepares to expand SteamOS support for third-party handhelds and PCs. The branding guidelines include various cases. First in line is for games, which can carry a "Steam" logotype, showing that the game is available and runs on Steam. Next up is the "Steam Included" logo, which officially certifies that a hardware product comes with the Steam client pre-installed. To display this logo, manufacturers must comply with Valve's Steam Client Distribution Agreement and integrate the Steam client in its approved form—either as a bootloader or fully compiled software. What we are most interested in is the "Powered by SteamOS" logo, which certifies that a hardware device runs SteamOS as its primary operating system and launches directly into SteamOS when powered on, requiring hardware manufacturers and partners to use the official Steam system image either provided directly by Valve or developed in close partnership with Valve.

The "Steam Compatible" logo certifies that a third-party input peripheral has been reviewed by Valve and meets their established compatibility criteria for use with Steam on PCs, with manufacturers receiving licensing rights after Valve's verification of the device's implementation. Finally, the "Steam Play Here" logo identifies brick-and-mortar establishments with access to Steam games through the Steam PC Café Server, including commercial PC cafés, university computer labs, libraries, and trade shows, allowing these locations to promote their Steam gaming capabilities through window displays and interior signage, with all participating venues required to operate under the official Steam PC Café system guidelines.

Steam's monthly hardware and software surveys provide a decent picture of what hardware and software gamers rely on to play their favorite games—at least those on Valve's game platform. Since the launch of Windows 11, it has been a somewhat reliable way to track the adoption of the new Windows version, and, as the official cut-off for Windows 10 support draws near, one would expect Windows 11 to pick up steam, especially among gamers, where Windows is the dominant OS. The results of the November Steam Survey are in, and while not much has changed on the hardware front, it seems like Microsoft is indeed wearing gamers down when it comes to Windows 11 adoption. Despite seeing a decent uptick in Windows 11 installations, the overall Windows market share dropped, even if almost imperceptibly, while Linux and macOS both saw a slight uptick in adoption among Steam gamers. As expected, Windows remained the dominant platform for gamers, but Windows 11, specifically, saw growth of 4.18%, while Windows 10 lost 4.15%, which is almost an exact 1:1 match, indicating that gamers are largely staying on Windows when they finally decide to move on from Windows 10. Overall, Windows lost 0.05% market share, compared to Linux, which gained 0.03% and macOS, which grew by 0.02%.

Valve's SteamOS Holo was the most popular Linux version in the survey, but it, too, slid by 0.28%. Of course, the hardware split for Linux is representative of the software side of things, which is to say: It's mostly just Steam Decks. As expected, most of the video cards and CPUs in the Linux results were AMD GPUs, with well over 36% of the sampled Linux gamers using AMD GPUs, even disregarding the obvious bias introduced by the AMD-powered Steam Deck hardware. The most popular NVIDIA GPU on Linux systems running Steam is currently the GeForce RTX 3060, at a mere 1.46% of the market share. Meanwhile, on Windows side, 5.03% of gamers are using the GTX 3060, with the next most popular GPU being the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, at 4.92%.

Popular gaming hardware content creator, ETA PRIME, yesterday teased that his ASUS ROG Ally preview unit was seemingly running Valve's Steam Deck operating system - the short YouTube video provided a glimpse of basic UI functionality as well as in-game performance (Forza Horizon 5). He promised that a full video was incoming, thus providing a full explanation of his modification process and a more in-depth exploration of more games running on the formerly Windows 11-based example. ETA PRIME has delivered on his earlier pledge - the first look/early impressions video was released only a few hours ago (at the time of writing). He reveals that his test platform ROG Ally is not running on Valve's Steam OS.

He has resorted to installing a gaming-focused Linux distro called Chimera OS - he notes that the similar HoloISO platform was not booting up on his handheld unit. On-board audio is reported to be non-functional - the Ally is connected to an external USB-C hub that outputs sound via the in-built 3.5 mm jack. Wi-Fi performance is reported to be inconsistent, ETA PRIME says that he has to reset the system in order to re-establish online connectivity. He was largely impressed with the Ally's gaming performance in a Linux-based environment, but prefers the Steam Deck's power efficiency. He will look into lowering the Ally's TDP, but there is no sure-fire way of making optimizations within the Chimera OS test build.

The Steam Deck is a hit with enthusiasts who require a gaming fix on the move, and Valve has observed its handheld getting revamped heavily by the modification community - but a new adaptation takes the pint-sized PC onto the real battlefield. The GamingOnLinux site yesterday picked up on emerging details from the Ukraine frontline - TDF Media group has shared photos and videos of an automated gun turret system dubbed "Saber" that can be operated remotely. The Steam Deck has somehow become the preferred control method - its on-screen UI, trackpads, analog sticks and button layout factor into the gun turret's operation. A reader has informed me that Valve's hardware is not officially available for sale in the region, so the military must be sourcing units from a grey/dark market source.

Sergey Mohov, lead gameplay designer at Remedy Entertainment, reposted some of TDF Media's photos on his Twitter account earlier this week, and added that "this automatic turret is the best use of Steam Deck I've seen so far." The Territorial Defense Force organization has described the turret (translated) thusly: "Saber is a Ukrainian automated remote-controlled gun turret designed for stationary installation on static objects or moving vehicles. The Saber system's co-ordination is done via a remote control, camera and monitor - which allows combat from up to 500 m from the rig, while preserving the operator's life. This combat platform can be installed in a stationary (capacity) at checkpoints, border and other zones - it is even able to defeat low-flying enemy drones. The platform is flexible enough to accommodate any light anti-infantry or anti-tank weapon weapon - a good example being a Kalashnikov machine gun."

AYANEO have recently announced the Air Plus handheld gaming console featuring the new Mendocino processor from AMD with an expected retail price of 289 USD. The Mendocino processor features the same Zen 2 and RDNA 2 cores found in the Steam Deck however the exact configuration and performance figures are currently unknown with rumors suggested that the processor will only include 2 Compute Units. The AYANEO Air Plus can run the Linux-based AYA Neo OS, Windows, or Steam OS and features a 6" 1080p display in addition to a M.2 2280 expansion slot. The console will retail for 289 USD undercutting the Steam Deck by 60 USD while a limited early run of units will be available for 200 USD later this year.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the ROG GR6 ultra-compact desktop, a console-inspired 2.5-liter PC with supreme gaming performance. GR6 is powered by a 5th-generation Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M graphics for Full HD gaming. It features 8GB of DDR3L memory (upgradable to 16GB), and hard disk or solid state drives (SSD). GR6 also has built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi and comes pre-installed with Windows 8.1. GR6 features a matte-black finish, Mayan-inspired detailing, and a pulsing ROG logo. It is ideal for gaming in the living room or bedroom, and is portable enough to take to LAN parties.

There are very few instances where one product category can leap frog over to another and make a profound impact. Today, iBUYPOWER, makes one such leap. Introducing the iBUYPOWER SBX Entertainment System, an ultra-simplified system designed to do one thing: entertain. Melding together the simplicity of a traditional game console, but harnessing power usually available to only high-end desktop PCs, iBUYPOWER is able to usher in both performance and content unheard of in the living room space.

Designed in Los Angeles, iBUYPOWER labored to create a highly tuned and optimized system that would deliver a sustainable 60 frames-per second gaming experience at true high-definition resolutions. Powered by a high-performance AMD multi-core processor paired with the latest Radeon HD graphics technology from AMD, customers will be able to jump a full generation ahead of the latest game consoles.

COUGAR will be launching a new line of products tailored to the eSports gaming peripherals market at the COMPUTEX 2014 trade show in Taiwan at the Nangang Exhibition Hall, Booth #J0624, June 3rd through the 7th. In addition to this, there will be new power supply and case products announced as well. 2014 was a year of innovation at COUGAR. At Computex, with the launch of many new products, COUGAR will be showing products that reflect an accumulation of more technological experience, which has grown more sophisticated and more mature in quality. COUGAR is launching series of gaming eSports products and aims to be one of the top brands of eSports gaming product going forward.

For the next generation of upcoming power supplies, COUGAR will be launching a digital and budget bronze power supply. The power supply will no longer just be a cold metal box. The digital features of the PSU will allow for the interaction between users and the product. Gamers will instantly be able to monitor power data in real time such as efficiency, output status of consumption, voltage and electric current as well as the temperature of each PC component.

Linux fans could soon cross the biggest checkbox on their lists, which reads "can it run Crysis?" Game developer Crytek is poised to reveal a variant of CryEngine 3 with native support for Linux, at GDC 2014, slated for next week. The move should pave the way for Linux (catalyzed by Steam OS) ports of games such as Crysis 3 and Nexuiz. It remains to be seen how its publisher EA handles the development.

While Nexuiz developer IllFonic won't have problems distributing their game over Steam, perhaps even with SteamPlay support, Crytek has to deal with EA. Crysis 3 is distributed over EA's Origin platform, and the publisher has no concrete plans for an Origin client for Linux. So what's the big hurry in porting CryEngine 3 to Linux? Perhaps Crytek's other, non-gaming clients hold the answer. CryEngine 3 powers "serious games," military combat simulators, civil aviation simulators, etc. Of these, the military would want to run simulators on open-source operating systems (so it could scrutinize the code). It could hence help Crytek to have a Linux version of CryEngine 3.

ZOTAC International, a global innovator and manufacturer of graphics cards, mainboards and mini-PCs, today previews the upcoming ZBOX Steam Machine mini-PC with Steam OS at The Consumer Electronics Show 2014 in Las Vegas, Nev. The ZOTAC ZBOX Steam Machine is engineered from the ground up for breathtaking gaming performance in a compact mini-PC form factor that's a fraction the size of traditional mini-ITX based gaming systems.

"ZOTAC is pleased to work with Valve Software to create the ZBOX Steam Machine. Valve's SteamOS is a game-changer to the PC gaming market that enables us to deliver a game console experience that's superior to the latest next-generation console," said Carsten Berger, senior director, ZOTAC International. "Gamers can expect the latest Intel Core processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX graphics processor in the upcoming ZOTAC ZBOX Steam Machine for stunning visuals and world-class features."

There are very few instances where one product category can leap frog over to another and make a profound impact. Today, iBUYPOWER, together with Valve, is making one such leap. Introducing the iBUYPOWER SBX Steam machine, an ultra-simplified system designed to do one thing: entertain. Melding together the simplicity of a traditional game console, but harnessing power usually available to only high-end desktop PCs, iBUYPOWER is able to usher in both performance and content unheard of in the living room space.

Designed in Los Angeles, iBUYPOWER labored to create a highly tuned and optimized system that would deliver a sustainable 60 frames-per second gaming experience at true high-definition resolutions. Powered by multi-core processors in both AMD and Intel flavors and paired with the latest in graphics technology from AMD, customers will be able to jump a full generation ahead of the latest game consoles.

MAINGEAR, an award-winning PC system builder offering custom desktops, notebooks, and workstations is announcing their Steambox solution with the new SPARK as the perfect performance small form factor PC solution for gamers and PC enthusiasts alike. It boasts top tier hardware such as AMD A8 and AMD Radeon R9 graphics with plenty of storage in its thin and streamline design.

Size Matters
MAINGEAR's SPARK steambox PC offers a small and powerful small form factor that weighs less than one pound and is smaller than a DVD case. With a small footprint of just 4.5" width x 4.23" Depth and 2.34" in Height, the SPARK is the smallest gaming PC solution MAINGEAR has ever offered. With this tiny size, this PC is extremely versatile and can easily be placed in a multimedia environment such as a living room without taking a large amount of space or brought to a LAN party for easy travel and setup.

Digital Storm today unveiled Bolt II, a small form factor (SFF) and hybrid Steam Machine gaming PC at CES 2014. Bolt II, the first liquid cooled Steam Machine and will feature with both Steam OS and Windows allowing gamers to play any PC game from the comfort of their couch.

Digital Storm's second generation SFF system features a refined look, increased accessibility and advanced thermal design. With double the cooling power of its closest competitor, Bolt II differentiates itself from other SFF and Steam Machine systems by focusing on delivering the best graphics possible and refusing to compromise on performance.

CyberPower Inc., a global manufacturer of custom gaming PCs, promises your living room will never be the same in 2014 when it debuts its stylish Steam Machine series at CES.

Powered by Valve Corporation's Steam OS, the CYBERPOWERPC Steam Machine will feature full desktop PC performance in an advance stylish form. The revolutionary Steam OS will give you full control over your Steam game library straight from your living room. All Steam Machines will run the latest version of Steam OS, an open source Linux-based operating system developed specifically for gaming and other entertainment. The new systems will be capable of running hundreds of games currently in the Steam catalog, as well as upcoming titles from other developers.

Two weeks after iBuyPower announced that it is building a Steam Machine another custom PC maker has revealed plans to release a gaming solution running Valve's Steam OS. Fremont-based Digital Storm is the latest Steam OS recruit and its plan is to unveil a Steam Machine next month at CES 2014.

Digital Storm's first Steam Machine is supposed to start at $1,469 (iBuyPower's offering has a base price tag of $499) and it will feature a liquid cooled Intel processor, an NVIDIA graphics card (up to a GeForce GTX Titan), and up to a 700 W power supply. As an option, Digital Storm will turn the Steam Machine into a dual-boot solution, loaded both with Steam OS and Microsoft Windows. More info coming at CES.

Next year PC maker iBuyPower is planning to embrace Valve's Steam OS and release its own Steam Machine. Seen below in prototype form, iBuyPower's upcoming Steam OS-running 'console' looks a bit like a PlayStation 4, design-wise, and packs an AMD processor (likely an APU) and AMD Radeon R9 270 graphics card (in contrast, Valve's own Steam Box prototypes have Intel CPUs and NVIDIA GPUs), and a 500 GB hard drive.

The iBuyPower Steam Machine also has a glossy white chassis with a customizable light bar, and is set to cost $499 (as much as an Xbox One). The Steam Controller wasn't mentioned but it's likely at least one will be bundled.

People looking forward to the big "Steambox" announcement were met by an anticlimax. Valve announced its own operating system for PC gamers, which turns any PC into a "Steambox." Simply named Steam OS, the operating system is a highly modified Debian Linux stripped to bare, with all its non-essentials tossed out, and proprietary multimedia CODECs added, along with fonts, runtime environments, and in-built drivers for popular GPU, sound card, and gaming-peripheral brands. In essence, there's everything in the operating system for PC gamers, and then some.

Steam diversified from distributing PC games to non-gaming PC software, and Valve plans to take that further by doing groundwork for its very own living room content-delivery platform to compete with the likes of Xbox One. Since Steam OS can be deployed onto x86-based PCs as tiny as an Intel NUC, it stands more than a half chance. Its baby-steps are taken with In-home Streaming, a feature that lets you stream content off a PC or Mac in your house. You can share games in your account with others in your family, and close friends, using the recently-announced Family Sharing feature. You get content-blocking features and restricted-accounts. You also get media-player software that lets you organize and play back music and videos in most open- and proprietary formats. You should be able to install popular web-browsers like Google Chrome. Steam OS is competitively priced against Windows 8.1 and OS X 10.9, at $0. Did we tell you that some of its icons look like companion cubes? Just kidding.