While we've known for a while that Valve plan to get SteamOS Linux on devices other than the Steam Deck, we don't know when that will happen, but we've got another hint here that things are moving along.
Since the release of the Steam Deck, Valve have repeatedly said it's in their plans to release SteamOS 3 to the public and for hardware vendors to ship on their devices. The joke about Valve Time is as relevant as ever though, with no specific public roadmap on anything and it's years in the making at this point.
Thanks to SteamDB, who also scrape a lot of things from Valve aside from games, like Steamworks Documentation, we've now seen that Valve have updated their branding guidelines (document), which includes a new bit about SteamOS. These guidelines haven't been updated since 2017.
I can show this to you here, since the Steam Branding Guidelines page is entirely public, as is the link to the main document from that page. Examples for the new SteamOS Branding Guidlines:
It will be seriously interesting to see what is the first device other than the Steam Deck to actually ship with SteamOS. Will it be Valve's long rumoured and repeatedly leaked Deckard VR kit, or another handheld from a third-party vendor?
What will be interesting though and a question that popped into my head: what about compatibility notices for games on SteamOS devices other than the Steam Deck? Will that be left to each hardware vendor? I assume so since Valve will still primarily focus on their own Steam Deck with Deck Verified. This may cause community sites like ProtonDB to become more relevant than ever to filter per-device. Don't forget to check our anti-cheat compatibility list too.
Exciting times for the Linux community that we might see more popular devices out there shipping Linux.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Quoting: Leahi84Do you think SteamOS would ever be a viable desktop distro?If they continue the immutable OS route, then it won't be a viable desktop distro. If that's what you want, then you're more likely to look into something like Bazzite, ChimeraOS, Nobara, CachyOS or any other SteamOS like distro.
Quoting: a0kamiWe need the Deckard 😭
Was just thinking this. I feel like these sorts of updates show up any time a new Valve announcement is pending, so fingers crossed for some new VR toys.
Last edited by helloCLD on 4 December 2024 at 6:15 pm UTC
Riiight, everyone knows Valve cannot count to 3...
Vortex_Acherontic 5 days ago
Quoting: pilkOh, neat stuff. Maybe more handhelds with SteamOS instead of garbo Windows 11. Maybe the return of the Steam Machine (I think it'd work nowadays thanks to Proton and the deck.)
i womnder if there is demand for it...
xbox barely can sell with temporary exclusives, and valve already comited to not making exclusives, on the other hand, not to mention most steam players already have an pc where they can game, but who knows steam have more games than xbox, so it might be enticing.
maybe if its cheaper than purchasing an gaming pc with similiar specs, but then we have no guarantee people wont install windows on it.
unless valve make the hardware incompatible somehow, like with drivers...
another thing to consider: if they will be making their own hardware, then they have no reason to limit thenselves to pc compatible parts, so if they want they can for example, put an gigantic cpu, gpu or apu, that wont fit anywhere else, and cant be replaced for an off the shelf component, that will ensure to developers that all players have the same hardware, ensure that people will rely on their drivers, and they can even future proof the hardware more than on a desktop, since you can fit more transistors in more space, so even when the hardware get smaller it wont make this hardware obsolete any time soon.
one mistake valve should not make again is rely on thirdy parties to make the hardware, without first making an floor of quality with their own hardware.
anyway i doubt they can make an hardware more powerfull than sony or microsoft for a similiar price, unless we count on developers targeting PS5 base instead of pro and valve having some hardware as powerfull as the PS5 pro that developers can rely on.
Last edited by elmapul on 5 December 2024 at 2:13 am UTC
spacemonkey 5 days ago
Quoting: Leahi84Do you think SteamOS would ever be a viable desktop distro?Yes, I would think so. I have been using the SteamDeck as my main device for hobby projects (still in an exploring/testing phase, but enjoying it so far)
About it being immutable: I had to make it mutable to install .NET. But this is not something most people would need to do (Rider has a blog on how to install their IDE and .NET on SteamDeck). For all other stuff I had zero issues: attaching all kinds of controllers and other hardware, using Discord, Aseprite, MagicaVoxel (which has no Linux build), etc. No problems.
Personally I would like a laptop with SteamOS. With all the performance/battery options the OS gives you. And a very impressive sleep mode that even works for games (and Windows can't do).
Quoting: spacemonkeyAbout it being immutable: I had to make it mutable to install .NET. But this is not something most people would need to do (Rider has a blog on how to install their IDE and .NET on SteamDeck). For all other stuff I had zero issues: attaching all kinds of controllers and other hardware, using Discord, Aseprite, MagicaVoxel (which has no Linux build), etc. No problems.
I didn't take a closer look on immutable systems yet, but shouldn't they have the possibility to put some additional layer on them with changes? And just the original system stays the same?
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