The leaked but unannounced Lenovo Legion Go S seems like it will come in two different versions, and one of them may even be with SteamOS Linux like Valve's Steam Deck.
As reported first by The Verge, who spotted a post on X from @evleaks, it shows the device in both black and white. Interestingly though, the black version has a Steam logo sitting next to one of the buttons, which the white version doesn't have.
It's really not much to go on but with Valve's recent updates to their branding guidelines, and how we know Valve have planned to release SteamOS 3 to other hardware vendors, it's slowly all coming together now.
Image credit: Image: Evan Blass (X)
This could end up being the first third-party to use SteamOS on a handheld. At least, this seems to be the first vendor that's had a leak that points towards it. CES 2025 is right around the corner, where we might expect to see announcements like it, so next year could start off with a bit of a bang for Linux gaming handhelds.
We may finally see a return of the original Steam Machine idea from Valve, just in handheld form. Or perhaps something more as well.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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12 comments
"During a gold rush, sell shovels"
Valve created the gold rush, made most of the gold money, is selling the shovels, and aparently now is selling the land too lmao
Valve created the gold rush, made most of the gold money, is selling the shovels, and aparently now is selling the land too lmao
4 Likes, Who?
Pretty sure in the last minute it'll get pulled. Just after a reminder from microsoft that they'll ruin them if they don't.
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Viesta2015 21 hours ago
Quoting: ShabbyXPretty sure in the last minute it'll get pulled. Just after a reminder from microsoft that they'll ruin them if they don't.Sounds monopolistic. :D
3 Likes, Who?
Quoting: ShabbyXPretty sure in the last minute it'll get pulled. Just after a reminder from microsoft that they'll ruin them if they don't.
While Microsoft very well might make such a threat, I doubt Lenovo would cave to them. Microsoft is an American company with lots of ties to the American government and military, and Lenovo is Chinese company with similar ties to the Chinese government, which is about to be on the receiving of new trade war tactics. They might very well be looking for a chance to stick it to Microsoft. By comparison, Valve is American but relatively neutral.
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Luke_Nukem 19 hours ago
Quoting: melkemindQuoting: ShabbyXPretty sure in the last minute it'll get pulled. Just after a reminder from microsoft that they'll ruin them if they don't.
While Microsoft very well might make such a threat, I doubt Lenovo would cave to them. Microsoft is an American company with lots of ties to the American government and military, and Lenovo is Chinese company with similar ties to the Chinese government, which is about to be on the receiving of new trade war tactics. They might very well be looking for a chance to stick it to Microsoft. By comparison, Valve is American but relatively neutral.
This little fact is why it still boggles my mind that so much of China is still very very heavily reliant on MS. Usually it comes down to apps, such as factories etc might need a particular app, but there is really nothing stopping a mass migration if they all wanted to or it was even mandated - plenty of big opportunity to jump in with similar apps with first class linux support.
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: ShabbyXPretty sure in the last minute it'll get pulled. Just after a reminder from microsoft that they'll ruin them if they don't.Likely. But Lenovo isn't a small company. They know the implications. Either the point is to push MS into some kind of concession, or they actually figure they can handle the pressure.
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Quoting: Luke_NukemQuoting: melkemindQuoting: ShabbyXPretty sure in the last minute it'll get pulled. Just after a reminder from microsoft that they'll ruin them if they don't.
While Microsoft very well might make such a threat, I doubt Lenovo would cave to them. Microsoft is an American company with lots of ties to the American government and military, and Lenovo is Chinese company with similar ties to the Chinese government, which is about to be on the receiving of new trade war tactics. They might very well be looking for a chance to stick it to Microsoft. By comparison, Valve is American but relatively neutral.
This little fact is why it still boggles my mind that so much of China is still very very heavily reliant on MS. Usually it comes down to apps, such as factories etc might need a particular app, but there is really nothing stopping a mass migration if they all wanted to or it was even mandated - plenty of big opportunity to jump in with similar apps with first class linux support.
It seems like they are trying to do this, but like you said, there are probably companies that would have difficulty switching without major changes in their processes. Even if the government mandated it, they'd still have to get companies to implemented, which may be costly.
https://www.reuters.com/technology/china-releases-its-first-open-source-computer-operating-system-2023-07-06/
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Lenovo has a good history of supporting Linux with their Thinkpad laptops, so there is a good chance this is true. Fingers crossed.
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The "Steam Compatible" branding guidelines seem more likely to me than SteamOS.
More hardware with gyro is still a win, though, to encourage game devs to consider mixed input.
QuoteSteam Compatible requirements for input peripheral devices
Inputs
The buttons below must be dedicated, and not overloaded with different functionality
- Steam Button
- Quick Access Menu Button
- View and Menu buttons, with glyphs that match Steam Deck
- ABXY in a layout that matches Steam Deck
- Rear / Auxiliary re-bindable buttons (2 or more)
Required Features
- Gyroscopic controls
- Capacitive Touch Sensing Thumbsticks
Other
- The controller must be able to directly interface with Steam running on a device (without a Steam Link)
More hardware with gyro is still a win, though, to encourage game devs to consider mixed input.
1 Likes, Who?
I am an unfan of branding on my hardware (or, indeed, any stuff), doubly so for branded functionality such as a "windows", "copilot" or, in this case, "steam" key/button.
Last edited by emphy on 16 December 2024 at 6:32 am UTC
Last edited by emphy on 16 December 2024 at 6:32 am UTC
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hardpenguin 3 hours ago
Year of the SteamOS desktop handheld!
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Quoting: sarmadLenovo has a good history of supporting Linux with their Thinkpad laptops, so there is a good chance this is true. Fingers crossed.
This is actually what makes me think they wont be shipping SteamOS on their new handheld. When you buy one of the few Thinkpads with Ubuntu installed instead of Windows. Lenovo eats the cost on the MSFT Tax. MSFT still gets paid and still publishes it as a Windows sale. That money still gets reinvested into the Windows eco-system. In most cases, companies who buy the Linux supported Thinkpads are already paying for a Windows volume licensing deal and so it's not a big deal to Lenovo. It's the consumers that will ultimately cost Lenovo. Lenovo will need to pay the MSFT Tax for every handheld in order to keep their licensing deal with MSFT. They can charge the consumer or they can eat the cost themselves. Lenovo is huge and they can afford to eat the MSFT Tax on consumer Thinkpads because they aren't selling millions of them to consumers. They probably sell 1000 or 10000. Anytime I've been in the market for a new machine, when I check Lenovo, they are always sold out. Which leads me to believe they only sell a limited number of them to consumers. It's been several years since I have been in the market, so things could have changed significantly since then.
Really, if the new Legion Go is on par with the Steam Deck feature for feature, with more battery and better performance, why recommend a Steam Deck?! So Lenovo would be looking at 1 or 2 million in sales and that would also mean eating the MSFT Tax for 1 or 2 million devices. And of course MSFT is going straight to their share holders and say, "We sold 1 million Windows licenses for handhelds in FY 2025." I just don't see Lenovo eating the cost on 1 million Windows licenses. Maybe Lenovo is able to justify their new handheld unbound by the MSFT licensing agreement they have. That would be cool.
It will be interesting to see what happens.
Last edited by Highball on 16 December 2024 at 2:28 pm UTC
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