Out of the box, the Steam Deck comes with SteamOS 3 Linux and overall apart from early quirks and bugs it does work very well but they're now providing Windows drivers — with a big caveat.
This was announced on Steam today, for those who do want to put up with Windows (not me). There's a few notes they included on it but the biggest and most important is that Valve will not actually be supporting Windows on Deck in any way. It was put very clearly as Valve said "we are providing these resources as is and are unfortunately unable to offer 'Windows on Deck' support".
People are free to do what they want with it, unlike more traditional "consoles" but the point is that for official support, you need to use SteamOS.
The quick notes Valve included:
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
- For now you can only perform a full Windows install. While Steam Deck is fully capable of dual-boot, the SteamOS installer that provides a dual-boot wizard isn't ready yet.
- Also for now, you can only install Windows 10. Windows 11 requires a new BIOS that is currently in the pipe (which provides fTPM support) and will be shipping soon.
- Drivers are provided for GPU, WiFi, and Bluetooth. Audio drivers are still in the works with AMD and other parties - but you'll still be able to use Bluetooth or USB-C audio with Windows on Deck.
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The comments on this article are closed.
Would be curious to see the numbers of how many will actually use it...
5 Likes, Who?
spacemonkey Mar 10, 2022
I am curious about the performance difference. But no matter the results, I will never ever install Windows.
15 Likes, Who?
Philadelphus Mar 10, 2022
I'd be interested in seeing it just from a purely intellectual curiosity standpoint – not asking you to, Liam, I meant more that I'll probably watch a video on it when YouTube eventually recommends me one. Should be pretty obvious which the superior option is in a comparison, I imagine. 
2 Likes, Who?
Mohandevir Mar 10, 2022
Quoting: spacemonkeyI am curious about the performance difference. But no matter the results, I will never ever install Windows.
If they think the autonomy is an issue with SteamOS, considering AMD FSR baked in and tweaks at kernel level to optimize it, they are in for a major let down, imo. They will get the worst of both world, on that aspect.
1 Likes, Who?
"we are providing these resources as is and are unfortunately unable to offer 'Windows on Deck' support"
I hope they stick with that and don't cave to any pressure. Keep devel and support focused on SteamOS and FOSS so we all benefit in the long run.
I hope they stick with that and don't cave to any pressure. Keep devel and support focused on SteamOS and FOSS so we all benefit in the long run.
23 Likes, Who?
Valve is providing an official way to install Windows as well as put SteamOS back. The dual-boot wizard seems to also be in the work. Hopefully Windows users will also get the new SteamOS interface on Windows as a Big Picture mode replacement. That's plenty of support.
0 Likes
Kimyrielle Mar 10, 2022
Quoting: BoldosWould be curious to see the numbers of how many will actually use it...
I'd really be curious how many people bother putting work in to replace a working OS with another, which is always one of the strongest points being made against Linux on the desktop: "Why replace a working Windows?". Now it's "Why replace a working Linux?".
I'd also be curious to see the reaction of people who go "Gah, Linux is SOOOO hard to install", when they have to install Windows from scratch for the first time in their life! :D
27 Likes, Who?
Quoting: Raaben"we are providing these resources as is and are unfortunately unable to offer 'Windows on Deck' support"
I hope they stick with that and don't cave to any pressure. Keep devel and support focused on SteamOS and FOSS so we all benefit in the long run.
I hope Microsoft doesn't a$k Valve to reconsider
5 Likes, Who?
I love it.
Installing Windows in 2022 on the Steamdeck is like installing Linux 10-15 years ago. Some parts work, some don't.
Installing Windows in 2022 on the Steamdeck is like installing Linux 10-15 years ago. Some parts work, some don't.
20 Likes, Who?
Mohandevir Mar 10, 2022
Quoting: BielFPsQuoting: Raaben"we are providing these resources as is and are unfortunately unable to offer 'Windows on Deck' support"
I hope they stick with that and don't cave to any pressure. Keep devel and support focused on SteamOS and FOSS so we all benefit in the long run.
I hope Microsoft doesn't a$k Valve to reconsider
In exchange for Gamepass support on SteamOS?
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/valve-open-having-game-pass-223000810.html
1 Likes, Who?
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