Valve just released a massive update to SteamOS that lets you install it on other companies’ gaming handhelds, including devices from Xbox and Asus. The update also brings back support for Steam Machines, Valve’s living room gaming PCs that disappeared years ago.
This is a big deal because it means you’re no longer locked into using Windows on portable gaming devices. SteamOS is designed specifically for gaming, so it should run better and drain less battery than Windows on these handheld PCs.
Steam Takes on Windows
Valve is clearly making a play to become the go-to operating system for portable gaming. By opening up SteamOS to work on competitors’ hardware, they’re betting that gamers will prefer their gaming-focused system over Microsoft’s general-purpose Windows.
The timing is perfect. Gaming handhelds are having a moment, with devices from Asus, MSI, and others trying to copy the Steam Deck’s success. Most of these run Windows, which wasn’t really designed for small screens and game controllers.
Steam Machines are also making a comeback. These are basically gaming PCs designed to sit in your living room like a console, but they can play your entire Steam library. Valve tried this concept years ago but it flopped.
What’s Next
Expect more gaming handhelds to start offering SteamOS as an option alongside Windows. If the software works well on other devices, it could give Valve a huge advantage in the portable gaming wars without them having to build all the hardware themselves.
