Valve sure do love their funny code-names don't they. Steam Deck - SteamOS 3.6.15 Beta: Zoomer Edition has been released with a bug-fix.
There's only one single fix with this release noting:
- Fixed a crash when using the magnifier tool while game recording is active
To access it you need to opt into either the Preview or Beta branches from Settings > System > System Update Channel.
We're getting really close to the stable SteamOS 3.6 release now, which has shaped up very nicely, as I've been using it constantly since the initial preview release. Once released for everyone you'll get a lot of good enhancements overall including:
- Updated to a more recent Arch Linux base and updated KDE Plasma desktop mode.
- Improved session recovery speed after GPU crashes.
- Enabled support for Bluetooth A2DP and BAP profiles.
- Improved display uniformity, under some conditions (Mura Compensation).
- support for some HDMI CEC features in the Deck Dock.
- BIOS overclocking controls on Steam Deck LCD.
- + much more.
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
All posts need to follow our rules. For users logged in: please hit the Report Flag icon on any post that breaks the rules or contains illegal / harmful content. Guest readers can email us for any issues.
17 comments
Unfortunately, SteamDeck betas are crippling the device for me quite often (two times within the past two months so far), making the device unbootable 
Recovery through factory reset was required to make it work again...
Recovery through factory reset was required to make it work again...
0 Likes
Unfortunately, SteamDeck betas are crippling the device for me quite often (two times within the past two months so far), making the device unbootable
Recovery through factory reset was required to make it work again...
That's weird, I've never had my Deck be unbootable... I guess even with identical hardware specs and the same software machines can behave differently still.
0 Likes
Unfortunately, SteamDeck betas are crippling the device for me quite often (two times within the past two months so far), making the device unbootable
Recovery through factory reset was required to make it work again...
Same here. Are you on a 64GB LCD by any chance? One of the bug fixes to beta recently was a potential corruption of the filesystem on 64GB systems. Glad they spotted that before reaching a stable release! I've never had problems with beta until the last couple of months, which was due to that specific bug, I think.
4 Likes, Who?
spacemonkey Sep 24
Does anybody know if the sleep function also works in Desktop mode? And, if so, does it work with any application, or only applications started from Steam?
0 Likes
rustybroomhandle Sep 24
Does anybody know if the sleep function also works in Desktop mode? And, if so, does it work with any application, or only applications started from Steam?
It does, and it sleeps the whole system, so it works with any open apps.
1 Likes, Who?
I guess even with identical hardware specs and the same software machines can behave differently still.I've switched about a month ago and experienced a partial breakage. No chance booting into game mode, due to an infinite logon spinning wheel, but switching to desktop mode worked reliably. But Steam was completely broken in desktop mode as well. I ended up renaming the Steam folder in $HOME – that fixed the problem. Later I moved back my data from the broken Steam installation to the working one piece by piece.
So the issue I had was not related to hardware at all, but to the Steam client since it is so heavily integrated into SteamOS.
0 Likes
Another big change in 3.6.15 is the better support for screen shaders. Currently, this version is needed in order to test full game-mode XR display support (i.e. virtual monitor, smooth follow, SBS depth support, etc.).
There's more information about it on the LinuXR Discord server.
There's more information about it on the LinuXR Discord server.
0 Likes
Mohandevir Sep 24
Eagerly waiting for the stable release. I'm not really familiar with these release cycles, but am I being "delusional" to think it might be soon?
0 Likes
Which KDE version is it? Will the steam desktop be Wayland then?
0 Likes
Eagerly waiting for the stable release. I'm not really familiar with these release cycles, but am I being "delusional" to think it might be soon?It should be soon, since they're in the release candidate stage yes.
1 Likes, Who?
Another big change in 3.6.15 is the better support for screen shaders. Currently, this version is needed in order to test full game-mode XR display support (i.e. virtual monitor, smooth follow, SBS depth support, etc.).
There's more information about it on the LinuXR Discord server.
Wow, nice catch!
I'm super excited for everyone to get to try the Game Mode support.
1 Likes, Who?
I've switched about a month ago and experienced a partial breakage. No chance booting into game mode, due to an infinite logon spinning wheel, but switching to desktop mode worked reliably. But Steam was completely broken in desktop mode as well. I ended up renaming the Steam folder in $HOME – that fixed the problem. Later I moved back my data from the broken Steam installation to the working one piece by piece.
So the issue I had was not related to hardware at all, but to the Steam client since it is so heavily integrated into SteamOS.
I don't know what to say, I've been on the Beta channel since I got my Steam Deck late last year and I haven't experienced any breakage. Maybe Valve does region-based rollouts?
1 Likes, Who?
Philadelphus Sep 24
I think they misspelled "Boomer Edition" there – I doubt too many Zoomers need the magnifier tool. 
3 Likes, Who?
I thought the version was called "beta zoomer" which made me do a triple take
0 Likes
Yes, I'm on a 64GB LCD version...Unfortunately, SteamDeck betas are crippling the device for me quite often (two times within the past two months so far), making the device unbootableSame here. Are you on a 64GB LCD by any chance? One of the bug fixes to beta recently was a potential corruption of the filesystem on 64GB systems. Glad they spotted that before reaching a stable release! I've never had problems with beta until the last couple of months, which was due to that specific bug, I think.
Recovery through factory reset was required to make it work again...
0 Likes
ambrosia_enjoyer Sep 25
Improved display uniformity, under some conditions (Mura Compensation).
Curious how much of an effect this will have. I've been waiting on this for a while. Either I'm just unlucky with my display or have the unfortunate tendency of noticing it much more than the average person, but the mura in darker games on the OLED model drives me nuts.
1 Likes, Who?
Patreon
PayPal
See more from me