If, by some miracle, you've been living on the moon in a soundproof dome for the last six months, you may not have noticed that gaming hardware has grown extremely expensive, making the hobby a mostly miserable affair for all involved. We first called it the RAM crisis, but the sad reality is that it's now spilling over into storage, and experts are predicting a grim future.

It's shredding PC gaming, as Valve's much-anticipated Steam Machine launched at over $1,000 for its cheapest model — a higher price than most might have expected — with its creators explaining that it "reflects the state of the world". Consumers are flanked at every turn, as anyone planning to buy older generations of memory sees that DDR4 and even DDR3 prices are going up.

It's easy to point fingers at Microsoft, given its undeniable, if somewhat retracted, obsession with AI, whether that's Copilot in Windows or an implementation across its Azure cloud stack. And let's be honest, it's not without irony that XBOX CEO Asha Sharma said that "gaming is becoming unaffordable" just before the brand announced a price increase on its consoles.

Sure enough, Xbox's Matthew Ball agrees that "crisis is the right term", and the effects of expensive RAM will undoubtedly be felt in the lead-up to its next-gen Project Helix console — which supposedly behaves more like a gaming PC — and who knows what its launch price might look like (over a thousand dollars?) In fact, hardware pivots are already appearing in Microsoft's PC hardware, as the Surface Laptop returns with 8GB of RAM to keep costs down.

I know, I'm hardly a beacon of good news or hopeful visions of the future, but this AI bubble will presumably break at some point, and it's good to take stock of what options we actually have. The usual midsummer onslaught of sales events brought some relief with retailer discounts, and pre-built gaming PCs maintain a hint of value throughout. Still, prospective buyers will have to brace for an inevitable sting if they plan to grab something later this year (or into 2027).

If you're interested in console gaming, you're looking at a minimum of $749.99 for a digital Xbox Series X — that's the one without a disc drive — or $499.99 for a similarly discless (and less powerful) Xbox Series S. On Sony's side, a PS5 Pro is now $899.99, or at least $599.99 for a digital base PS5. That's without any games, by the way, and Grand Theft Auto VI recently confirmed a $99 price tag for a code of its Ultimate Edition with all in-game content intact.

Gamers at large are already expected to spend close to $1,000 just to get started. The entire situation is absurd and unfair, but it puts the price of handhelds like MSI's $1,799 Claw 8 EX AI+ into perspective; that's just how much this kind of ultra-enthusiast hardware costs now. The whole thing reminds me of a bygone era of crypto mining that drove up GPU prices, but this time, it's bigger and even more insulting.

So, what are you supposed to do? You can penny-pinch your way through buying discounted and second-hand hardware, or you can submit to a future of subscription-based gaming streamed from the cloud. If you don't already own an Xbox, I'd suggest picking one up before the price increase happens in August, but that's about all you can do. Stay strong, gamers.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Some people, myself included until I saw this news, may not have known that AMD seemingly revealed FSR4 for older Radeon graphics cards last month. Now, just a month later, it appears Valve appears to be adding a version of AMD's FSR4 technology to Steam and Proton, which could theoretically allow Steam Machine and potentially Steam Deck users to effectively upgrade FSR3-supported games to FSR4.

For those unfamiliar, FSR is AMD's answer to Nvidia's DLSS. It's an upscaling technology that allows games to be rendered at a lower resolution, such as 720p, before being upscaled to a higher resolution like 1080p. The goal is to deliver a sharper image while reducing the workload on the GPU.

It's not just about image quality, either. Because the game is being rendered at a lower internal resolution, FSR can also improve frame rates, making demanding games run more smoothly without requiring more powerful hardware.

What's particularly exciting about the prospect of FSR4 coming to Steam Machine and, hopefully, Steam Deck is that it could address some of the most common complaints surrounding FSR3, including ghosting, shimmering, and visual artifacts, while still delivering the performance benefits that make upscaling technologies so appealing in the first place.

Additionally, according to Brad Lynch on X (formerly Twitter), this version of FSR4 has been tweaked by Valve and differs from AMD's own implementation. What exactly Valve has changed remains a mystery for now, at least until users can get their hands on it and start digging through the details themselves.

I have to admit, I've always been a little wary of the industry's growing reliance on upscaling technologies. Ideally, I'd prefer games to be optimized well enough to run smoothly on weaker hardware straight out of the box. That said, the reality is that modern games are becoming increasingly demanding, and tools like FSR can provide a meaningful boost to both image quality and performance.

Of all the ways AI is being integrated into gaming, upscaling is probably one of the easiest for me to get behind. If this implementation really can bring FSR4 improvements to a wider range of hardware, that's a win for players. Hopefully, it also finds its way to Steam Deck and isn't reserved solely for Valve's upcoming Steam Machine.

As always, let me know what you think in the comments below, and don't forget to take part in our poll!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Thanks to the rise of AI and its insatiable hunger for every piece of spare silicon that the tech industry can throw at it, the price of just about every electronic device and accessory on the market has skyrocketed — both to make and to buy, in the era of the RAM and storage crisis.

Many companies are struggling to secure the components needed for their products as a result, and one that's had a particularly difficult time doing so is Valve. The Steam maker is in the midst of preparing to attempt to launch the console-like Steam Machine gaming PC this summer while also doing its best to keep the Steam Deck and its new $99 Steam Controller in stock.

It's a task that's stretched Valve's supply quite thin, leading to a controversial Steam Deck price hike and the implementation of a reservation queue for Steam Controller orders. And now, in a new update, the manufacturer has announced some Steam Controller reservations may not be fulfilled until 2027.

Specifically, Valve is now organizing Steam Controller reservations into three estimated order windows "to keep it simple" — all of which have been listed below:

• By September 2026
• By December 2026
• In 2027 (with additional information on specific timing to come)

Valve notes that you'll see which order window your reservation is in when visiting the Steam Controller page. If you had a reservation placed before today, your order may come in September or December later this year. Those who make reservations after this update will have their order fulfilled in 2027, according to current estimates.

It also says once your place in the queue comes up, you'll be emailed the option to purchase a Steam Controller and will have 72 hours to do so. If you don't finish your order before three days pass, you'll lose your chance.

"We have no plans to stop making Steam Controller," the company wrote. "But as we look at the current demand compared to how many we know we can make by the end of the year, we want to manage expectations as much as we can with regards to when folks can expect to receive their order."

It's unfortunate that the Steam Controller is proving so difficult to get your hands on, but the good news is that it's reviewing well, which means it will be worth the time, effort, and money for many.

We gave it a 4.5/5 score in our review, writing that "It's a feature-rich joypad that justifies its price point, with the charging puck being both a genuine convenience and a unique quirk." Its other highlights include gyro aiming, haptic touchpads, and TMR sticks, with the only major downside being incompatibility with Xbox on PC without third-party workarounds.

How are you feeling about Valve's new Steam Controller? Do you plan on engaging with the reservation system to try and get one despite the long wait into 2027? I'm curious, so please let me know in the comments and in the poll below.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

For months now, we've been tracking the impact of the RAMpocalypse memory crisis on the handheld market. Ongoing stock shortages have made getting your hands on a Steam Deck OLED incredibly difficult, and I've long been touting the plucky Xbox Ally as a viable alternative.

For playing lower-powered indie games or clearing out your backlog, the two handhelds stand on pretty even footing. The Xbox Ally, however, lets you switch between Steam and Xbox PC natively without requiring hours of tinkering or workarounds. Crucially, it was actually available to buy.

Yesterday, Valve dropped the bombshell that the Steam Deck OLED price has been raised by up to 46% due to skyrocketing component costs. All of a sudden, the value comparison between these two devices is pretty stark. The gaming community is largely now realizing what we've been saying all along. With Valve's hardware now pricing itself out of reach for most budget-conscious gamers, the Xbox ROG Ally has officially become a no-brainer.

Before I dive into the whys and wherefores, here are the best prices right now in the US and UK for the Xbox Ally. Unfortunately for my American friends, it's not currently discounted on your side of the pond; however, its base price alone of $599.99 makes it considerably cheaper than the $789.99 Steam Deck 512GB OLED.

Xbox Ally vs Steam Deck OLED: How do they actually stack up?

Without even looking at the price tag, these two gaming handhelds are much closer rivals than you may think. Under the hood, at least, they target the same tier of performance.

The white Xbox Ally uses the AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, a chip that mirrors the custom APU architecture in both the LCD and OLED Steam Decks. When it comes to raw processing performance in mid-tier or lighter indie titles, these two handhelds run neck and neck.

However, the displays on both are significantly different. It would be remiss of me to ignore how beautiful the OLED panel is on the Steam Deck OLED. Aside from looks, however, the standard 7-inch screen of the Xbox device does boast a sharper 1080 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It also includes Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), which is completely missing on the Steam Deck.

VRR can be a deal-breaker for many handhelds because it irons out screen tearing and smooths out stutters when your frame rate fluctuates. Added to this, the Xbox Ally is the most comfortable and ergonomically formed of the two units, with its textured grips that mimic the Xbox controller.

Here's a clearer side-by-side spec table for you to weigh up the two options yourself.

My comparison here simply weighs up the Xbox Ally vs the Steam Deck OLED. If money is no object, and you want to compare to the significantly more expensive Xbox Ally X, we have a full rundown of both: Steam Deck vs Xbox Ally, which is better?

Hate Windows? You can just turn it into a Steam Deck anyway

The main battle between these two devices has arguably always been the software. The Steam Deck runs the more streamlined and console-like SteamOS.

Windows 11 brings massive advantages out of the box, too, especially with the new Xbox Full Screen Experience (XBOX FSE). You get a dedicated Xbox button that launches a full-screen, controller-friendly gaming environment, and you can download games natively from Xbox Game Pass, the Epic Games Store, GOG, and EA Play without jumping through hoops.

However, there’s no denying that Windows can occasionally feel clunky on a 7-inch screen (and you don't have the handy touchpads of the Steam Deck here).

If the Windows interface is the only thing holding you back from buying an Xbox Ally over a Steam Deck, you aren't actually trapped. Valve has officially expanded its SteamOS installer to support third-party AMD handhelds, meaning you can install the real, official SteamOS directly onto the Xbox Ally.

Alternatively, many people install Bazzite. This is designed to mimic SteamOS but comes with built-in optimizations tailored for ASUS hardware (like easy RGB light control), making it much simpler to dual-boot if you still want to keep Windows around for Xbox Game Pass.

Valve have handed Xbox free marketing with this price hike

Before the Steam Deck's price hike, comparing it to other handhelds on the market was much more nuanced, with various factors to consider. Right now in this economy, though, price is king, and while I don't doubt the same increases will come to Xbox handhelds at some point, for now, they are racing ahead in the value department.

We've constantly agreed on the fact that the Steam Deck is a true, hassle-free, out-of-the-box handheld console experience, but now it's commanding a staggering premium. Do you really want to pay extra for that convenience?

Whether you use the Xbox Ally, Windows, and all for seamless access to Steam and Xbox Game Pass, or flash it with SteamOS to create a Steam Deck clone is up to you. Either way, you will be getting a vastly superior value proposition for your money. Now let's just hope Xbox can keep their prices down for a little bit longer!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Earlier this year, the ongoing RAM shortage caused by the tech industry's ravenous, never-ending demand for memory to fuel the AI craze began to seriously cut into the supply needed for handheld gaming systems like the Steam Deck, resulting in the stock of Valve's beloved device rapidly drying up.

The firm promised its customers that it was "working very hard on" getting the Steam Deck available again about a month ago, in late April, explaining that it was seeking to partner with as many different RAM manufacturers as possible to help contend with shortages. Now, that restock has finally come...but it's come at a cost. A monetary one — and one that's unfortunately been passed down to buyers like you and I.

Indeed, Valve announced a major price increase for the Steam Deck alongside the news that it's once again available to purchase on Wednesday morning. The Steam Deck OLED 512GB is now $789 (up from $549), while the Steam Deck OLED 1TB is now $949 (up from $649).

"Steam Deck OLED is back in stock, with a price increase for both models due to rising memory and storage costs," the company wrote in its blog post. "Steam Deck itself hasn't changed; these new prices reflect the current state of component costs and other global logistical challenges across the industry as a whole. We’ll keep you updated if anything changes."

Those are price hikes of $240 and $300, respectively — about 44% and 46% in percentages. That's a pretty brutal increase for a device that's typically seen as the best budget-friendly handheld gaming PC, and reflects just how difficult it is for manufacturers like Valve to sell hardware at a profit during the memory crisis.

Sadly, now that Valve no longer creates the original LCD Steam Deck and exclusively makes the OLED models, there's no longer a way to get a new Steam Deck from Valve directly without paying a pretty penny. You can certainly try your luck on resale sites like eBay, but prices there have shot up, too.

Ultimately, this price jump significantly reduces the Steam Deck's value proposition and majorly shrinks one of the advantages it had over competing handhelds like the ROG Ally, the Legion Go 2, and the Xbox Ally. I don't think we'll see the cost go back to normal any time soon, either; AI datacenters are projected to hog 70% of all RAM this year.

The situation is frustrating, but from Valve's perspective, I imagine the only way it could sell the Steam Deck for less is if it did so at a loss — something it doesn't want to do, and may not be able to afford to do while it's also trying to gear up to sell its delayed upcoming console-like Steam Machine PC.

In the end, I suppose we should be glad that there are even Steam Decks to buy at all, even if they're ridiculously expensive now. If you really want one and have the money to afford it, you can buy it on the official Steam Deck store page.

Do you think the Steam Deck is worth buying now that it's gotten a big price hike? Share your opinion in the comments and in our poll.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

I'd challenge you to find a PC gamer who doesn't know Valve and its contributions to the hobby, and I'm confident you'd struggle. While it has made the most significant splash on the software side with Steam, it has dabbled in hardware with the high successes of the Steam Deck and the subterranean missteps of its first Steam Controller.

Now, it's trying again, and gamers are lining up in droves for a chance to buy Valve's revised Steam Controller in 2026. That includes me, because I knew I was going to spend my own cash on this new attempt, based solely on its early images and descriptions. So, is it good, bad, or somewhere in between? Here's what I think of mine after a week's worth of gameplay.

How much does the Steam Controller cost?

Valve's Steam Controller launched at $99 via Steam, and, so far, remains the same price. In the United Kingdom, that amounts to £85, including sales tax. At launch, the controller was available on a first-come, first-served basis until it sold out. Now, in May 2026, you'll need a Steam account to place a reservation before you have a chance to buy one.

Delivery times vary by region and the time of the order. I placed my Steam Controller order in the UK on May 4, when it became available, and it arrived from its European shipping source in the Netherlands after 6 working days. Valve's initial delivery estimate was 3–5 working days, increasing to 6–10 a few hours after its release.

Is the Steam Controller any good?

My initial hands-on impressions of the Steam Controller were good, as it sits comfortably in my hands with a familiar weight of 0.64 lbs (292 g). I usually play with Microsoft's official Xbox controllers that were bundled with my Series X|S consoles, each weighing 0.63 lbs (287 g) with AA batteries or 0.52 lbs (240 g) without them if I'm using a permanently connected USB-C cable.

Despite the placement of the prominent touchpads, my palms don't accidentally graze them when I use the analog sticks or face buttons. It's admittedly something I was concerned about when I first saw this design in the Steam Controller's official reveal, so it's a relief to discover there's no issue for me here.

Otherwise, my middle and ring fingers naturally rest on the rear buttons, which feel better in this bended circular form than the rectangular equivalents on Valve's still-excellent Steam Deck handheld. The Steam Controller's d-pad is less "clicky" than that of an Xbox Series X|S controller, but there's still a firm response in its more muted pushes.

The Steam Controller's face buttons all feel about the same as the Xbox controller that I'm used to, but they have a quieter response. That's a recurring theme throughout the unit, and only the rear buttons produce a distinct sound when used. Both shoulder bumpers offer slightly weaker resistance than on the Xbox side, but they're quiet and responsive enough.

It's a similar story with the triggers, which feel slightly shallower and less resistant than my Xbox controller, but not to the point where they seem lackluster or detrimental to gameplay. Even the analog sticks follow this pattern, pushed around with marginally less resistance but offset with smoother movement, no doubt helped by the drift-proof TMR technology underneath.

Matte plastic coats the Steam Controller with a consistent pattern, which feels familiar (again) to the Xbox joypad's front side. However, Microsoft arguably takes the lead with the rougher finish on the rear of its modern first-party controller. It's only my pinky fingers that rest against these bare sections, but it's a noticeable difference.

The standout feature for the Steam Controller is the "puck", which serves dual responsibilities as a wireless receiver and charging station for the joypad. It's detachable from the 5 ft (1.5 m) USB-C cable that Valve includes in the box, meaning I could leave it attached to my PC and have it act as a wired controller if I wanted to (but I never do).

Updating the firmware via the Steam desktop app for both parts of the controller is as straightforward as it gets, and the Steam button itself takes me into "Big Picture Mode" from there. If you've ever used SteamOS before, whether on a Steam Deck or an alternative like Lenovo's Legion Go S, this mode will be instantly familiar and won't require a learning curve.

Games launched from Steam generally activate the app's overlay, accessible again with the Steam button. From here, I can tweak the controller's button bindings, download community-made layouts, or adjust the sensitivity of functions like the built-in gyro for motion-controlled aiming. The trackpads also respond to touch with haptic feedback, and I find myself using them quite often.

Does the Steam Controller have any issues?

The majority of the Steam Controller's genuine downsides are found in the software experience, rather than its hardware. Screw holes on the rear side are quite prevalent, and while they aren't usually visible, my middle fingers regularly brush against a pair mounted on its grips. I wouldn't describe it as uncomfortable, but it's a perceptible difference from my Xbox controller.

For software, this controller relies heavily on the Steam app and Valve's "Steam Input" feature within, which handles button mapping for each of my games. If I stick to launching modern titles from my Steam library, the experience is practically perfect. However, games that rely on older graphics APIs can cause issues with the Steam overlay, leading to controller detection issues.

Using the Steam Controller with non-Steam games is possible, as my experiment with importing Dying Light from the Epic Games Store proves. Unfortunately, it's far from a straightforward process, and the necessary tinkering with launch options and launcher manipulation will likely turn off some PC gamers who want a more "console-like" experience with this joypad.

The obnoxious elephant in the room is that titles from the Xbox app will not work with the Steam Controller on Windows without third-party software. There's some nuance to the issue, and progression in the SDL library hints at future improvements. For now, though, entries like Forza Horizon 6 installed with PC Game Pass are not compatible.

Should you buy the Steam Controller?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You play most of your games on Steam

✅ You're willing to tinker with button layouts

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You want to play Game Pass titles on Xbox PC

For each accusation I've seen about Valve creating a "walled garden" in the PC gaming community with the Steam Controller, there are counterpoints to most of them. It's a feature-rich joypad that justifies its price point, with the charging puck being both a genuine convenience and a unique quirk. The only complaint I can't refute is the lack of compatibility with the Xbox PC app and UWP apps provided by Game Pass.

SDL library support is helping, and the emulators I've used recently are working perfectly with this controller. Whether that triggers a change from Valve to fully support its new joypad on Windows without requiring the Steam desktop app is up for debate, but I'd argue that the Steam Deck's evolution suggests it could happen. If you're lucky enough to see one in stock, it's worth buying.

The PC gaming world has been focused lately on the Steam Controller's launch this week, but it's another piece of Valve hardware that's lately stealing some of the spotlight.

According to Valve programmer Pierre-Loup Griffais, speaking with IGN, the company behind Steam is "hard at work" on the Steam Deck 2.

The first Steam Deck is what really kicked the PC gaming handheld craze off when it launched in 2022, with major brands like Lenovo, ASUS, MSI, and even Xbox getting in on the action in the following years.

So, with a Valve employee stating that the Steam Deck 2 is under development, that must mean it's coming sometime soon? Not likely.

Valve's Steam Deck 2 is in development, but don't expect it anytime soon

Valve is currently having a hard time getting its previously announced hardware, including the Steam Machine and Steam Frame, to market, never mind anything it has yet to officially unveil.

Announced alongside the new Steam Controller that launched on May 4, the console-like Steam Machine gaming PC and the new ARM-based Steam Frame VR headset have been delayed beyond their original "early 2026" launch target due to an ongoing memory crisis.

Valve is still hoping to get its new platforms out sometime in 2026, though I'm sure only a select few know if that goal remains a reality.

The RAM crisis could extend as far as 2030

With AI datacenters gobbling up the world's supply of DRAM and NAND, memory and storage are a hot commodity. The blooming effects of these supply chain issues are being felt elsewhere, and the cost of almost everything with a processor continues to rise.

What's worse is that there's no real end in sight for the RAM crisis. Some experts believe that high prices could last until 2030, while others take a more optimistic outlook with a potential 2027 or 2028 solution.

With this timeline in mind, it's easy to assume that the Steam Deck 2 could be two or three years away from an official reveal, never mind a physical launch.

TL;DR: Valve claims it's working on the Steam Deck 2 as its Steam Machine and Steam Frame are delayed due to hardware shortages.

Valve is more worried about handheld gaming power than hardware prices

Let's assume for a moment that there is no RAM crisis. The Steam Machine and Steam Frame launched alongside the Steam Controller, and everyone is having a grand time gaming on the hardware.

In this scenario, I still don't think the Steam Deck 2 would be arriving anytime soon. Valve has publicly stated that its goal for the Steam Deck's successor isn't just to boost performance while delivering similar battery life to the first-gen handheld.

This comment from Griffais was made in 2025. Since then, there have, of course, been advancements in chip technology. Intel launched its impressive Panther Lake mobile generation, Qualcomm revealed Snapdragon X2 SoCs, and AMD continues to forge ahead with Ryzen AI Max APUs.

Are they what Valve has been waiting for? Probably not. But they could be an early step on the way to Steam Deck 2's full development.

TL;DR: As of 2025, Valve has stated it's waiting for significant SoC performance and efficiency advancements before launching the Steam Deck 2.

Could the Steam Deck 2 be the first ARM-based PC gaming handheld?

Considering it's said that Valve made a ton of different prototypes for the original Steam Deck, I don't doubt that the company is exploring all options when it comes to the Steam Deck 2's SoC.

That could include ARM-based chips like Qualcomm's Snapdragon or the rumored NVIDIA N1X, especially if a performance-to-battery ratio is as important as Valve makes it seem.

👉 I tested 5 PC games on the ASUS Zenbook A16 with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme: Is Windows on ARM improving?

Although Nintendo has had massive success using an ARM-based NVIDIA Tegra SoC in its Switch devices, there has yet to be a mainstream PC gaming handheld using ARM. That's a shame considering how efficient we've found Snapdragon X and X2 chips to be in laptops, but I get it — until recently, PC gaming on ARM hasn't been a great experience.

That's changing quicker than I think most people realize, and even something like the Surface Pro 11 with a Snapdragon X Plus chip, a PC that's by no means a gaming system, has proven to be a reliable device for having fun.

Valve is getting cozy with ARM in its Steam Frame VR headset

It's not like Valve would be breaking new ground by considering ARM for its Steam Deck 2.

The upcoming Steam Frame VR headset is known to be using an ARM-based Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, running SteamOS and games locally on the device (it also works connected to a PC).

Doesn't this seem like the perfect test bed for an ARM-based PC gaming handheld? If it works better than expected, great. If not, it's back to the drawing board.

We've yet to see what NVIDIA's N1X SoC can actually do, but we have seen the rather significant generational upgrade to performance and efficiency that Qualcomm has pulled off with Snapdragon X2.

Assuming these improvements continue in future generations, the Steam Deck 2's arrival a few years in the future could line up perfectly with an ARM-based Snapdragon SoC with capabilities far beyond the current state.

TL;DR: Valve could be using its ARM-based Steam Frame VR headset as a test bed for a potential ARM-based gaming handheld.

The AMD-based Steam Deck 2 counter argument to an ARM device

A Steam Deck 2 running on an efficient and powerful ARM chip is an exciting thought, but it's certainly not a guarantee.

The original Steam Deck runs on a custom AMD Zen 2/RDNA 2 APU, and the upcoming Steam Machine is also leaning into an AMD Zen 4/RDNA 3 APU. Many believe the Steam Deck 2 will also stick with AMD, and for good reason.

Valve has put a ton of work into Mesa RADV drivers for AMD CPUs and the Linux platform (which SteamOS is based on), and it's not likely going to abandon that work anytime soon.

Of course, the Mesa3D Turnip driver used by Qualcomm Adreno GPUs has also been receiving its fair share of love from Valve, especially thanks to the Steam Frame, though some believe that has more to do with bringing PC games to your phone than an ARM-based gaming handheld.

In the same vein, Valve has been quietly funding FEX — an open-source translation layer for bringing x86 Windows games to ARM-based Linux — for about a decade.

TL;DR: Valve has put a lot of work into optimizing AMD drivers for the Linux platform, which many view as a primary reason why the Steam Deck 2 will use AMD hardware.

The state of the Steam Deck 2 is anyone's guess until Valve makes it official

I'm basing my predictions on what Valve reps have publicly stated as well as the current tech landscape, but it's ultimately only a select few at Valve who actually know what the Steam Deck 2 could look like.

What I want to know is whether or not you think the scenarios I've laid out here make any sense. Could Valve make the Steam Deck 2 ARM-based if future Qualcomm or NVIDIA chips prove to be a huge step forward?

Or will Valve stick with a future AMD chip, if only to take advantage of all the work it's put into the development of drivers for Linux? Let me know what you think in the comments section below!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

A little over four years ago, Steam creator Valve invigorated the handheld gaming PC market with the Steam Deck. Featuring a strong balance of performance, battery longevity, and price alongside a smooth user experience driven by the bespoke Linux-based SteamOS and quality controls, it was an instant hit. And even as competing Windows devices like the ASUS ROG Ally, the Lenovo Legion Go 2, and the Xbox Ally have come along, the Steam Deck is still the preferred handheld of choice for many.

With the rise of AI bringing a widespread RAM shortage, however, Steam Deck stock has rapidly dried up this year, and it may not be back for a long time; reports indicate that AI datacenters are expected to use up 70% of available RAM in 2026, lengthening a memory crisis so severe that it's hamstringing countless industries, from the production of automotives to the creation of Xbox's upcoming Project Helix console.

To put it lightly, things look pretty bleak for the Steam Deck — especially since Valve recently halted production of the original LCD model, and is only working on making the pricier OLED variants now. In a new interview, however, programmer Pierre-Loup Griffais has promised that the firm is "working very hard" to bring the beloved handheld back in stock.

"Yeah, we don't really have any specific details to share about that, but it's something we're working hard on," he told IGN. "And as you are aware, there's a lot of considerations right now with respect to shipping being difficult, and also memory shortages and all that."

"So we've been trying to work through that because we are very cognizant of the fact that there's folks that want to get Steam Deck and they're not currently able to get it," Griffais added. "It's available in some regions right now, but in general, it's something that we're working very hard on."

In an effort to get its hands on as much RAM as it can — both for new Steam Decks as well as the delayed upcoming console-like Steam Machine gaming PC — Valve says it's aiming to "work with all the big players and some of the smaller ones as well" to have multiple sources of RAM to fall back on when supply runs dry elsewhere.

"We're trying to make sure to keep options open and to work with as many different manufacturers as we can," explained Griffais. "I think in general, that's something that we're doing throughout our hardware design and production phase where we're always cognizant of the fact that having a single source for a given part would put us downstream of potential shortages, and things like that in a way that affects the continuity of the supply and the price for end users."

"So from the get-go, we've been trying to make sure that we have many options there, and that's been proving really useful in this kind of climate, because we can work with all the big players and some of the smaller ones as well," he continued.

Of course, there's only so much Valve can do to mitigate the effects of the RAM crisis, as "the conditions around memory are pretty global right now." Still, Griffais points out that there was a similar situation with microcontroller during the pandemic, and Valve was able to weather it by employing this same strategy.

"Because we had so many different options open in terms of putting different types of microcontrollers in there, we were able to navigate that and keep some supply in a climate where maybe some other players were not able to do that," he added. "So we expect to be navigating the memory thing the same way."

One device not affected by the memory shortages is the new $99 Steam Controller, which comes out on May 4. It looks great, though many feel it's too pricey and will be hampered by its lack of compatibility with Xbox on PC and PC Game Pass.

Have you been trying to buy a new Steam Deck, but have been unable to do so due to the memory crisis preventing restocks? Let me know down below.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

In what might be the worst-kept secret right now, Valve’s hardware, specifically the Steam Controller, has done nothing but leak over the past week.

From a review going live early, to images surfacing online, to even the apparent $99 price (which is now confirmed via Wario64) appearing ahead of time. We now have a fairly clear idea of what to expect if these leaks prove accurate.

On top of that, backend API updates have also surfaced. This API lists not just the Steam Controller, but also the previously announced Steam Machine (console) and Steam Frame (VR headset) as “coming soon.”

I will, however, say before we dive in that I can't actually show any new images myself here, but I will do my best to break down all the new details.

So with all that in mind, let’s do exactly that and break down the Steam Controller and round up everything you need to know.

First off, thanks to 4Gamer, which appears to have leaked a batch of images showcasing Valve’s Steam Controller.

These include details like the controller’s weight (292g), packaging, and comparisons alongside Xbox and PlayStation 5 controllers. Through the same source, we also have a reported release date.

If accurate, the Steam Controller is slated to launch on May 4, 2026.

Now over to a leaked review from TeckyTalk, which briefly went live early and gives us a clearer idea of what to expect. Keeping things simple, here’s a quick breakdown of the important positives and negatives.

Positives:

• Dual trackpads that feel intuitive
• Great for PC gaming on the couch
• Has TMR thumbsticks
• Great buttons and solid build
• Good value at $99

Negatives:

• Not precise enough for competitive mouse play
• No audio jack
• Battery isn’t easily replaceable
• Can feel slippery to hold

I do like the overall look of Valve’s hardware lineup. I will admit I still prefer Xbox’s off-center thumbsticks, though, as they feel more comfortable to me, and the Steam Controller doesn’t offer that.

With all that said, let me know your thoughts on Valve’s hardware lineup in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Valve's Steam Deck Verified Games initiative has been a massive success in the gaming handheld world. Now, Valve has added new beta Steamworks tools for game developers that gather data directly from Steam Deck users.

If a game has made the cut and is Steam Deck Verified, developers can now track average framerates over the past 30 days, as well as receive user survey results based on whether or not a game lives up to its Verified promises.

For those who are worried about Steam harvesting user data without permission, fret not. These two new metrics are based on opt-in user participation.

Valve says it plans to add variance data for each date listed in its 30-day tally at some point in the future, and it also plans to bring this new compatibility chart to Steam Deck games listed as Playable rather than Verified.

👉 After 3 years, Valve's Steam Deck is still one of the best gaming handhelds — but the conversation has changed

The user survey results metric works a bit differently. Again, it's opt-in only, and the survey will only appear after a user has played at least 10 minutes of a game.

Users will be prompted about whether or not they agree with a specific game's Steam Deck Verified status. Should they disagree, they'll be asked to provide reasons why based on Input, Legibility, Performance, Stability, and Other.

These user survey results are meant to accompany the new average frame rate charts and to provide developers with a clearer look at whether or not their tweaks are actually improving the experience for gamers.

How does the Steam Deck Verified program work?

Valve uses a system with four main tenets to judge Steam Deck verification. Controller input focuses on support, appropriate icons, and on-screen keyboard automation. Display focuses on default resolution settings and text legibility.

Seamlessness is more about avoiding compatibility warnings and proper controller navigation. System support relies on Proton compatibility and anti-cheat support.

Games are then given one of four different Steam Deck Verified ratings.

Verified means a game has passed all checks. Playable means it runs with some caveats (maybe text isn't always legible). Unsupported is just what it suggests; this often has to do with anti-cheat not running on Linux. And Unknown means it hasn't been processed.

These ratings are all readily visible in the Steam store, largely taking the guesswork out of the buying process.

Windows Central's take

These new metrics should prove to be invaluable for developers who want to make their game run optimally on Steam Deck.

Although the new charts are only for developers at this point, I don't see why Valve couldn't one day make the data publicly visible, giving customers a better gauge of how a game will run. Perhaps it will arrive once a bank of data has been built.

Valve has been hard at work adding new hardware monitoring, no doubt as it preps for its release of the Steam Machine ... if that ever happens.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

When the Steam Deck originally launched on February 25, 2022, we called it "streamlined, responsive, and undeniably compelling" in our five-star review.

Designed and produced entirely by Steam's parent company, Valve, it arrived running a custom Linux version called SteamOS. This was an introduction to Linux for many PC gamers who'd otherwise been beholden to Windows, and it proved to be a stable, efficient, and clean OS that just seemed to work.

The Steam Deck's main competition was found in Nintendo's Switch, before a wave of PC handhelds was launched by various manufacturers in an attempt to capitalize on the Steam Deck's popularity.

👉 After 3 years, Valve's Steam Deck is still one of the best gaming handhelds — but the conversation has changed

Many of these competing handhelds, like the ASUS ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw 8 AI+, arrived with Windows 11 installed. This, of course, kicked off a debate over SteamOS vs. Windows that continues today.

Both operating systems certainly have their benefits and downsides. Game and app compatibility falls in favor of Windows 11, as does native store access. My biggest gripe about my Steam Deck is that I can't access Game Pass titles, and I know that I'm not alone.

It didn't take long for Steam Deck owners to begin experimenting with running Windows on Valve's hardware.

Was it always possible to run Windows 11 on a Steam Deck?

The Steam Deck was never intended to be a Windows 11 device. While you could "hack" Windows onto the hardware with some awkward steps and community driver efforts during the first year of the Deck's life, Valve eventually made the process a lot easier by releasing an official Windows driver package.

This didn't mean that Valve was suddenly distancing itself from its SteamOS. The company was simply acknowledging interest in Windows running on its hardware while removing some of the biggest obstacles.

With Windows 11 installed on Steam Deck, users could get full support for anti-cheat, access to Xbox Game Pass titles, and better support for other game launchers like Epic, Battle.net, and Ubisoft.

As you can imagine, getting it all to work properly wasn't exactly a straightforward process.

The "Windows on Steam Deck" community steps in to fill the gaps

Until recently, when Microsoft began pushing its Xbox Full Screen Experience/Xbox mode for gaming PCs, Windows wasn't much fun to operate on a small screen using gamepad input.

Windows on a Steam Deck, being the full Windows experience, also came with additional telemetry and bloat, reducing efficiency and performance compared to SteamOS.

This issue wasn't unique to the Steam Deck. In our Xbox Ally X review, it was noted that the Windows experience was still lacking due chiefly to missing optimization.

Many of these issues remain despite Microsoft's recent advancements for gaming handhelds. What else were Steam Deck users to do but create their own solutions?

A Reddit community known as r/WindowsOnDeck arrived in 2022 and has since grown to have more than 15,000 weekly visitors. The community is made up of like-minded PC gamers who prefer installing Windows to dual-boot alongside SteamOS, and it's home to an impressive amount of support documents and how-to guides.

Bald Sealion's ultimate Steam Deck Windows guide can be considered the WindowsOnDeck community's first stop on the journey. It's a veritable treasure chest of installation help, Windows OS tweaks, controller setups, quality-of-life improvements, FAQs, troubleshooting help, and much more.

Community-made utilities that help with controller mapping and more granular power control are available, as are custom scripts that help improve performance and battery life when running Windows.

If you're at all interested in dual-booting Windows and SteamOS on your Steam Deck, I can't think of a better place to check out first. The community is quite active answering troubleshooting help requests, and there are some great discussions on a wide variety of topics.

Why is the Steam Deck an unlikely Windows gaming handheld?

Despite the evident hurdles, including the necessity of custom tinkering and the fact that many consider SteamOS to be the superior way to game, the Steam Deck has become an unlikely Windows gaming handheld.

👉 4 reasons why SteamOS is quietly winning over PC gamers — and why Windows won't be dethroned any time soon

While Valve made the initial steps easier with its official Windows drivers package roughly a year after the Steam Deck's launch (likely in response to Valve seeing how many users wanted to try Windows on its hardware), it's been the community that sprang up around it that has really kept the dream alive.

Although I've always toyed with the idea of putting Windows 11 on my Steam Deck, I've yet to actually go through the process. That's going to change this weekend now that I've seen how many gamers are having positive experiences, and I can't wait to get my favorite Game Pass titles running while I sit back on the couch.

Do you have your Steam Deck set up to dual-boot Windows and SteamOS? How are you enjoying the experience? If you haven't taken the dual-boot pill, do you plan to in the future? Let me know what you think in the comments section!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

According to Valve's yearly Steam review, the PC gaming juggernaut delivered 100 exabytes of data to its customers in 2025. That's an increase of 20 exabytes compared to 2024, and while "20" might seem small, the "exabytes" portion is where things really get out of control.

An exabyte is equal to one quintillion (10¹⁸) bytes, a number comprised of 18 zeroes. That's 1,000 petabytes. That's one million terabytes. That's one billion gigabytes. That's one trillion megabytes. That's ... an insane number.

Averaging out the 100 exabytes across all Steam users for the entirety of 2025, it comes to about 274 petabytes of data per day heading out of Steam's database and into our PCs. That's roughly 11.42 petabytes every hour, or about 190,000 gigabytes every minute.

I'm no mathematician, and it's proving truly difficult to get my head around these enormous numbers. Say you've been buying 10TB hard drives for the past several years. Were you able to purchase 10 million of them? That's how much storage you'd need to hold 100 exabytes.

Assuming you did get your hands on 10 million 10TB hard drives, you'd be able to comfortably store your music collection, comprised of about 12 trillion songs. I'm shaking my head in disbelief as I write this.

Valve puts an emphasis on the growth of its Steam user base as a reason for its massive data delivery expansion. The PC gaming platform hit, for the first time, 25 million concurrent users in 2020, and it has grown by about 3.4 million users each year to arrive at a peak of 42 million concurrent users in 2025.

As Steam has grown so spectacularly, it has increasingly come under fire for its perceived positioning as anti-competitive and greedy, not to mention pushing gambling on minors with loot boxes.

One major class-action lawsuit originating in the UK accuses Steam of using its market dominance to retain users while also rigging prices. It's alleged that Steam's actions limit the potential of competing platforms like Epic Games and GOG.

It's worth pointing out that a 30% commission rate is quite standard in the industry, and Steam doesn't exactly force you to buy games on its platform. It just happens to be the best place to do so.

It's also worth pointing out that Steam introduced higher 75% and 80% revenue share tiers all the way back in 2018, which, as far as I know, is unmatched by any other major platforms. In 2025, this led to the average payout to developers being 76% of revenue.

(via PCGamer)

Windows Central's take on Steam's 2025 Year in Review

Steam isn't perfect, but it sure is a convenient way to find, compare, buy, and mod games to play solo or with friends. It's clear from the astronomical numbers that Valve shared that I'm not alone in these opinions.

Valve being attacked from several angles is not unexpected, and some of these lawsuits do hold water. Loot boxes certainly do feel like gambling. But going after Steam for providing a generally great experience for gamers and developers seems a bit far-fetched.

Valve continues to be a private company under founder and CEO Gabe Newell, allowing it to run without pressure from investors and shareholders. What the company will look like after Newell's departure is anyone's guess, but I know I'm not the only one hoping it retains its core values.

I want to know what you think about Steam's Year in Review 2025!

Did Steam's 100-exabyte tally for data delivery in 2025 surprise you? Were you expecting it to be smaller? Larger?

I'd also like to know your opinion on Valve and its ongoing lawsuits. Do you think they're fair? Why or why not? Please let me know in the comments section!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

For those unfamiliar, Decky Loader is a plugin management tool for SteamOS and Bazzite handhelds. It is easy to install and significantly expands what your Steam Deck, or any Bazzite-powered handheld, can do.

Once installed, Decky Loader lets you add system tweaks, performance tools, and quality-of-life features directly into SteamOS. It runs quietly in the background and does not require deep system knowledge to use.

Bazzite is compatible with most, if not all, Windows-based handheld PCs. However, installing it will replace your existing Windows installation unless you choose to set up a dual-boot configuration.

If you prefer to dual boot, we have a full guide you can follow. It walks through the entire process on an Xbox Ally X, but the same steps should apply to most Windows handheld devices.

To install Decky Loader, follow the steps in this guide. The guide will work on both SteamOS and Bazzite.

Installing Plugins for Decky Loader

Installing plugins is fairly straightforward once Decky Loader is installed. Press the three dots button on your Steam Deck to open the Options menu.

Scroll to the bottom of the menu until you reach Decky Loader, then select the marketplace icon. From here, you can browse, install, and manage plugins directly.

Honorable mentions

Before digging into what I consider essential plugins for your Steam Deck or Bazzite device, it is worth starting with a few honorable mentions. These plugins did not quite make my final list, but they are still well worth checking out depending on how you use your handheld.

First up is XIVOmega, a plugin designed specifically for Final Fantasy XIV Online. It is a must-have for anyone who regularly plays the MMORPG on Steam Deck or Bazzite, offering useful tools that make the experience far more comfortable on a handheld screen.

Next is Decky Lookup, a simple but effective plugin that lets you quickly access information about the game you are currently playing. It is ideal for checking a short guide or looking something up without needing to leave SteamOS entirely.

The final honorable mention is Picture in Picture. This plugin is perfect for slower-paced or more relaxing games, letting you watch videos in the background while you play. I have personally found it works especially well with titles like Slay the Spire, which is also the game featured on the plugin’s download page.

Number 5: PlayCount

First off, we have PlayCount, a plugin that shows how many people are currently playing the game you have selected on Steam, updating in real time. It is not an essential add-on by any means, but it is a surprisingly fun way to see how active a game’s community is.

There is something oddly satisfying about knowing that tens of thousands of other players are jumping into something like Resident Evil 4 Remake at the same time as me, especially when playing on a handheld.

Number 4: HLTB for Deck

This one feels far more essential. HLTB, short for How Long to Beat, shows you how long it typically takes to finish a game, which is exactly what the name suggests.

That information has become increasingly useful as backlogs continue to grow, especially with Steam sales adding more games every year. On a handheld, being able to quickly see whether a game fits into a short session or a longer playthrough can make choosing what to play much easier.

Number 3: SteamGridDB

SteamGridDB adds a surprising amount of polish to your Steam library by filling in missing artwork like hero images, logos, and grid art. It is especially useful for non-Steam games, helping everything look consistent alongside native Steam titles.

This makes a noticeable difference on handhelds, where clean visuals and clear library layouts matter more on smaller screens. Games that would otherwise look out of place blend in naturally once their artwork is applied.

SteamGridDB is also available as a Game Bar widget on the Xbox Ally X, where it helps non-Xbox games look far better within that interface. While this article focuses specifically on Steam Deck and Bazzite, it is worth noting how flexible the plugin is across devices.

If a dedicated guide to the best Game Bar apps is something readers would be interested in, that is something I would be happy to explore further.

Number 2: NonSteamLaunchers and Unifideck

At the time of writing, neither of these plugins is fully integrated into Decky Loader by default. You can still install and use both, but the process requires switching to desktop mode first.

For NonSteamLaunchers, the setup is straightforward. You download the NSLPlugin.desktop file and remove the .desktop part of the filename, then double-click it to begin installation.

Once installed, the plugin becomes accessible through Decky Loader as normal. While this extra step may sound intimidating, it only takes a few minutes and is well worth it if you regularly play games outside of Steam.

Unifideck goes a step further by bringing games from different launchers into one place. Instead of opening Epic Games Store or GOG separately, it pulls your owned titles into a single searchable list within SteamOS.

To install Unifideck, visit the project page on your Steam Deck or Bazzite device in desktop mode and download the unifideck.prod.vXXX.zip file. In Decky’s Developer options, choose Install plugin from ZIP file, navigate to where the ZIP file is saved, and install it.

The two plugins do somewhat compliment each other, with NonSteamLaunchers handling launcher installation and Unifideck keeping everything neatly contained within Steam’s user interface. At the moment, Unifideck only supports Epic Games Store, GOG, and Amazon Games, with plans to expand support in the future.

Number 1: Decky LSFG VX

Decky LSFG VX enables Lossless Scaling on Steam Deck and Bazzite and is designed to help you get more out of your handheld in terms of performance.

For those unfamiliar, Lossless Scaling is a fairly cheap paid tool available on Steam that enables frame generation in supported games. This can help squeeze out extra performance, which is especially valuable on devices like the Steam Deck or Xbox Ally.

Thanks to this plugin, frame generation can be controlled directly from the Decky menu, making setup quick and painless. It removes much of the usual friction and makes advanced performance features far more approachable on handheld hardware.

Frame generation works best when a game already runs at a stable base frame rate, as it builds on existing performance rather than replacing it. It is not a magic fix for poorly running games, and results will vary depending on the title and the settings you use.

Your favorite plugins for Steam Deck and Bazzite

Which Decky Loader plugin has made the biggest difference to how you use your Steam Deck or Bazzite handheld? Let us know by commenting and taking part in our poll below:

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Valve could have celebrated another birthday of its iconic, still beloved Steam Deck yesterday, as the Linux-based PC gaming handheld turned 4 years old on February 25. However, ongoing storage and RAM shortages have affected Steam Deck OLED production, and there are no significant signs that the issue is easing for you (or me) as average PC gamers.

One of the original Steam Deck LCD models, with 256GB of storage, has already been removed from sale. To be fair, it hardly appealed to modern audiences for its comparatively tiny storage capacity for installing games, and its removal seemed to be part of Valve's plan — one I'd agree with.

However, future strategies for the upcoming Steam Machine, Valve's gaming PC, have been disrupted by surging prices for critical memory and storage parts, reportedly driven by the gargantuan rise of enterprise-driven generative AI. As a regular Steam Deck user and general fan of Valve, it's hard to feel as optimistic as when we ran a speculative Steam Machine price analysis last year.

I already had reservations about whether the upcoming Steam Machine would handle graphically intensive modern games with its 8GB of VRAM, despite Valve's claims that it targets a 4K resolution running at 60 FPS by relying on AMD's FSR upscaling technology. If it's on a lower GPU limit and we end up paying over the odds for the hardware, then I could predict a negative backlash.

Is Valve's Steam Machine in trouble or not?

Interestingly, AMD's CEO claims Valve is still on track to release the Steam Machine on its original, yet publicly obscured, launch date. We already know that a "semi-custom" Zen 4 processor from AMD is inside it, so it's reasonable to expect that mass production of that chip started months ago (via PC Gamer).

What that doesn't reveal is what's happening with plans for pricing the Steam Machine, and whether Valve will (or can) subsidize the rising costs. I've personally watched the price of popular desktop memory (RAM) rise from around $98 to $250 for 16GB of DDR5-6000, and I can't imagine it would be easy for Valve to offset the cost of memory chiplets inside AMD's processors.

🗨️ So, what about SteamOS vs. Windows?

The age-old "Year of the Linux desktop" discussion oozes back into popular culture every few months — like a gas leak — though I still firmly believe dual-booting gives you the best of both worlds anyway. Linux and Windows play well together, but the topic of a new distro dethroning Microsoft's PC gaming rule never goes away.

Then again, I'm still bothered by the bickering that happens with some open-source options. Essay-length explanations of developer drama leave me uninterested in booting into otherwise exciting gaming distros like Bazzite, and it feels like I'm back to waiting for Valve to better support SteamOS on any PC — while I stick with Fedora KDE for low-power productivity.

Valve is the only recognized brand that has a chance of making Linux appeal to the average crowd, using the Steam Machine as the Trojan Horse that sneaks it in. Still, if this cube-shaped gaming PC launches with a couple of hundred dollars over what I expect, then kiss those aspirations goodbye. At least SteamOS will stay a boon to the Steam Deck (if you can still buy one in six months).

Are you waiting for the Steam Machine, or are you happy with a Steam Deck? Perhaps neither? Let me know, I'm interested to see how many in our community are eagerly awaiting Valve's next move.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

When it comes to ever-developing tech, there are two ways to handle so-called patent trolls. You can do what most companies do, which is to write a hefty check for the annoying person challenging your ideas to go away, and get back to work. Or you can do what Valve just did, which is spend millions of dollars to systematically dismantle a man’s entire career and leave him personally liable for damages in what reads as the legal equivalent of “f**k around and find out.”

As of earlier this week, Leigh Rothschild, the man who has spent decades filing over 1200 lawsuits against everyone from Apple to small businesses, just did the “finding out.” A jury in Seattle sided with Valve and agreed that Rothschild violated the Washington Patent Troll Protection Act (PTPA).

This win is a massive middle finger to the industry’s most prolific litigator, and it serves as a reminder to everyone: Do not mess with Gabe Newell.

A Peace Treaty that went ignored

To understand how delicious this victory is, we have to go back to 2016. Back then, Valve did what everyone else does with this guy: they settled a dispute with Rothschild. They entered into a Global Settlement and License Agreement (GSLA).

Today I learned that a GSLA is basically a fancy way of saying that Valve gave Rothschild a big pile of "go away" money. In exchange, Rothschild gave Valve a "perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free license" to his entire patent portfolio. It was a peace treaty of sorts. Valve effectively bought the right to never be sued by this man or his dozens of shell companies again.

For six years, it worked for them, but in 2022, Rothschild’s companies started spamming Valve’s legal team with marketing emails basically saying they had fresh new patents, and did Valve want to buy a licence? Valve, knowing they already had a license to literally everything the man owned, ignored the emails.

So, Rothschild did his thing and er… sued them.

Rothschild vs Valve and the Patent Troll Protection Act

A Rothschild-owned shell company called Display Technologies sued Valve in September 2022, claiming the Steam Deck (and Steam in general) infringed on a patent for "displaying content." You can read more on the patent here and pretend you know what you are looking at...

Valve’s lawyers likely had a good laugh before emailing Rothschild’s team a copy of their own 2016 contract, which covered this and other patents. It should have ended there, but it didn't; the Rothschilds’ lawyers refused to drop the case until they were practically dragged out of court, eventually dismissing it "with prejudice". Lawyer words for "you messed up, and you can't bring this specific claim ever again."

But Valve wasn't satisfied with a dismissal and sought to set an example by suing Rothschild under the Patent Troll Protection Act (PTPA) for breaching the original 2016 contract.

The PTPA targets individuals or companies that simply collect and enforce patents without actually using them to create anything, making money through litigation instead (exactly what Rothschild and his entities have been doing). Rothschild claimed that Valve, as a private company,y could not sue under this act and it was simply a private contract dispute; however, the judge in the case ruled Valve’s case was valid as patent trolling is a matter of “vital public interest.t”

Valve then sues Rothschild, and years later has won

So, Valve sued back in 2023, drama ensued, and the case has been going on ever since. It’s worth noting, too, that Valve was suing Rothschild personally rather than one of his many tiny LLCs.

Most patent trolls use a "shell game" strategy. They create dozens of tiny LLCs with no assets. If an LLC loses a case, it just goes bankrupt, and the troll walks away with their personal wealth untouched. Valve’s lawyers, knowing this, went for the jugular by suing Leigh Rothschild himself.

This week, the jury delivered the final verdict that $152k is now due from Rothschild to Valve. A small amount of money in the grand scheme of things, but it sets an important precedent. Because this decision has been made under the PTPA, it clearly indicates that Rothschild’s claims are in bad faith.

Valve didn't have to do this. They could have settled for a fraction of what they spent on lawyers, and it would have cost them much more than the puny $152k ruling. But the team at Valve clearly decided that enough was enough.

By fighting this all the way to a jury, they’ve set a precedent. They’ve proven that not only will contract breakers be punished, but playing the shell game will no longer work. If you use LLCs to harass companies, the court can still hold you personally liable.

GG, Valve. Well played.

Let us know what you think

Valve just flipped the script on a prolific patent troll and walked away with $152K — a rare outcome in an industry where trolls usually drain time and money from everyone else.

Have you dealt with patent‑troll nonsense in your own field, or do you think more companies should push back like this? Drop your thoughts below and let’s talk about it.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

A new Steam feature will help you ensure your favorite games run smoothly on your system before making a purchase. Valve is adding the option to attach hardware specs when writing or updating a user review on Steam.

That addition should make it clear to those shopping for games if a title ran well on a system with similar specs. The feature is optional, so it won't reveal all specs used to power a specific game, but it should give people a general idea of performance on different setups.

Of course, reviews can already include a PC's specs that were entered manually, but the new Steam feature reserves an area for that information.

That option is in beta testing by Valve and started shipping to testers on February 12, 2026. Below is the full change log:

• General
  • Added the option to attach hardware specs when writing or updating a Steam User Review on a game's store page
  • Added the option to provide anonymized framerate data. When enabled Steam will collect gameplay framerate data, stored without connection to your Steam account but identified with the kind of hardware you are playing on. This data will help us learn about game compatibility and improve Steam. This feature is currently in Beta with a focus on devices running SteamOS.
• Steam Families
  • Improved setting layout and navigation on desktop, deck and mobile devices.
• Streaming
  • Fixed a case where streaming could leave downloads throttled even after the stream stopped.
• Linux
  • Fixed a bug that could result in Proton games showing up as "Not valid on current platform" for users with very large libraries when using offline mode.
• Steam Deck
  • When submitting feedback on whether you agree with a Deck Verified rating, if you disagree we'll now ask for the reason. Providing a reason is optional.

The option to add anonymized frame rate data is also quite useful. If you enable that feature, Steam will collect data about the frame rates hit by your system when playing games, but the data is not attached to your Steam account. Instead, Valve will use that information to learn about compatibility and to improve Steam.

Considering the cost of RAM and upgrading a PC in 2026, it's more important than ever to be able to see if your current PC can handle a game without any hardware upgrades.

The final point in the change log is quite interesting. Valve will give users the option to indicate if they agree or disagree with a Deck Verified rating. The Steam Deck is a lovely gaming handheld, but it is far from the most powerful device.

Steam Deck owners want a clear way to know if a game works on the handheld, which should be "Deck Verified" status. That status should mean more in the future since people will have the chance to refute a claim that a game works well on Steam Deck.

Valve seeking feedback and collecting data is potentially paving the path to ensure that "Verified" is a meaningful for those who pick up a Steam Machine once that device launches.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Recently, we covered how Steam Deck OLED stock was beginning to dry up. At the time, many (including us) speculated that rising RAM and storage prices across the industry could be the cause. Now, Valve has stepped in and addressed the situation directly.

Updating the Steam Deck store page with a comment that leaves very little room for interpretation, Valve says, "Steam Deck OLED may be out-of-stock intermittently in some regions due to memory and storage shortages. Steam Deck LCD 256GB is no longer in production, and once sold out will no longer be available."

It doesn't leave much to the imagination, and it isn't the first time Valve has commented on RAM and storage constraints. Not long ago, Valve delayed the release of its Steam Machine and has yet to provide a concrete price. The reason, again, comes down to RAM and storage pricing.

It’s also worth noting that when I checked the store page in the US, all Steam Deck variants are currently in stock, so buying one now could be your last chance for a while.

Memory and storage prices continue to rise, in part due to AI demand reshaping the industry. Some suppliers are prioritizing large AI-focused deals, sending more stock toward data centers and enterprise clients, and leaving less available for consumer hardware.

Even recently, Western Digital ran into HDD stock shortages (via Reddit). Its CEO confirmed the company had secured major AI-related agreements. At this point, a Steam Deck OLED price increase would not be surprising. The same likely applies to the Steam Machine, though we never knew the price to begin with.

And it is not just Valve. Future Xbox and PlayStation consoles will face the same market pressures. In Sony’s case, IGN suggests it could push the PS6 as far back as 2030 due to rising component costs. Nintendo Life also covered rumors of a price increase for the Nintendo Switch 2 this year.

RAM and storage aren't the only components facing issues across the industry, as NVIDIA is reportedly slashing GPU supply, with no new GPU set to release for gamers until 2027.

Are you concerned about how rising RAM and storage prices could impact Steam Deck, Steam Machine, or next generation consoles? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and make sure to take part in our poll below:

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Steam Deck is Valve’s own handheld console, and an impressive one at that. It runs SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system built by Valve with gaming at the core of the experience, and Steam as the focal storefront.

That said, you are not locked into that ecosystem if you are willing to tinker.

Valve stopped producing the Steam Deck LCD, its most affordable model, last year. That left the Steam Deck OLED as the only version still in production.

Now, users have begun noticing that the Steam Deck OLED has seemingly gone out of stock across the US and several Asian regions.

Regions where the Steam Deck OLED is currently sold out include the US and Canada, as well as Komodo, Valve’s official distributor for Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Is this a temporary shortage or something bigger?

Spotted by popular deal hunter Wario64 on X, last night, and further reported on by sites like TomsHardware.

Valve has yet to comment on the lack of stock in the US and parts of Asia. Europe, however, still appears to have inventory, and here in the U,K there is even Steam Deck LCD stock available, which is surprising given production officially ended last year.

There are also reports of stock potentially returning in some regions, though there is currently no indication of when that might happen in the US or Canada

Given current market conditions, with RAM and storage prices climbing and showing little sign of stabilizing, some are speculating that Valve could raise hardware prices. That remains purely speculation for now.

If we keep the tin foil hat on for a moment, rumors of a Steam Deck 2 have circulated for years. Valve has previously said it does not want to release a successor unless it represents a meaningful leap in performance, and at today’s pricing and power levels, that moment may not have arrived yet.

Valve has also reportedly delayed its Steam Machine plans due to rising component costs, which have been heavily impacted by AI-driven demand.

There is still a strong chance this is simply a temporary stock fluctuation and nothing more. If that changes, we will update this article accordingly.

For now, there are other capable handheld options available, including the Xbox Ally. Microsoft is gradually refining the handheld experience on Windows to feel more console-like, bringing it closer to the simplicity that makes SteamOS so appealing on Steam Deck.

Do you think this is just a temporary stock issue, or could something bigger be happening with Steam Deck? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and make sure to take part in our poll below:

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

During a Nintendo Partner Direct on February 5, 2026, Team Cherry announced that Hollow Knight, its classic indie Metroidvania side-scroller, would shadow-drop on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2 after the show ended.

This newer version would include higher frame rates and resolutions, along with new special effects. In addition, anybody who owned the previous versions of Hollow Knight on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch can upgrade to the next-gen versions for free.

However, that wasn't the only announcement Team Cherry had in mind. Following the Nintendo Direct, Team Cherry released a blog on its website, stating that Hollow Knight has received an update that will finally allow it to be played in 16:10 and 21:9 resolutions natively on gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck and Lenovo Legion Go S, and ultrawide monitors.

This is a feature fans have been requesting for nearly a decade since the game was released on Steam in 2017. Before this update, players had to tamper with their video settings to get Hollow Knight to play in 16:10 and 21:9 resolutions.

Now players will no longer have to risk issues to their systems to enjoy this beloved game with the crisp resolution it deserves on handhelds.

What's more is that this update also includes some quality-of-life improvements, which include (according to Hollow Knight's Steam page):

• Added support for 21:9 & 16:10 resolutions.
• Game now pauses while in inventory menus.
• Upgraded to Unity Input System for broader controller support (original input system is still available, if preferred, via Options>Controller>Advanced Settings)
• Added dithering effect, and dithering options, to reduce colour banding.
• Fixed a softlock in City of Tears Grub room.
• Reduced Grey Prince Zote's stagger bounce height.
• Updated Sly's Great Slash collider to closer match visual.
• Salubra's Blessing now deactivates after reaching max Soul.
• Map panning is now smoother.
• Various performance improvements.
• Various smaller fixes and tweaks.

Now's the perfect time to finally clear Hollow Knight from my backlog

It's pretty cool that Team Cherry is taking time out of its busy schedule working on Hollow Knight: Silksong's post-launch expansion to give some love to the original with an update that gaming handheld fans have clamored for for years.

However, my favorite part of this update is that you can finally pause the game while you're in inventory menus.

I absolutely hate not being able to pause in Soulslikes like Dark Souls and Elden Ring because nothing's worse than not being able to pause during a tense fight when real-life issues need to be taken care of, so you have no choice but to die to deal with them, and then restart the fight.

So thank you, Team Cherry, for getting rid of this archaic, inconvenient, and pointless aspect of Soulslikes and finally letting me pause the game so I don't miss crucial phone calls, catch the mailman, and deal with other interruptions without fear of losing my progress.

This one change alone has shot up Hollow Knight to the top of my priority list of backlog Xbox and PC games I wish to play and complete in 2026, and I can't wait to finally play it now that it's reached, in my opinion, final pinnacle form on consoles, PC, and gaming handhelds.

Are you happy that Hollow Knight can finally be played in 16:10 and 21:9 resolutions on gaming handhelds? How do you feel about the rest of this update's gameplay improvements?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, let us know in the comments below.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

NVIDIA's GeForce NOW announced a native Linux app at CES earlier this year, following similar plans in 2025 when it revealed a Steam Deck app at the same show. Now, it's expanding to more traditional desktop distributions, starting with the Debian-based Ubuntu (24.04 and later).

We already saw NVIDIA update its cloud-based gaming rigs to RTX 5080 GPUs last year, supporting up to 5K rendering at 120 FPS or 1080p at 360 FPS with low-latency streaming. At least this time, it's about something more exciting than supplementing the lower-end graphics capabilities of smart TVs and handhelds.

If you've never tried GeForce NOW, it's the same as how Xbox Cloud Gaming lets you rent a remote console to stream Microsoft's games, except you're borrowing a high-end gaming PC from an NVIDIA server that's closest to you. That, and you get access to multiple digital libraries in one combined view, including Steam and PC Game Pass.

Testing GeForce NOW for myself

It's viable to use GeForce NOW just for free-to-play games like Fortnite, and that's part of what makes this Linux build so interesting: it's an answer to popular titles that are lacking native ports. That, and I could even connect my Battle.net account to stream World of Warcraft on practically any device at this point if I desperately need to hand in some daily quests.

I'm particularly happy to say that GeForce NOW's overall responsiveness is getting eerily good. It's actually living up to the low-latency hyperbole I've heard from its advertising over the years, and faster games are now totally playable. Before, I'd mostly relied on cloud gaming for turn-based RPGs and other slow-paced titles, but this is seriously changing my habits.

I did test it on another distro besides Ubuntu (and SteamOS), but Bazzite isn't there yet. GeForce NOW loads and logs in, but it's unstable, and an error forces the app to close after a minute. Not a huge deal for me, since the majority of my cloud gaming is on my much-loved Steam Deck, but I'll keep trying.

In particular, it's the mouse and keyboard latency that I want to test after these GeForce NOW upgrades, and Linux might as well be the testing ground. I'm in no danger of hitting NVIDIA's 100-hour streaming limit, so I'm happy to boot up the same game (or any other) over and over again to see how it compares to running PC games natively in Windows.

For now, if you're running Ubuntu and you have an active GeForce NOW account, you could give it a shot with the free tier, which offers 1-hour play sessions as a kind of trial experience. On other distros, your experience will vary, since they won't be officially supported. Then again, most enthusiast-grade Linux users won't care about that and see it as more of a challenge than a roadblock — let me know in the comments if you find success.

Do you ever use NVIDIA GeForce NOW to stream PC games over the cloud? Let me know in the comments if the poll doesn't quite fit your answer, or if you know something interesting about it that I don't!

On January 27, 2026, Capcom rolled out Monster Hunter Wilds' long-awaited PC performance patch, which aimed to address the many stability, framerate, and bug issues that had plagued the game's PC version since its release last year.

After being in the wild for a few days, the patch seems to have done the trick.

Players all over the internet are reporting that Monster Hunter Wilds on PC is running much more smoothly than ever, and have even stopped review-bombing it on Steam (as confirmed by @Okami13_ on X).

@Okami13_ tested the game on Steam to see what kind of performance improvements this patch has brought to Monster Hunter Wilds, and he discovered that it has:

• Better 1% lows for smoother gameplay with less hitching and stutter.
• Lower VRAM usage (10+ GB -> 7.5GB).
• Higher FPS in some cases.
• CPU optimizations.
• High-res texture pack is actually usable now.
• Lowered the install size by 45GB with texture pack.
• Some users report that their new frame rate WITHOUT FG = old frame rate WITH FG.
• More graphics options to tweak.

@Okami13_ even also discovered that the DLC Checker system bug that caused massive framerate drops has also been fixed.

What's even crazier is that players like @DeckWizard on YouTube are reporting that the PC performance patch has also improved the game's stability to the point where it's actually playable on the Steam Deck.

After tweaking the game's graphical settings and activating the paid 2X FPS Lossless Scaling app that costs $7 on the Steam Deck, DeckWizard was able to get the game running between 30 and even 60 FPS.

Granted, the visual fidelity of Monster Hunter Wilds takes a big hit as you will need to turn most of the game's graphics to Medium or Low. However, the fact that it's playable at all on Steam Deck when the game isn't Steam Deck certified goes to show how much Monster Hunter Wilds' PC performance has been improved.

Granted, the PC performance patch is not entirely well-received.

Reddit user @Unreal_NeoX also did some testing and discovered that Monster Hunter Wilds on PC is still suffering from a CPU bottleneck issue holding back the game's performance from achieving its true potential.

Monster Hunter Wilds - Patch 1.040.03.01 CPU-Settings Performance/Benchmark Test from r/MonsterHunter

He states, "The CPU bottleneck can be slightly improved with the new settings, but it can not be removed. Even with all CPU options set to the absolute minimum, the GPU can not be loaded to its full capacity."

Unreal_NeoX also recommends updating your computer's BIOS, GPU driver, and Chipsetdriver to make the most of this performance patch while having SAM enabled.

Monster Hunter Wilds' road to performance redemption is hitting the home stretch

In the end, while there are still issues to iron out, Monster Hunter Wilds is a much better place on PC performance wise thanks to this patch.

Fortunately, this won't be the last performance upgrade the game will receive, as the base game of Monster Hunter Wilds will receive one final major update in February 2026.

As stated during the December 2025 Monster Hunter Showcase, this final major patch for Monster Hunter Wilds will feature more CPU/GPU optimization and additional levels of quality (LOD) to the polygon mesh for 3D models (reducing GPU processing load).

The good news is that this performance upgrade will be rolled out not just to the Steam version, but also to the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 versions, too.

What's more is that the February patch will also include an Arch-Tempered version of Arkveld, the flagship monster of Monster Hunter Wilds. This newly improved Arkveld will serve as the final ultimate challenge for players to tackle in the base game, much like Arch-Tempered Nergigante did back in Monster Hunter World.

Will this final update help Monster Hunter Wilds reach its performance potential on both PC and console? Stay tuned to find out as we keep an eye out for the release date for Monster Hunter Wilds' final post-launch update in February 2026.

What do you think of Monster Hunter Wilds' PC performance patch? Has it made the game more fun and stable for you, or do you think the game needs further improvements?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, let us know in the comments below.

Somehow, Banjo-Kazooie lives on, with fans of the series now taking to recompiling the game themselves.

Banjo-Kazooie is a fan-favorite 3D platformer from the Nintendo 64 era, developed by Rare of Sea of Thieves fame. After Microsoft acquired Rare, Banjo-Kazooie and other Rare franchises fell by the wayside, but that hasn't stopped fans from requesting the game's revival. Banjo-Kazooie is one of the most-requested Xbox-owned franchises for a return, but so far, Microsoft hasn't been willing to play ball. The community is stepping up instead.

Banjo-Kazooie is getting something of an unofficial PC remaster, to some extent. For those unfamiliar, recompiling a game means taking the original compiled code and translating it into new native code that can run directly on modern hardware. This is not emulation, and it does not require access to the original source code.

In the case of Banjo-Kazooie, the original Nintendo 64 version of the game developed by Rare, has been recompiled to run natively on modern hardware. That includes Windows and, yes, even Linux, without relying on traditional emulators.

For console players, Banjo-Kazooie arrived on Nintendo Switch Online in 2022, while Xbox fans can play it through Rare Replay or Game Pass. PlayStation players, however, are still left without an official option.

What makes Banjo: Recompiled different from emulation

Unlike an emulator, which simulates original hardware, this recompiled version runs natively on your system. That removes much of the performance overhead and input latency commonly associated with emulation.

Just as importantly, the game’s original logic and timing are preserved. The framerate is no longer tied to Nintendo 64 hardware limits, allowing the game to run smoothly on modern displays without breaking gameplay.

This approach is not entirely new. Super Mario 64 has also been recompiled in the past, leading to an explosion of mods and custom content, much to Nintendo’s frustration.

For Banjo-Kazooie, fans can expect a plethora of benefits. Input latency is noticeably lower than most emulator setups, load times are faster, modern controls, and widescreen and ultrawide support are built in. The game also runs on Windows, Linux, and Steam Deck.

As with Super Mario 64, recompilation also opens the door to mods. How far the Banjo-Kazooie community takes that potential remains to be seen but there are some mods already available.

This also is not the first time Banjo has seen a fan driven comeback. A passionate creator recently made a new Banjo-Kazooie within Dreams, a PlayStation exclusive game creation platform that unfortunately never received PC or Xbox support.

For now, most of Banjo’s momentum continues to come from its community. All fans can do is hope the franchise eventually receives the official revival it deserves.

You can check out the GitHub Repo for Banjo-Kazooie recompiled here.

What do you think about fan led recompilation projects like Banjo Recompiled? Let us know in the comments and make sure to take part in our poll below:

Hytale has only been out for just over a week, and fans are already doing some genuinely impressive things with its modding tools. Mods range from Minecraft cross-play to even running Windows 95 inside the game itself.

Despite that momentum, one of the most common requests from players is proper Steam Deck support. While Hytale does offer a Linux version, the experience on Valve’s handheld still leaves room for improvement, particularly when it comes to controls.

The game generally runs well on Steam Deck, but players are currently forced to rely heavily on the touchpads for movement and interaction, which makes the experience feel less intuitive than it should be on a handheld device.

That said, there is some encouraging news. Kevin Carstens, also known as Slikey, co-founder of Hypixel Studios, has commented directly on the possibility of Steam Deck support. Here is what he had to say and what it means for Hytale’s future on handheld PCs.

Steam Deck support is coming, but there is no timeline

As shown in the video above, Hytale can be installed on Steam Deck and generally performs well. However, the lack of controller support is what currently holds it back from being a truly enjoyable handheld experience.

According to reporting from SteamDeckHQ, the outlet reached out to Hypixel Studios co-founder Kevin Carstens, also known online as Slikey, to ask whether the game would receive proper Steam Deck support. Carstens explained that the work involved goes beyond simple input changes, stating:

Carstens also kept expectations grounded, something Hypixel Studios has been praised for due to its open approach to communication. He added that Steam Deck support is not a requirement for the game’s 1.0 launch:

Fortunately, despite the lack of official support, Hytale already runs well on Steam Deck. SteamDeckHQ also noted that Carstens reiterated controller support will arrive before the game’s 1.0 release, describing it as the next accessibility milestone. That work will go beyond basic joystick input, with a focus on broader accessibility needs.

Of course, official support for Steam Deck also opens the door for other handhelds, so it would also be great to see the game get official handheld support for Xbox Ally and other Windows-based handhelds either at the same time as the Steam Deck or not long after.

Do you plan to play Hytale on Steam Deck once official support arrives, or are you already jumping in using the current setup? Let us know by commenting and taking part in our poll below:

SteamOS already offers one of the best console-like experiences you can get on a PC handheld. It is fast, streamlined, and designed to feel simple in a way most desktop operating systems are not.

That said, installing Windows alongside SteamOS can unlock far more flexibility. Dual booting gives you access to games, launchers, and services that simply are not supported on SteamOS today, while still letting you keep the console-style experience when you want it.

In this guide, I will walk through the easiest and safest way to dual-boot Windows and SteamOS. The process works on Steam Deck, Legion Go S, Legion Go 2, and other handhelds that run SteamOS, and it is designed to avoid common mistakes that can lead to data loss or broken boot setups.

Before you start: During the Windows 11 installation process, you may see an option that says, "delete everything." Do not select this at any point. Choosing it can wipe your SteamOS partition and break the dual-boot setup.

A few extra tools will make this process much easier. While some steps can be done directly on the device, having the right setup avoids unnecessary frustration.

You will need a keyboard and mouse, a USB stick, and a USB hub that supports at least three USB devices at once, as well as Ethernet. Windows 11 also requires a minimum of 64GB of storage for the operating system alone, so make sure your device has enough free space before starting for both the OS and some space for any games or apps you’d like to use on Windows.

Although it is possible to complete most, if not all, steps on the handheld itself, creating the required boot devices is often smoother on a Windows PC. If you have access to one, it can save time and reduce setup issues later on.

The USB-C hub that I use (and recommend) can be found here:

1: Update SteamOS to the latest beta (3.6.9 or later)

Make sure that you are on the latest beta version of SteamOS, you can do this by doing the following:

1. To update to beta, press the Steam button or open the Steam menu.
2. Select the Settings option.
3. Go to the System option.
4. Select Beta participation.
5. Change the System update channel from Stable to Beta.
6. Restart and apply the update.

2: Set your SteamOS user password

If you have already set a password before, you can skip this step.

To do certain tasks, you’ll need a user password to essentially provide administrator privileges. It’s straightforward to do, and you can doit by following these steps below:

1. Switch your Steam Deck to Desktop Mode.
2. You can do this by pressing the Steam button, selecting Power, and choosing Switch to Desktop.
3. Once on the desktop, open System Settings from the taskbar.
4. Scroll down and select the Users section.
5. Choose Change password.
6. When prompted to enter a password, bring up the on-screen keyboard by pressing the Steam and X buttons together.
7. Enter a password of your choice and confirm it.
8. When asked to change additional options, leave everything else unchanged and confirm.
9. Once complete, close System Settings and return to the desktop.

You may also want a keyboard from here on out, and to keep things relatively cheap, I recommend an affordable keyboard and mouse combo to save on costs:

3: Create your SteamOS recovery media

This step is essential for resizing your internal drive later. It does not wipe your device and will only be used to safely manage partitions when SteamOS is not running.

Valve provides an official SteamOS recovery image, and you can create this boot media on either SteamOS or Windows. Use whichever system is easiest for you.

You will need a USB stick or microSD card with at least 8GB of storage; however, Windows recommends at least 16GB, so if you plan to just use one USB here, keep this in mind.

1. Download the SteamOS image by clicking here.
2. Insert your USB stick or microSD card.
3. On Windows, download and install Rufus from here.
4. On SteamOS or Linux, download and install Balena Etcher from here.
5. If you are using Windows, follow the steps by clicking here.
6. If you are on SteamOS or Linux, click here to follow the steps.

3a: Using Windows to create boot media

If you are using Windows to create your boot media, follow the steps below:

1. Download the SteamOS image by clicking here.
2. Insert your USB stick or microSD card.
3. Download and install Rufus from here.
4. Open Rufus.
5. Ensure that your USB Drive is selected under Device.
6. With Rufus open, select the Steamdeck_repair img file.
7. Make sure that "List USB Hard Drives" is selected.
8. Under "Partition scheme," select MBR.
9. Under the "Target system" option, select BIOS (or UEFI-CSM).
10. Now press Start.
11. Choose Ok when prompted that all data on the USB Drive will be lost.

3b: Using SteamOS/Linux to create boot media

If instead of Windows, you're choosing to use SteamOS/Linux then you can follow the steps below to create your recovery media:

1. Download the SteamOS image by clicking here.
2. Insert your USB stick or microSD card.
3. Download Balena Etcher from here.
4. Scroll down and choose the 64-bit option.
5. Go to the download location, right-click on your Balena Etcher download, and select Extract.
6. Extract somewhere easily accessible.
7. Once extracted, open the extracted folder, and then select the balenca_etcher file.
8. Choose the execute option.

4: Install the dual boot manager

This step is performed on your SteamOS device.

To make dual booting reliable and easy to manage, you will need a boot manager. This controls which operating system loads when you power on your device and prevents Windows from taking over the boot process.

For this guide, we are using SteamDeck rEFInd, a tool designed specifically for SteamOS devices. It allows you to switch between SteamOS and Windows from a clean menu and supports custom icons and backgrounds later on.

To install it, follow these steps carefully:

1. Make sure you are still in Desktop Mode on SteamOS.
2. Open the application launcher.
3. Navigate to System and open Konsole.
4. I’d recommend visiting this guide on your SteamOS device, and copying this install command:
5. cd $HOME && rm -rf $HOME/SteamDeck_rEFInd/ && git clone https://github.com/jlobue10/SteamDeck_rEFInd && cd SteamDeck_rEFInd && chmod +x install-GUI.sh && ./install-GUI.sh
6. Paste the command into the Konsole window.
7. Press Enter and type your SteamOS user password when prompted.
8. Confirm when asked to proceed with the installation.
9. Once installed, the application will appear on your desktop.

5: Dual boot GUI setup

Once the installation is complete, open the application and review the available settings. This part is straightforward, but I will briefly walk you through what needs to be configured next.

1. Open SteamDeck_reEFIned on your desktop.
2. I won't change many settings here, but you want to make sure SteamOS is the default Boot option.
3. Windows is already selected for Boot Option #2, so leave this as is.
4. You can change other settings if you wish, such as the boot menu icons and boot menu background.
5. Change the Timeout option to what you desire. I have chosen 10 seconds.
6. Select the "Install rEFInd" option at the bottom of the GUI.
7. Enter the password you created earlier.
8. Then choose "OK" and wait for it to install.
9. Then choose "Create Config," especially if you make any other changes.
10. Then select the option "Install Config."
11. Enter your password again.
12. Restart your Steam Deck to see your custom boot screen.

6: Resize the internal drive for Windows

This step creates space for Windows by resizing your existing SteamOS partition. It is done from the SteamOS recovery environment to avoid conflicts with files currently in use.

Take your time here. Nothing is applied until you confirm it, and following the steps carefully avoids data loss.

If you can't load into the SteamOS recovery image, try a Micro SD Card or a different USB stick.

1. To begin, make sure your Steam Deck is fully powered off.
2. Insert your SteamOS recovery USB or microSD card.
3. Hold the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Power button.
4. Release both once the boot menu appears.
5. Select your USB or microSD recovery media from the list.
6. Wait for the SteamOS recovery desktop to load.

Once on the recovery desktop:

1. Open the application launcher in the bottom left corner.
2. Navigate to All Applications and scroll down.
3. Open KDE Partition Manager.
4. Select your internal drive from the list on the left side.
5. Locate the ext4 home partition. This is where SteamOS is installed.

To resize the partition:

1. Right-click the ext4 home partition.
2. Select Resize/Move.
3. Use the slider to reduce the partition size based on how much space you want to allocate to Windows.
4. You can also type in how big you want your new partition size to be.

Once resized:

• Click OK to confirm the new size.
• You will now see unallocated space below the SteamOS partition.
• Right-click the unallocated space and select New.
• Choose NTFS as the file system.
• Confirm the changes.
• Click Apply in the top left corner and wait for the process to finish.

When complete, you should see a smaller SteamOS partition and a new NTFS partition ready for Windows.

Shut down the Steam Deck and remove the SteamOS recovery media. You will use this new partition in the next step when installing Windows.

7: Create your Windows boot media

This step mirrors the SteamOS recovery media process, but this time you will be creating boot media for Windows 11. The overall process is the same, with the only difference being the file you use.

For this guide, I will cover both the Windows and SteamOS or Linux methods, as the steps are very similar. If you followed Step 3, this should feel familiar.

You can safely boot back into SteamOS after the previous step to create your Windows 11 boot media. For this guide, I used a separate USB drive and kept my SteamOS recovery image intact.

1. Download the Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft’s official website.
2. Insert your USB stick into your PC or SteamOS device.
3. Download and install Rufus or Balena Etcher if it is not already installed.
4. Open Rufus or Balena Etcher.
5. Make sure your USB drive is selected under Device.
6. Select the Windows 11 ISO file you downloaded.
7. Leave the default settings unless prompted otherwise.
8. Click Start.
9. Confirm that all data on the USB drive will be erased when prompted.

Wait for the image writing process to finish. This can take several minutes.

Once complete, safely eject the USB drive. You will use this Windows boot media in the next step to install Windows onto the partition you created earlier.

8: Installing Windows on Steam Deck

With your Windows boot media ready and your internal drive partitioned, it is time to install Windows on your Steam Deck. This part is straightforward, but there is one important installer option to watch for.

1. Power off your SteamOS device.
2. Insert the Windows 11 boot media you created earlier.
3. Hold the Volume Down button, then hold the Power button down.
4. Release both once the boot menu appears
5. Select your Windows USB drive from the list.
6. Wait for the Windows installer to load; this can take some time.

Once the Windows installer appears, rotate your Steam Deck into portrait mode. This makes the setup screens easier to use.

It is normal for Windows to be in portrait mode on boot and during setup.

1. Select Install Windows.
2. Accept the license terms when prompted.
3. If asked for a product key, select "I don't have a product key."
4. Choose Windows 11 Pro when prompted, then select Next.
5. Choose the option to install Windows only.
6. Locate the NTFS partition you created earlier.
7. Select this partition and choose Next.
8. Do not delete or format any other partitions.

Windows will now begin installing. This usually takes a few minutes, and the Steam Deck will restart automatically.

After the restart, the Windows setup process will continue.

• Connect to WiFi when prompted, if available, or connect via Ethernet using the USB-C hub.
• Alternatively, you can select the I don't have internet option if available.
• Follow the install process, selecting your region, keyboard layout, etc.

Once setup completes, Windows will load to the desktop, likely still in portrait mode. This is expected and will be fixed in the next step.

9a: Downloading Windows drivers

This step applies to Steam Deck only. If you are using another SteamOS device, you should already be good to go.

For Steam Deck, Valve provides official Windows drivers for each Steam Deck model. These are required to ensure Windows runs correctly on the device. You can follow the instructions here:

1. Download all of the Windows drivers for your specific Steam Deck model from the official page.
2. Once downloaded, extract each folder.
3. Copy each driver folder to a USB drive and keep it somewhere easy to access.
4. You will need this USB drive in the next steps when installing the drivers in Windows.

Very importantly, you must also download the Dual Boot Fix tool. This step is required to prevent Windows from automatically bypassing the dual-boot menu after restarts.

Download the Dual Boot Fix from here and copy it to the same USB drive as your Steam Deck drivers.

If the download link does not work, the tool is also available on the SteamDeck rEFInd GitHub page by scrolling down to the Windows section.

You will run this tool later from within Windows to ensure the rEFInd boot menu always appears correctly.

9b: Installing Steam Deck Drivers

Once Windows has finished installing, several core features will not work correctly until the proper drivers are installed. This is expected and easy to fix.

Before starting, make sure you know whether you are using a Steam Deck LCD or Steam Deck OLED. The driver sets are slightly different.

It is also normal for Windows to be in portrait mode on boot and during setup.

You can download the drivers here if you haven't already.

1. Once the drivers are downloaded, extract each folder.
2. Put the extracted folders onto your USB drive.
3. Insert the USB drive containing the Steam Deck drivers into your Steam Deck.
4. Next, I highly recommend following the instructions for your Steam Deck on Valve's website, here.

Once all drivers are installed, restart Windows.

After rebooting, graphics, Wi Fi, Bluetooth, audio, and SD card support should all be working correctly.

The next step focuses on fixing the dual-boot priority, so Windows does not bypass the boot menu.

10: Fixing problems introduced by Windows

This step is required to stop Windows from bypassing the dual-boot menu after restarts. Without it, Windows can take control of the boot order and load automatically.

You should have already downloaded the Dual Boot Fix tool and placed it on a USB drive in an earlier step.

To apply the fix, follow these steps while booted into Windows:

1. Insert the USB drive containing the Dual Boot Fix tool.
2. Open the folder and locate the file named Setup_rEFInd_Windows_RunAsAdmin.
3. Right-click the file and select Run as administrator.
4. Confirm any prompts that appear.

The script will run briefly and close automatically once complete. This creates a scheduled task in Windows that ensures the rEFInd boot menu is always placed at the top of the boot order.

Once finished, leave Windows running and continue to the next step.

11: Final Windows configuration for Steam Deck

This step helps prevent graphical issues when booting into Windows.

1. Right-click the Start button and type Run and press Enter.
2. With the Run dialog box open, type msconfig
3. Press Enter or OK.
4. Open the Boot tab.
5. Check the option for No GUI boot.
6. Select Apply, then OK.

Once this is done, shut down the Steam Deck completely.

Turn back on the device and load in to SteamOS and follow these instructions:

1. Open the rEFInd GUI from the desktop.
2. Select Create config.
3. Select Install config and enter your password when prompted.
4. Restart the Steam Deck.

You should now see the dual-boot menu on startup, allowing you to choose between SteamOS and Windows with everything configured correctly.

If you prefer a video walkthrough, this guide is based on an older video created by Deck Wizard. However, this version has been updated and modernised, with several tweaks made to reflect current tools and best practices.

When Steam creator and longtime steward of the PC gaming storefront Valve announced the Steam Machine in November, it made some very big waves. Interest in a SteamOS-powered PC designed for the living room that blurs the line between PC and console gaming is high, and so is trust in Valve after the tremendous success of the Steam Deck, the device that propelled the market for handheld gaming PCs into the limelight.

With the Steam Machine's early 2026 release window rapidly approaching, something many have wondered about is how difficult it will be for games to get a "Verified" badge for the Steam Machine; this title from Valve is given to games that it's determined will run well on Steam Deck through testing, and there will be a badge like this for the Steam Machine, too.

The publisher has now addressed this in a new interview with Game Developer, with designer Lawrence Yang explaining that there will be "fewer constraints" to contend with in order for a developer to get their game a "Steam Machine Verified" status.

He also said that "One easy rule of thumb is that if your title is Verified on Steam Deck, it will be Verified on Steam Machine," and that Valve will "be going through the same rounds of testing and providing developer feedback" for granting VR titles Steam Frame verification.

Ultimately, this means that all Steam Deck Verified games will be Steam Machine Verified, too — a result of the system's more powerful hardware specs that compete against the Xbox Series X and PS5, no doubt — and should run well without trouble. It also means that developers will have an easier time getting games to be verified for Steam Machine than Steam Deck, leading to a larger library of Steam Machine Verified titles.

That's good news for game devs and publishers; because that Verified badge signals to players that a game will run well, it's a powerful marketing tool that helps drive sales. Verification is indicative of good performance even on traditional PC rigs, and that's a factor PC players frequently consider when choosing whether or not to buy a title.

Notably, Valve engineer Steve Cardinali also took some time to talk about the new Steam Deck-inspired Steam Controller that will be included with the Steam Machine (you'll also be able to buy it separately) in the same interview, focusing on its accompanying puck accessory that serves as both a wireless receiver and a charger.

Though considered strange by some, Cardinali explains that it was designed to address a few noteworthy issues with standard wireless controller use. Firstly, while you can still use Bluetooth for the controller, Valve went with its own adapter to avoid the "highly variable" nature of spaces with lots of Bluetooth-connected devices in it.

Often, people plug wireless adapters into their PC's rear USB ports next to several others, which can cause interference. To encourage avoiding this practice with the Steam Controller's puck, Valve gave it a USB cable and charging capabilities, encouraging users to leave it in a more forward, open location "where it's likely to have minimal interference while providing a really easy charging experience."

The company's ultimate goal with the Steam Controller and its puck was to create an "It just works" experience, and with smart design choices like these, that will hopefully be how it feels to use it. We'll know for sure when the controller and Steam Machine come out in the near future.

What are your thoughts on the Steam Machine? Do you plan on getting one whenever they become available? How about the new Steam Controller? Let me know how you're feeling in the comments.

Much of the gaming I do in my downtime is now split between a ridiculously overpowered desktop PC, loaded with power-hungry components and unnecessary RGB, and the rest on my beloved Steam Deck. It's a sound system, and one that gets me away from the same desk I sit at all day to work, but it could be even better.

The problem is, handheld gaming PCs like Valve's iconic progenitor and Windows-based responses like the high-scoring ASUS ROG Ally and its Microsoft-centric offshoot, the equally appreciated Xbox Ally X, are just too damn big to be genuinely convenient. Sure, they're portable, and I've traveled around the world with both types, but they take up too much space in my carry-on luggage.

We're already craving more affordable, strange handhelds to offset the ultra-premium options like the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and the Lenovo Legion Go 2. As Rebecca says, "It would be great to see some smaller designs like this that are actually, truly portable and better protected." She's right, and I recently found a relic that perfectly demonstrates how PlayStation did it right in the past.

That faint rumbling sound is thousands of rolling eyeballs from gamers who don't appreciate my comparison between Valve's fully fledged PC and Sony's 333 MHz PSP Go from 2011, but hear me out — it's the pocketability that I miss. Yes, the singular hockey puck-esque thumbstick wasn't ideal, and the shoulder buttons were a spongey mess, but the sliding-screen mechanic was clever.

We came close to seeing its form factor return in 2024 with AYANEO's Slide, but it only revealed a hidden QWERTY keyboard, like some mutated BlackBerry with tacked-on joypad controls. Still, if Mr. Mobile and CrackBerry Kevin can spearhead the Clicks Communicator on the back of that kind of nostalgia, why shouldn't I yearn for a spiritual PC sequel to the PSP Go?

After all, why not? What's preventing manufacturers from returning to this pocket-sized convenience category anyway? Well, even a light pondering of the topic reveals at least two answers: the ergonomics of built-in controls will be compromised, and smartphones are already capable of running modern games without issue — but I hate playing games on my phone.

The most straightforward answer to both is a detachable joypad, something like the Backbone Pro, but it isn't quite right for me. It's another thing to carry, and I want to avoid carrying a bag full of extra gadgets. Plus, I'm far too precious about my phone's battery to force it into playing AAA games. If only there were something closer to a PC— you can probably guess where I'm going with this.

The solution was Windows Phone

You know we used to be called Windows Phone Central, right? We're never letting it go, especially when I think about modern uses for a smartphone running Windows — or even Linux, for that matter. Naturally, I couldn't expect this fantastical phone-turned-handheld to use any standard PC parts like M.2 solid-state drives, but the software side could work.

In fact, people are already running x86-64 Windows PC games on Android via Winlator, so it isn't that far-fetched. However, possibility rarely goes hand in hand with viability, and there's just no reason for this strange in-between hardware to exist. I know how powerful smartphones are and that they can play AAA games, but Android isn't good enough. I want Windows in my pocket.

Big surprise, the Windows Central guy wants Windows. I can hear the "just buy a better phone" crowd, but that's not what I'm craving. I want some entry-level, budget-friendly, compact, and pocketable handhelds that won't threaten to replace any of the high-end category leaders — no dropshipped trash, either. I'm definitely in the minority, but I miss those cute and compact consoles.

Am I just a sad old man yelling at clouds? Did the Temu-flooded clones solve this already? Let me know.

The Legion Go 2 launched in October 2025 as a Windows 11 PC gaming handheld. A few months later, at CES 2026, Lenovo revealed it was launching an official SteamOS version of the Legion Go 2, like the Steam Deck, only with more premium features and internals.

RELATED: Legion Go 2 (Windows) review | Steam Deck review

For those of you unsure of which of the operating systems to choose from when buying Legion Go 2, I've spent some time comparing these two devices and explaining their differences. Let's dive in and discuss how they compare.

TL:DR: Look for the TL;DR sections to get the highlights for each category.

Legion Go 2: SteamOS vs Windows — Specs

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2: SteamOS vs Windows — Pricing

As of right now, we know that the Windows version of the Legion Go 2 has a lower $1,049.99 starting price compared to the SteamOS version's $1,199.99 starting MSRP.

Outside of their operating systems, these handhelds are largely the same, with the same layouts, buttons, processor options, displays, and ports.

It's honestly a bit surprising that the SteamOS version costs more, given that the Windows version of the Legion Go S has a higher price than the SteamOS version.

TL;DR: PRICE WINNER: Surprisingly, the Windows version of the Legion Go 2 has a lower starting price than the SteamOS version.

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2: SteamOS vs Windows — Performance

NOTE: I will conduct performance benchmark testing on the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) when I get my hands on it and will update this section as soon as possible. For now, this section utilizes official spec information for educated analysis.

Despite the Windows and SteamOS versions of the Legion Go 2 having the same Ryzen Z2 Series handheld processors and capacity options when it comes to memory and storage, it's likely that the SteamOS versions will run more efficiently.

RELATED: All AMD handheld chips and how they compare

This is due to the fact that SteamOS is far more optimized for handhelds than Microsoft's operating system. Where Windows 11 is bogged down by bloat and extra background processes, SteamOS is more focused, allowing it to take up less power.

As an example, previous benchmarks showed that the rival Xbox Ally X offered better performance running SteamOS than it did running the Windows 11 it ships with. As such, it stands to reason the Legion Go 2 will also perform better with SteamOS.

TL;DR: PERFORMANCE WINNER: I'll have to run tests to know for sure, but it's very likely that the SteamOS version of the Legion Go 2 will offer better performance.

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2: SteamOS vs Windows — Display

Both the SteamOS and Windows versions of the Legion Go 2 feature an 8.8-inch OLED touchscreen that tops at a crisp 1920x1200 resolution, a high 144Hz refresh rate, and offers VRR (variable refresh rate) support.

Altogether, they offer a fantastic color range and contrast with detailed visuals and smooth motion clarity.

As I noted in my Legion Go 2 (Windows) review, this is the best handheld display to date.

TL;DR: DISPLAY WINNER: It's a tie. Both the Windows and SteamOS versions have the same OLED display.

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2: SteamOS vs Windows — Controls and ports

There is no difference in the general layout between the SteamOS and Windows versions of the Legion Go 2. However, the SteamOS version does show the same game icons for the buttons that the Steam Deck uses.

Both handhelds have offset Hall Effect joysticks that won't develop stick drift, detachable controllers, and a touchpad under the right joystick. They both also have a right controller that has an FPS Mode, allowing the controller to act somewhat like a mouse when dragged around a surface.

I've personally used the FPS Mode for better control in certain games as well as to navigate my cursor around Windows 11 menus, programs, and Google Chrome. I'm guessing FPS Mode will work well in certain games on the SteamOS handheld and in the Desktop Mode. However, I'm not sure how well it will work in SteamOS's handheld mode. I'll be sure to check that out when I review the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS).

On top of the Legion Go 2 is an RGB circle, in the shape of the Legion logo, and at its center is a fingerprint reader that works very well on the Windows handheld. The thing is, this fingerprint reader is also located on the SteamOS version, but it cannot be used since SteamOS doesn't natively support this biometric login technology.

What about ports?

Port-wise, both Legion Go 2 versions offer an audio jack, a microSD card reader that supports up to 2TB, and two USB4 Type-C ports.

Thanks to DisplayPort support, both handhelds can be connected to a docking station and displayed on a TV or monitor. You'll just need to make sure you get a 65W docking station or higher in order for it to be compatible.

TL;DR: CONTROLS & PORTS WINNER: While the buttons, joysticks, and ports are the same between these devices, it's possible that FPS mode is limited on SteamOS and that the fingerprint reader is only supported on the Windows version, which makes Windows the winner here.

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2: SteamOS vs Windows — Software and games

As the names imply, the biggest difference between the Legion Go 2 versions is that one runs the Linux-based SteamOS while the other runs Windows 11.

Out of the box, SteamOS's handheld mode is intended to only access your Steam library of games, but as I explained in my Decky Loader guide, this plug-in makes it easier to access other game services like Battle.net, Epic Games, and more.

Meanwhile, the Windows version is far less optimized for handhelds; it literally operates like a Windows laptop or desktop, which has two main problems: First, many people find the Windows interface to be too convoluted for handhelds compared to the SteamOS interface's console-like simplicity. Second, Windows has far more bloat, with unnecessary programs (for handhelds) and extra processes running in the background. This bloat can slow the handheld down and make it work less efficiently, so it's good to uninstall unneeded programs.

These are some of the reasons why Windows handheld owners have opted to switch to SteamOS or the console-like experience of Bazzite.

Of course, the Xbox Ally X's Xbox Full Screen Experience (Xbox FSE) recently rolled out onto Legion Go 2 (Windows). This mode transforms Windows into more of a console-like interface using the Xbox App; it's an experience that's more akin to the feel of SteamOS, and it also reduces background programs to help Windows handhelds run more smoothly. Xbox FSE isn't quite where I want it to be yet, but Microsoft does have plans to improve it in 2026, so Xbox FSE could get even better this year.

It's also easier to update the SteamOS version and its software by going between your game library and the SteamOS system settings. Meanwhile, you'll need to move between Windows settings, your game services, specific games, AMD Software, and Lenovo Space to keep your Windows handheld and its games up to date.

However, there is a lot of good that comes with Windows as well. You can easily access a web browser, other gaming services, and download programs right out of the box if you know how to use Windows.

Then there's the game compatibility issue.

It's worth noting that the vast majority of PC games are specifically designed for Windows. SteamOS gets around this by using Proton, a compatibility layer, to make Windows games run on Linux. While Proton continues to get better every year, some games still aren't compatible with Proton and thus don't run well or don't run at all on SteamOS handhelds unless you do a lot of tweaking. Even then, there isn't always a guarantee that games will work on SteamOS.

As an example, many competitive multiplayer games require the use of an anti-cheat system to play, but most anti-cheat kernel-level drivers, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's RICOCHET, aren't supported on SteamOS. People have found workarounds, but it's possible a game's anti-cheat could incorrectly flag these fixes and ban your account. This being the case, it's typically safer to play anti-cheat games on Windows devices.

In case you didn't know, you can connect a mouse and keyboard to both the SteamOS and Windows versions and then use them like a typical Linux or Windows computer. I've specifically used my Legion Go 2 to access various non-gaming programs, type up articles for work, and browse the internet using my Artciety Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard with a built-in touchpad ($34.99 at Amazon).

You'll really need to consider what games you intend to play on the Legion Go 2 and then determine whether SteamOS or Windows will do a better job of allowing you to play those titles.

TL;DR: SOFTWARE & GAMES WINNER: We've got a few tradeoffs here. SteamOS is better optimized for handhelds than Windows, and it offers a better console-like interface. However, certain games and most anti-cheat systems do not run well on SteamOS; more games are compatible with Windows.

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2: SteamOS vs Windows — Battery life

Both the Windows and SteamOS versions of the Legion Go 2 offer a 74Wh battery. That said, the SteamOS version likely lasts longer on one charge since its operating system is more efficient, is better optimized for handhelds, and has less bloat (like we previously discussed).

I won't know what Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) battery life is like until I do my own battery testing. That said, my previous Legion Go 2 (Windows) battery tests showed that it tends to run for 1.5 to slightly more than five hours, depending on settings.

Now, the SteamOS version has those same power-hungry Z2 processors, so it likely only runs a bit longer than the Windows version.

I'll update this section as soon as I can run a Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) through battery testing.

TL;DR: BATTERY LIFE WINNER: I won't know for sure until I can do testing, but it's likely that the SteamOS version lasts longer.

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2: SteamOS vs Windows — Grip ergonomics and comfort

The same ergonomic design and shape are at play with both the SteamOS and Windows Legion Go 2.

They are 11.64 inches long, 5.38 inches tall, and 1.66 inches thick, making them some of the largest handhelds on the market. Unsurprisingly, they're also some of the heaviest, ranging between 2.03 and 2.2 pounds depending on configurations.

But your hands and wrists shouldn't cry out just yet. Remember, the detachable controllers are only 0.46 pounds, so you can put the controller in tabletop mode if you tend to experience wrist fatigue.

TL;DR: COMFORT WINNER: We have a tie. Both versions are the same when it comes to ergonomics, dimensions, and weight.

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2: SteamOS vs Windows — Comparison chart

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2: SteamOS vs Windows — Which should I buy?

In all honesty, both the Windows and the SteamOS versions of the Legion Go 2 could make for the perfect handheld, depending on what you want from your portable gaming device.

Generally, more people will likely prefer the SteamOS version due to its console-like interface and efficiency, but Windows can be a better fit for certain use cases.

In the end, choose the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) if you want a handheld that feels more like a dedicated gaming system than a full-blown PC. SteamOS is also a preferred option thanks to how efficiently it runs without unnecessary bloat.

Meanwhile, choose the Legion Go 2 (Windows) if you tend to play games with anti-cheat systems or other titles that don't run well on SteamOS. Alternatively, you might want to go with the Windows version if you want to use your handheld like a Windows gaming laptop or desktop, for school, work, or personal tasks.

NOTE: If you need a handheld right now, you're kind of out of luck, unless you're willing to give in to scalpers. The Windows Legion Go 2 has been out of stock at most retailers for a couple of months, and the SteamOS version doesn't launch until June 2026.

Back to the top ^

The Steam Deck was the only official SteamOS PC gaming handheld for several years, until the Lenovo Legion Go S — Powered by SteamOS entered the ring. Now, Lenovo has announced that its flagship handheld is also getting a new version, the Legion Go 2 — Powered by SteamOS.

Once this device launches, buyers will have the choice of going with either a Windows 11 Legion Go 2 or a SteamOS one.

RELATED: Legion Go 2 (Windows) review | Steam Deck review

But how does the new Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) actually stack up against the Steam Deck? I've compared these two devices in a number of different categories, based on available specs, to find out.

TL:DR: Look for the TL;DR sections to get the highlights for each section.

Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) vs Steam Deck: Specs

TL;DR SPECS WINNER: There's no doubt about it. The Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) offers far more impressive specs. However, its starting price isn't at all budget-friendly, unlike the Steam Deck OLED.

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) vs Steam Deck: Price & value

Recently, the Steam Deck LCD 256GB (2022) was discontinued (like the Steam Deck LCD 64GB before it) — its $399.00 starting price had made it Valve's most affordable handheld for a while. But even with Valve removing this entry-level option, the Steam Deck OLED is still more affordable than the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS).

You can get the Steam Deck OLED with either 512GB of storage for $549.00 at Steam or 1TB of storage for $649.00 at Steam. Meanwhile, the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) has a starting price of $1,199.00 — that's more than double the starting price of the Steam Deck OLED.

Additionally, the Steam Deck OLEDs are currently available for purchase, while the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) isn't expected to ship until June 2026. As such, you'll have to wait a while before you can get your hands on this new official SteamOS handheld.

TL;DR: PRICE WINNER: In terms of affordability, the Steam Deck OLED is by far the better budget buy. Its starting price is less than double the starting price of the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS). The Legion Go 2 is more costly, but it does give you more features.

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) vs Steam Deck: Performance

NOTE: I will conduct performance benchmark testing on the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) when I get my hands on it and will update this section as soon as possible. For now, this section utilizes official spec information for educated analysis.

Now, some of you are far more interested in the performance of a handheld than its price, so let's dive into how the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) performs versus the Steam Deck OLED.

Performance is a tricky thing, especially when it comes to handhelds. It's determined, not only by how powerful the internals are, but by how well the system of hardware works with the software it's running.

On paper, the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) offers a much, much more powerful APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) — an AMD SoC (system on chip) that combines a CPU (central processing unit) and GPU (graphics processing unit) for better efficiency to fit a smaller form factor.

The Legion Go 2 (SteamOS)'s Ryzen Z2 Extreme's CPU utilizes eight cores and 16 threads using the latest Zen 5 architecture, while the GPU has 16 cores and utilizes RDNA3.5, which is the latest architecture for integrated GPUs.

In comparison, the Steam Deck OLED only has half of the CPU threads and cores (4C, 8T) and half the GPU cores (8C), while using older architecture for both. Having more cores and threads allows a processor to work more efficiently and take on more work at once, which is important for gaming performance.

RELATED: All AMD handheld chips and how they compare

Then there's also the fact that the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) with 32GB RAM and 2TB SSD can have up to double the memory and storage space of the Steam Deck OLED with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD. This not only gives the Legion Go 2 room for more games but also allows the system to access data quickly, theoretically resulting in faster loading and saving times.

One last thing to note is that the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) supports VRR (variable refresh rate) while the Steam Deck does not. This is an important distinction since VRR reduces screen tearing and helps games play more smoothly. So even motion clarity is likely better on the Lenovo's handheld.

What this all means is that the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) can take on more graphically intensive tasks than the Steam Deck can handle. As an example, some AAA games might not run well on Steam Deck or might not boot at all, but it's possible that those same games could run well on Legion Go 2 (SteamOS), depending on system requirements.

That all said, we'll have to see how well the Legion Go 2 specifically plays with SteamOS. My guess is that it will be a major performance improvement over the Legion Go 2 (Windows), given that SteamOS has a lot less bloatware and extra processes going on in the background.

What's more, previous benchmarks showed that the rival Xbox Ally X offered better performance with SteamOS than it did with its shipped Windows 11, so it stands to reason the Legion Go 2 will perform better with SteamOS as well.

As far as upgradability goes, I'm willing to bet that the Steam Deck is easier to upgrade than the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS). When I reviewed the Windows version of the Legion Go 2, I took a look inside of it and noted that it hadn't really been designed with easy upgradability in mind, so I'm guessing the same is true of the SteamOS option.

TL;DR: PERFORMANCE WINNER: The Legion Go 2's AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip is far more powerful than the Steam Deck's custom AMD chip. Lenovo's handheld also offers more memory and storage. All of this together means that the Legion Go 2 should be able to run games that the Steam Deck cannot.

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) vs Steam Deck: Display

This is another area where the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) absolutely dominates.

The Steam Deck OLED has a 7.4-inch OLED touchscreen, but it tops out at 1280x800 resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate, which is pretty limited by today's handheld standards.

Meanwhile, the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) has a notably larger OLED display that measures in at 8.8 inches. When side-by-side with a Steam Deck OLED, this screen size difference feels massive and allows you to make out more details in your games.

On top of that, the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) has a wider color gamut for richer hues and better contrast. It can also hit a higher resolution of up to 1920x1200, providing much crisper imagery for you to view, while a 144Hz refresh rate and the previously mentioned VRR support reduce motion blur and provide smoother visuals.

It's worth noting that the Legion Go 2's display isn't just better than the Steam Deck's display; it's also the best handheld display to date.

TL;DR: DISPLAY WINNER: There is no debate here. The Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) OLED display is better than the Steam Deck OLED in every way, including higher resolution, refresh rate, color range, size, and VRR support.

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) vs Steam Deck: Controls and ports

Controls and ports are where the Steam Deck and Legion Go 2 really show their physical differences.

They have the same general layout with joysticks on either side, ABXY buttons on the right, D-Pad on the left, bumpers, triggers, four back buttons, and a smattering of system and game buttons.

These controls mostly all function the same. In fact, the SteamOS version of the Legion Go 2 shows the same symbols on the buttons that the Steam Deck OLED does. So there shouldn't be any confusion on that score.

Now for the differences.

Perhaps the most important difference here is that the Legion Go 2 has offset Hall Effect joysticks and triggers, while the Steam Deck has inline analog joysticks. This means that the Legion Go 2 won't experience stick drift, but the Steam Deck might.

Another thing to note is that the Steam Deck OLED offers two touchpads, one under each joystick, while the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) only has one slightly smaller touchpad under the right joystick. To be fair, many people only end up using the right touchpad, but you might be an outlier with your preferences, so it's something to consider.

The biggest control difference between these handhelds is that the Legion Go 2 offers detachable controllers (Legion TrueStrike controllers), like the Nintendo Switch 2. You simply press a button on the back of the controllers and pull them down to remove them. Since the Legion Go 2 has a built-in kickstand, you can take the controllers in hand and play while the tablet part is propped up on its own on a table.

But wait, there's more; another feature the Steam Deck doesn't offer.

The Legion Go 2's right controller has an FPS (first-person shooter) switch on the bottom and comes with a magnetic stand. When this switch is toggled, and the controller is placed in that stand, the right gamepad can be moved around on a surface, a lot like a mouse, to navigate game menus or even be used for first-person shooters.

Both of the Legion Go 2's controllers also feature USB-C ports so they can be charged separately, if desired. But they also charge if they're connected to the Legion Go 2 while it's plugged in and charging.

Something to note is that the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS)'s power button also doubles as a fingerprint reader. However, SteamOS does not natively support this biometric login feature, so it's unusable on this handheld. Of course, this also explains why the Steam Deck doesn't have a fingerprint reader.

What about ports?

When it comes to ports, the Steam Deck OLED is modest, but it gives you all the basics you need. There's one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, one microSD card reader, and one audio jack.

In comparison, the Legion Go 2 also has an audio jack and a microSD card reader. It differs in that it has two USB4 Type-C ports, which are more than twice as fast and support higher resolutions. Additionally, having two ports is more convenient since you can charge your device with one connection while having an accessory plugged into the other port at the same time.

Since both the Steam Deck and Legion Go 2's USB-Cs support DisplayPort, both handhelds can be connected to a docking station and displayed on a TV or monitor. However, the Steam Deck only needs a 45W docking station while the Legion Go 2 needs 65W or higher for it to work.

TL;DR: CONTROLS WINNER: There are a lot of differences here, but the Legion Go 2's Hall Effect joysticks, detachable controllers, FPS mode, and dual USB4 ports make it the more convenient handheld in terms of controls and ports.

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) vs Steam Deck: Software and games

There isn't too much to get into in this section, given that both the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) and the Steam Deck run the Linux-based SteamOS as their operating system. This means the menus and user interface are the same.

Out of the box, both devices are intended to only access your Steam library of games. But you can access other gaming services like Epic Games, Battle.net, and more using certain plug-ins and programs.

If you're interested in something like that, check out my guide on how to install Decky Loader on SteamOS handhelds.

As I mentioned previously, the Legion Go 2 configuration with a Z2 Extreme chip will be able to run more AAA games than the Steam Deck OLED since it has stronger internal hardware.

TL;DR: SOFTWARE & GAMES WINNER: Both handhelds might offer the same SteamOS operating system and interface; however, the Legion Go 2 is the winner here since it is powerful enough to run more AAA games than the Steam Deck OLED can handle.

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) vs Steam Deck: Battery life

Simply by looking at the specs, it might appear as though the Steam Deck OLED's 50Whr battery has a shorter battery life than the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS)'s 74Wh battery, but that's probably not the case.

A battery drains faster if it has to support more power-hungry processors and displays, like those in the Legion Go 2. This being the case, it's very possible that the Steam Deck OLED has a longer battery life.

Typically, the Steam Deck OLED can last between three and 12 hours, depending on the settings it's running at. I won't know for sure how long the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) lasts until I run my own battery life tests on it.

However, I know from previous testing that the Legion Go 2 (Windows) tends to only last between 1.5 and slightly more than five hours. Considering that SteamOS lets handhelds run more efficiently than Windows 11, I expect the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) to have a longer battery life than the Windows version, but probably not by a ton.

TL;DR: BATTERY LIFE WINNER: Due to its more power-efficient system, the Steam Deck tends to last longer than the Legion Go 2.

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) vs Steam Deck: Grip ergonomics and comfort

There's a lot of debate over whether or not the Steam Deck OLED is comfortable to hold. While certainly a beloved handheld, the Steam Deck isn't nearly as ergonomically shaped as the Legion Go 2, but it isn't as heavy either.

Valve's Steam Deck OLED weighs in at 1.41 pounds while being 11.7 inches long, 4.6 inches tall, and 1.9 inches thick. Meanwhile, the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) is much heavier at 2.2 pounds while being 11.64 inches long, 5.38 inches tall, and 1.66 inches thick.

Of course, one huge difference here is that you don't have to hold the entire Legion Go 2 in your hands if you don't want to. Those detachable controllers only weigh 0.46 pounds and won't strain your hands nearly as much as a whole Steam Deck OLED.

TL;DR: COMFORT WINNER: The Steam Deck might weigh less than the Legion Go 2, but Lenovo's handheld is more ergonomically shaped and has detachable controllers that won't strain your wrists as much.

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) vs Steam Deck: Comparison chart

Back to the top ^

Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) vs Steam Deck: Which should I buy?

I've compared just about every aspect of these handhelds, and it's time to declare one the winner. The thing is, they are both good options. What this final decision really comes down to is your preferred playing experience.

If you're specifically wanting a handheld so you can play the latest and greatest AAA games, then the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) is the device you want. Just remember, not all games are compatible with handhelds, so you'll need to check system requirements on a case-by-case basis.

I also recommend the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) if you want a larger display that will be easier to see details on. Or if you deal with hand fatigue and want a handheld that will reduce discomfort.

But while the Legion Go 2 is undeniably the more impressive handheld here, you might not need the very best handheld to meet your gaming needs.

At the end of it all, the Steam Deck OLED remains the best budget-friendly handheld, even if it is older and not nearly as powerful. It can still be used to access a wide range of games, and it has a large community that is eager to share tips with newcomers.

Before you purchase either the Steam Deck OLED or the Legion Go 2 (SteamOS), think about what you want to do with your handheld, what types of games you want to play, how much money you're willing to spend, and any features you know you don't want to go without. Then choose the handheld based on that.

Back to the top ^

I've been thinking about this a lot over the festive period, not least because handheld gaming has quietly become my primary way to play again, but something about this year in the handheld gaming space hit differently.

Not since the Nintendo DS days has handheld gaming been such a daily driver for me as it was with the Steam Deck and then the Xbox ROG Ally X this year, to the point I've actually only turned on my Xbox Series S for the kids.

There's just something great about being able to sit with family, be social, maybe have a show on in the background, and generally multitask. Sneaking in a few hours of gaming without disappearing into another room. Life is busy, and handhelds just fit into the cracks of real life better than a console or PC for me.

2025 really was the year of handheld gaming, with more options than ever to choose from; the space has exploded. Steam Deck momentum has carried a wave of new devices, the ROG Ally became an Xbox, Lenovo fired out more variants than anyone asked for, and the Switch 2 finally arrived with some actual horsepower behind it.

It felt like every month carried another announcement and spec sheet, another potential "Steam Deck killer," but the truth is that no handheld on the market will compete with the Nintendo Switch or the Steam Deck in a real way until they fix this one glaring problem — the naming conventions are an absolute mess.

The Switch is simple. Other gaming handhelds need to take note.

The Nintendo Switch, and this year the Nintendo Switch 2, are a mass market hit. Clarity helps a lot, you know what a Switch is. You know what a Switch Lite is, and you know what a Switch OLED is. All very self-explanatory titles. Even parents who don't know the difference between RAM and a sandwich toaster can walk into a shop and buy the right thing.

RELATED: Lenovo Legion Go 2 vs Legion Go S: Which is better?

Compare this simplicity to the PC handheld lineup right now? If you dropped the whole range of options in front of someone who isn't chronically on Reddit, they'd have no idea which is the "good" one. The Legion Go S alone has multiple variants with different chips, RAM, storage, and different operating systems, all at similar price points.

The SteamOS version is fantastic, the Windows version? Not so much (go read our Legion Go S review vs our Legion Go S Steam OS review to learn why). How on earth is a normal consumer meant to know this?

And then, there is Xbox

The Xbox Series S and X are named to be clearly segmented (although some may argue the two-tier system IS confusing for the average Mom popping into Target). But most people get that the Xbox Series S is the entry-level, and X is the high-end model.

So why didn't Xbox apply this naming style to the Xbox ROG Ally line-up? The Ally X is the premium model; the white one should have been the Xbox Ally S to more clearly differentiate them. It fits the brand, and it clearly communicates the difference. And what is the difference between the Rog Ally X and the Xbox Ally X besides the shape?

RELATED: ROG Ally X vs Xbox ROG Ally X

Then again, I am talking about the same brand that saw fit to have an Xbox Elite, and Xbox Elite Series 2 and Xbox Elite Series 2 Core controllers....

Consumers shouldn't need a spreadsheet to buy a gaming handheld, and right now, Steam Deck is doing the best

Right now, many handhelds sit in the $500 to $800 range, and you would hope that anyone spending that kind of money on a device would be doing a modicum of research. But it is a problem that two devices can sit on a shelf in a similar price bracket, yet one may have double the RAM, a better chip or OS, and unless you've spent hours researching, you'd never know.

That's not how you grow a market and take on the Nintendo Switches of the world. If anything, the Steam Deck is miles ahead in this regard.

I've recently picked up the Xbox ROG Ally X, and I'm enjoying it. Access to more libraries is great, and the hardware is definitely up to the task of more power-hungry games than my Steam Deck LCD was, but I'm constantly fiddling with settings. I'm dealing with updates all the time (some of which are halfway through a game, leading to me losing progress). I'm often troubleshooting with it. With the Steam Deck, I rarely had to mess around with it.

SteamOS is the only PC handheld experience that truly feels like a console out of the box, and Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) has a long way to go before it competes in this regard. I'd say the Steam Deck is the most mainstream of all the gaming handhelds and is actually built for consumers and not just hardcore enthusiasts (though there are certainly many that tinker and do impressive things with their Steam Deck, but it's optional).

2025 was huge for handheld gaming, but 2026 will make or break it.

This year was packed with huge milestones for handheld gaming. Lenovo, with its SteamOS partnership, Switch 2 is finally hitting the market, and Xbox is rolling out the FSE to try and smooth out the kinks for Windows-based handhelds (it hasn't worked... yet). And also everyone and their uncle arguing over if the Xbox ROG Ally is an Xbox or not (it's not, guys, sorry).

If handheld PCs want even a sliver of the success of the Switch, then going forward, the industry needs clearer naming conventions and product tiers, clearer marketing, and much clearer explanations of what each device can actually do and run. The appetite is certainly there for handheld gaming to become huge again, and the lifestyle fit is undeniable. But people need to understand what they are buying.

Did you buy a gaming handheld last year, or are you holding out to see what's coming next? Do you even care about these handhelds at all? Let me know in the comments and vote in the poll!

If you just got a Steam Deck, congratulations and welcome to the Steam Deck family!

But, new Steam Deck owners, before you dive into any gaming sessions, there are some things you should do first. While Valve's handheld makes portable gaming possible, it isn't a very powerful device, so you'll want to adjust in-game settings as well as system settings to get the best performance possible.

Here are the things you should do first after getting your Steam Deck.

1. Fully update your Steam Deck

You'll get the best performance from your Steam Deck if its software is current and up-to-date. As such, the very first thing you want to do is manually update your handheld gaming PC. Here's how to do that.

1. Press the Steam button.
2. Select System.
3. Where it says "Software Updates," either tap Apply or Check for Updates.
4. Finally, if there are updates, select Restart.

After your Steam Deck has restarted, it will have all of the latest updates installed. You're well on your way to getting your handheld set up and ready for use.

2. Install Decky Loader and maybe even NVIDIA GeForce NOW to access other game services and run games the Steam Deck can't

Out of the box, the Steam Deck's Gaming Mode is really only designed to interact with your Steam library, but the homebrew Decky Loader plugin makes it possible to easily access other game services such as Epic Games, Ubisoft Connect, and more.

I have a whole other Deck Loader installation guide for Steam Deck with step-by-step instructions and pictures if you want help with that.

As for NVIDIA GeForce NOW, this is a subscription service that allows you to run the games you already own on one of NVIDIA's powerful servers.

In other words, even if the Steam Deck isn't powerful enough to play a game locally, you can run it smoothly on your handheld via the cloud as long as you have a good enough internet connection.

If you want help with that, check out my guide on how to set up NVIDIA GeForce NOW on Steam Deck.

3. Increase Steam Deck VRAM when playing graphically intensive games

If you want to get the best performance for more graphically advanced games, then you'll want to manually adjust VRAM (Video Random Access Memory) on your Steam Deck. VRAM refers to the amount of fast-access memory that's dedicated to your graphics card.

My colleague wrote a guide on how to change VRAM on the Steam Deck, so you can follow his step-by-step instructions. This does require you to go into the BIOS.

4. Launch games into Proton Experimental Mode for better performance

Sometimes, a game might not run well or might not run at all on Steam Deck's basic Proton mode, but it might be able to run via Proton Experimental.

Proton is a compatibility layer that allows games that were designed for Windows to operate via the Steam Deck's Linux-based operating system. Meanwhile, Proton Experimental is a mode that tests additional features and patches, which is why some games might work when it's in play.

How to turn on Proton Experimental Mode:

1. Press the Steam Button and navigate to your Library.
2. Select the game you want to play (Download it if it isn't already).
3. Instead of pressing Play, tap the ⚙️ Settings icon on the right side of the screen.
4. Select Properties.
5. Tick the box next to where it says, "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool."
6. Tap the dropdown below and put it on Proton Experimental.
7. Press B a few times to back out to your game.
8. Press Play and the game should run in Proton Experimental Mode.

5. Enable FSR (when possible) and adjust game settings

Most simple pixel art games will run just fine on the Steam Deck, but you'll likely need to make adjustments when playing more graphically demanding titles on this handheld.

For the most part, you'll want to put most game graphics settings on low or a Steam Deck preset, if that's available. Doing this will help the game run more smoothly and could reduce or eliminate any lag or stuttering you initially encounter.

Another helpful tip is to turn on FSR, AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution, when it's offered. This technology improves performance by rendering games at a lower resolution and then upscaling them, so they still look good.

Here's how to turn on FSR on Steam Deck:

1. Within the game's graphics settings, reduce resolution to 1280x720 and make it Windowed rather than Full Screen.
2. Now, find the upscaling option and make sure to enable FSR.
3. You can verify that FSR is on by pressing the QAM button (...) to bring up the side menu.
4. Then go to the Performance tab and put the slider to 4 on the Performance Overlay Level.

With that all done, your FSR-compatible games should run a bit smoother, and the overlay will help you verify whether or not FSR is actually on or not.

If you don't want to see the Performance Overlay, simply open the side menu again and put the Performance Overlay Level back down to Off.

6. Adjust Steam Deck TDP and Frame Limit based on the games you're playing

TDP (thermal design power) is something that can be adjusted on your Steam Deck to determine how much power your device draws from the CPU and GPU. Operating at a lower TDP allows your Steam Deck's battery to last longer, but more CPU-intensive or graphically demanding games require more power to run smoothly — so the trick is finding a balance between power and battery life when possible.

Meanwhile, frames per second refers to how fast images are taken and displayed on the screen. Simpler games don't need a high frame rate, but more intensive, competitive games like first-person shooters need higher frame rates to reduce input lag and offer smoother motion clarity.

EXAMPLE: A Pixel art game like Stardew Valley can typically run at 3W-6W TDP with frame rate set to 30FPS to improve battery life. Whereas, AAA games like Cyberpunk should be played at max 15W and 40-60FPS, depending on your settings.

Here's how to adjust frame rate and TDP on Steam Deck:

1. Press the Quick Access Menu (QAM) button (...) on the right side of the Steam Deck.
2. Select the ⚡Performance tab.
3. Use the Frame Limit slider to change between 10FPS and 60FPS.
4. Use the TDP Limit slider to change between 3W and 15W.

7. Consider upgrading the SSD instead of using a microSD card

Depending on which model of Steam Deck you received, you likely have a 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB capacity for your game files. If you want more storage room, your two main options are a microSD card or upgrading the SSD. The first option is an easy fix, but the second one provides better performance.

Storage-wise, 1TB or higher is ideal if you play a lot of games, so that's one reason to upgrade. Another is that you can make your Steam Deck load and save faster if you upgrade the SSD.

In case you didn't know, the SSD that comes installed in the Steam Deck tends to only hit up to 2,000MB/s, but there are faster options on the market that will make your handheld run even quicker, such as the Crucial P310 1TB SSD, which offers up to 7,100MB/s read speed.

If you do decide you want to permanently improve your device's storage, check out my guide on how to upgrade the Steam Deck SSD.

BONUS: Use Desktop mode to surf the web and much more

Your Steam Deck isn't just a handheld; it's more like a portable, Linux gaming laptop that offers controller functions instead of a keyboard. There's even a desktop mode where you can go to browse the web, install/uninstall programs, explore files, and much more.

This is also where you'll need to go to install certain programs that aren't compatible with Steam Deck out of the box. If you want, you can even check out our guide on how to make Steam Deck dual-boot Windows 11 and SteamOS.

Here's how to get to the Steam Deck desktop:

Steam button > Power > Switch to Desktop

NOTE: You can get back to the typical handheld mode by tapping the white and blue icon on the desktop that says "Return to Gaming Mode."

Our favorite Steam Deck accessories

Accessories can improve your Steam Deck experience by quite a bit. These are my most recommended peripherals, whether you want more storage space for your games, case protection, a TV docking station, or other useful accessories.

Get your Steam Deck ready for play

There you have it, seven things you should do before truly jumping into a game on your brand-new Steam Deck. You'll appreciate taking the time to adjust system and individual game settings if you want to get the very best performance possible.

It's also just a good idea to familiarize yourself with the QAM and Desktop mode, so you know what kind of things you can even do on the Steam Deck.

Of course, I highly recommend grabbing some accessories to enhance your gaming sessions further. For example, I usually play my Steam Deck in handheld mode, but there are times when I prefer to play it on my TV, and that's when I love having my docking station. Then there's the added protection you can get from screen protectors and cases, so don't skip out on those.

So, now we want to hear from you. What was the main reason you wanted your Steam Deck? Is it your main gaming device, or do you only use it for something specific? Tell us about it in the comments.

In a surprise move, or perhaps not so surprising given current market conditions, Valve has not only stopped stocking the Steam Deck LCD in the U.S., but has also explained that it is phasing out the entry-level gaming handheld.

Other regions may follow, but that has not been confirmed, and Valve has yet to officially comment on the phasing out of the LCD model.

The Steam Deck LCD has been Valve’s most affordable handheld to date. If I’m allowed to speculate, rising RAM and storage prices could be part of what is making the LCD model harder to justify in the current market.

Typically priced at $399, the Steam Deck LCD has been one of the most affordable handheld PCs, especially for what it can do. That was even more true over Black Friday and Cyber Monday, when it was discounted by 20%, which could suggest Valve was keen to get rid of remaining stock.

Good bye, Steam Deck LCD — You were an amazing handheld

I’ve actually recently purchased a Steam Deck OLED for my sister for Christmas, but it is still sad to see the LCD variant being phased out. It could be down to rising component costs, but Valve has not confirmed a reason.

When visiting the Steam Deck storepage, users are given a disclaimer stating:

The original Steam Deck began shipping in February 2022, and it helped push PC handhelds into the mainstream, long before the ROG Ally, Xbox Ally, and Legion Go handhelds came to the market.

If the Steam Deck LCD continues to disappear from shelves, the OLED effectively becomes the default option for new buyers. On Valve’s own comparison page, the Steam Deck OLED starts at $549, which is a tougher ask than the Steam Deck LCD's $399 entry point for a lot of people.

If you have been waiting for a Steam Deck LCD, this may be your last chance to grab one at its best price, before availability tightens and resellers move in. Scalpers always seem to show up at the worst time

I'm certain the Steam Deck LCD will end up being remembered fondly. Still, this does set an awkward precedent for future Valve hardware that people hoped would hit a “console-like” price point.

If component pricing stays high, it becomes harder to imagine any so-called Steam Machine-style device landing as a genuinely affordable box, especially as Xbox has confirmed its next console will be a high-end premium device.

It is a bit of a shame to see the Steam Deck LCD quietly disappear, especially as it played such a big role in making PC handhelds feel accessible in the first place.

What do you think about Valve ending Steam Deck LCD production? Do you think it's a good idea for Valve to only sell the OLED option going forward? Tell us about it in the comments.

As I was sitting here thinking about the year drawing to a close, I started waxing nostalgic, looking back on the dozens of PC games I've had the pleasure to play this year.

The sad truth is that many games don't run all that well on certain handheld gaming PCs, but you don't always know that until you've already bought the game.

So, for all of you other handheld owners (or soon-to-be handheld owners), I decided to make a list of the games I enjoyed playing most this year on my portable gaming devices. If any games catch your eye, make sure to wishlist them so you can eventually play on your own handheld.

😉 Pssst — It turns out many of these games are on sale right now, so they could make for ideal Christmas gifts.

Every title listed below plays well on Xbox Ally X, ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme), Legion Go S (Z1 Extreme), Legion Go, and Legion Go 2, but some might have issues on Steam Deck and Xbox Ally. To help, I've indicated whether each game is Steam Deck verified or not.

Little Kitty, Big City

I technically first played this game last year, but my niece discovered that I owned it a few months ago, and every time she's come over since, she's wanted to play it on my Xbox Ally X.

I'm not surprised she was drawn to it, since it allows you to wander the streets while playing as a cat and doing cute and mischievous cat things.

The last time my niece was here, we literally spent hours tripping people and stealing their phones, sandwiches, and other items. It's a super fun, laid-back adventure, and it plays beautifully on handhelds. It's Steam Deck verified, too.

Amber Isle

I'm a sucker for cozy games with cute animals, and so of course Amber Isle caught my attention. The game started by letting me design my own perfect little dinosaur character before introducing me to other dinos and teaching me how to craft items.

It's a cute little shopkeeping life sim that easily runs on most handheld gaming PCs. It's marked as Playable for Steam Deck, and I found that it ran well on my Deck, but some of the text was just a bit small.

Kingdom of Night

I'm actually still playing this game right now, but I've put six hours into it already and have been enjoying the ride so far.

Like many of you, I have been eager to see the Stranger Things finale on Netflix, and that's what initially drew me to Kingdom of Night. It's clear to see that it's inspired by Eleven and the gang.

The dark pixel-art aesthetic perfectly emphasizes its 80s focus, where teens in a small town fight off supernatural horrors after discovering that a girl has been taken.

I find the combat engaging, while the story keeps my focus. Now, some parts of the game feel a little cheesy, like the fact that it takes place in the fictional city of Miami, Arizona, but, honestly, that also adds to the charm. It's very well suited to handhelds and is even Steam Deck verified.

PowerWash Simulator

I'm veeeeeeery late to the party on this one, but I finally removed PowerWash Simulator from my backlog this year. Damn, it is so satisfying to spray water at something that is absolutely grimy until it sparkles in squeaky-clean perfection.

I discovered for myself that this is the perfect game to play while watching a show. Honestly, it was hard to put my handhelds down sometimes because of how much this game hooked me. And yes, it is Steam Deck verified.

The Plucky Squire

The Plucky Squire grabbed my attention from the first time I saw a trailer for it. It's an extremely playful game that has you take on the role of a popular children's book character who suddenly acquires the power to break out of his pages and explore the real world that his book exists in.

By interacting with the real world and game elements, I was able to solve a number of clever puzzles, all while uncovering a humorous tale. It plays beautifully on my Steam Deck and is Steam Deck verified, so it should run on most PC gaming handhelds.

My Little Puppy

Grab a box of tissues; this one's a tear-jerker. A friend of mine randomly came across this game and suggested it to me. Since I have a corgi, I basically had to play it.

You take on the role of a little dog who is awaiting their human, "Daddy," in heaven, but after watching several other dogs reunite with their parents, this dog's dad doesn't show up. So, the corgi goes looking for them.

It's a relatively short game filled with mini games and puzzles that I was able to beat within 6 hours. During my playthrough, I smiled, I felt confused, and yes, I cried, but I do recommend it overall.

WARNING: This game surprisingly has some pretty dark moments, so only play if you're up for that sort of thing. And yes, it is Steam Deck verified.

Blue Prince

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I started playing Blue Prince on my Xbox Ally X, but I soon found myself obsessed with the roguelike puzzle game.

At the start, you're informed that you're set to inherit your eccentric uncle's vast fortune, but only if you can make it through his shifting maze of a mansion and access Room 46. It isn't nearly as straightforward as it sounds, since you only have a certain number of steps you can use before you're forced to end the day and start again the next, but that's what makes this fun.

This game offers the perfect mix of luck and strategy, since you aren't ever quite sure what rooms you're going to unlock or what items you're going to find. There are clues to various puzzles scattered throughout the massive home, but you'll need to pay attention if you want to put everything together. I recommend keeping a notebook handy, seriously.

It's marked as Playable for Steam Deck, since it runs well, but some text can be hard to read.

Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo

I first happened upon this adventure puzzle game while in Brazil for Gamescom Latam. As you can see, the art style is definitely inspired by the Paper Mario series, but it offers a playful story all its own.

I got to play as a snake who awakens in the afterlife and goes on to assist other souls they encounter. It's a charming little game with relatively simple graphics that are ideal for handhelds, and it's even Steam Deck verified.

Baldur's Gate 3

During the spring, my husband and I finally convinced one of our friends to play 2023's Game of the Year winner with us. We'd both beaten it separately, so this was our first time playing together — my friend and my husband on PC, me on my ROG Ally X.

I had a total blast revisiting this adventure, whether I was waiting to see how my friend responded to the game's biggest reveals or watching scenes unfold that I hadn't seen before after someone made a decision I wouldn't have made on my own. Sometimes it was absolutely chaos, but that just added to the fun.

In terms of handhelds, Baldur's Gate 3 is Steam Deck verified and runs beautifully on my various handheld devices. If you like turn-based fantasy RPGs, you should definitely play Baldur's Gate 3 on your handheld, and if your friends do too, you can party up and play together.

Dave the Diver

When Dave the Diver finally came to Xbox this year, it reminded me that this game has been on my backlog for a while now, so I finally downloaded it and played it on my Xbox Ally X.

It didn't take long for me to get sucked into the gameplay loop, which has me exploring watery depths and hunting fish by day and managing a sushi restaurant by night.

It's an extremely satisfying game, and the surprises kept coming to keep me engaged for several weeks. It's also Steam Deck verified.

Minecraft

Minecraft is one of those games that a couple of friends and I dive back into every now and then. It's always a blast, whether we're building the biggest castle we can imagine (complete with a minecart roller coaster) or exploring the world looking for new animals, biomes, and other surprises.

I've played several hours on my Xbox Ally X and Legion Go 2, and it runs beautifully. It is not Steam Deck verified (since it isn't on Steam), but it can run well on Valve's handheld if you take the time to install it in desktop mode and make some adjustments.

Immortals Fenyx Rising

I'll admit, I was initially thrown off by this game's terrible name, but don't let that stop you from playing it, especially if you like playful open-world games. I'd previously beaten this game, but I ended up buying its DLC and replaying it this year on my ROG Ally X.

From the moment I first played Immortals Fenyx Rising, it became very clear that this RPG was inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. While exploring a colorful world filled with Greek gods, I can ride horses, glide using Icarus' wings, fight monsters, dive into small shrine dungeons, and find ways to increase my stamina, health, and other skills.

The main goal is to save the gods who have been subdued by the mighty Typhon, a Titan who has taken control of the land. In addition to being a fun game to play on handhelds, I also learned more about Greek mythology, thanks to the sarcastic and humorous characters in this story.

This game is marked as Playable on Steam Deck, with Steam noting that players are sometimes required to tap the screen or manually bring up the keyboard to interact with certain menus.

Horizon Zero Dawn

The original Horizon Zero Dawn has been one of my favorite games ever since it released back in 2017. When the game was remastered, I bought a copy of the game and played it again, hopping between my ROG Ally X and Steam Deck.

Story-wise, the premise is that a young woman named Aloy has grown up as an outcast from her local tribe since birth. She stumbles upon an ancient compound made by people who died over 1,000 years ago and finds some ancient tech that tells her about the world around her, including the weak points of huge machines that walk the earth.

She soon sets off on a journey to unravel a mystery and find out what happened to the ancients. Let me tell you, it never gets old stalking powerful machines, setting traps, taking them down with a bow and arrow, and harvesting parts so I can improve my gear.

Another fun thing for me is that the game takes place in the American West, allowing me to virtually explore iconic locations I've been to in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Arizona. This remaster is Steam Deck verified.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

When Expedition 33 first released in April 2025, I played it on my ROG Ally X, and it ran okay, but it sometimes froze and shut down. A few months later, the game got an update that optimized it for handhelds.

I eventually started a new game on my next-gen Xbox Ally X, and the experience was soooo much better. I love being able to sit in my bed while perfectly parrying enemies and diving deeper into this masterpiece of a game.

In case you didn't know, Expedition 33 received a mountain of accolades and praise this year and eventually ended up snagging a very well-deserved Game of the Year win at The Game Awards.

Everything in this game is enjoyable to me, from the unique story and interactive turn-based combat to the somber music and haunting art style. If you haven't played it, I recommend checking it out. It is Steam Deck verified.

BONUS: Xbox Game Pass

As a bonus, I just want to put it out there that I played dozens of games this year on my various handhelds via Xbox Game Pass, including Blue Prince, Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and much more.

So, if you'd like access to a huge game library, with many titles that are perfect for handhelds, I recommend subscribing.

Excellent games to play on handheld gaming PCs

Looking back, I've gotten a ton of use out of my handheld gaming PCs this year, playing dozens of titles that range from cute little indie games to more graphically intense adventures developed by huge studios.

If there's one thing I've learned, it's that some games run better than others on Xbox Ally X, Steam Deck, and Legion Go 2. While performance can often be increased by changing system settings or a game's specific graphics settings, some games just aren't ideal to play on handhelds.

Do you have a game you love to play on your handheld gaming PC? What do you think is the best handheld? I'd love to hear about it; tell me your thoughts in the comments below.

If you own a Steam Deck, you already have the coolest handheld in the business, congrats. I may have gone over to the dark side of the Xbox Rog Ally, but Steam Deck is still undeniably the coolest in the game. However, it does often require some tweaks to get the best performance from your games.

If your game isn't running well while out and about, it's not always convenient to sit down and search for recommended settings. Or what I do, which is scour Reddit for a fix... but thankfully, there is now an app to solve your problems.

DeckSettings is now available on the Google Play Store for free and puts all the settings you need in one handy searchable database for both LCD and OLED models.

Check your game settings on the fly

Valve's Steam Deck Verified system is supposed to show you what runs smoothly on the handheld, but as we know, it doesn't always paint the whole picture. I should know, I rage-refunded the Oblivion Remaster over it. Sometimes, regardless of ratings, you need to get into the settings and dial down some elements. Other times it plain doesn't work, but you aren't a quitter!

Change the wrong settings or multiple at once, and you can make performance worse and not know why. So rather than guess, you can use this app to get tried-and-tested performance reports from other gamers. These reports break down general playability, from bronze to gold, and dive deeper into framerates, benchmarks, and other metrics.

If you have an Android device, you can grab the early build from the Google Play Store, while iPhone users will have to wait a bit; the iOS beta isn’t accepting new testers just yet.

Get the best performance out of your Steam Deck

DeckSettings pulls configurations and presets from community databases like ShareDeck and SteamDeck HQ, and includes much more than just recommended settings.

You get FPS expectations and expected battery life for each configuration, basically all the data you need to squeeze the most performance out of your titles. If you pair this with our 11 tips and tricks for the Steam Deck, you'll get the most out of your games and your handheld.

PC gaming giant Valve appears to be expanding its gaming software portfolio, currently building an Android compatibility layer called Lepton (via Gaming on Linux). Proof of its official name is slim, but an official Steam store page reveals its froggy logo, and SteamDB hints at its potential origins as a fork of Waydroid.

Waydroid already offers to run an Android system inside Linux, not too dissimilar to how WSL runs Linux in Windows. The creators of our beloved Steam Deck undoubtedly learned a lot from their efforts with SteamOS and Proton, a sort of in-between code translator that allows Windows PC games to run on Linux, so this is at least on-brand.

That, and we already knew that its upcoming Steam Frame VR headset will use a Snapdragon processor built by Qualcomm, so this isn't totally unexpected. Lepton will presumably allow users to run Android apps in virtual reality when the previously codenamed 'Deckard' headset launches, but it isn't too far-fetched to imagine a future where Android games are running on something like the upcoming Steam Machine desktop PC.

Besides, references to 'androidarm64' were added to Valve's Steamworks SDK a few weeks ago (via Gaming on Linux), alongside not-so-subtle hints from Brad Lynch on X that Walkabout Minigolf would be the first Android game appearing on the Steam Frame in VR. 'linuxarm64' is in there, too, related to the ARM64 Snapdragon SoC used in Valve's headset. Neat, but what about the gamers who aren't interested in virtual reality?

So far, there's barely anything more than vaporware to suggest that more AAA-like Android games might make their way to desktop PCs or SteamOS handhelds. At the very least, the foundations of Waydroid allow for this sort of thing to happen in a standard OS environment, but the demand also needs to be there.

Could you name a blockbuster Android game off the top of your head? I couldn't — and that's probably a significant factor in whether Valve would spend its resources making it happen.

This might be just a VR thing for now, especially since touchscreen games would presumably translate far better to that virtual environment than they ever would with traditional controllers. On the other hand, plenty of mobile games have added support for traditional controllers and clip-on joypads. Valve already made staggering progress in making Windows games run well (and sometimes even better) on Linux, so who knows?

Just under a month after its launch at the end of October, ARC Raiders — the extremely popular new PvPvE extraction shooter from The Finals developer Embark Studios — has been Steam Deck Verified, and is now officially supported on Valve's PC gaming handheld.

The Steam Deck verification has come not as a result of a patch from the game's developers, but rather because of the arrival of Proton 10, a new update for the Windows compatibility layer that allows many of Steam's Windows games to run on the Linux-based SteamOS operating system the handheld uses.

Specifically, Proton version 10.0-3 released recently, bringing support for several new titles like The Crew Motorfest as well as performance improvements for existing Steam Deck-compatible games. Though not listed in the patch notes, ARC Raiders' Steam Deck support also came with the new version of Proton.

Previously, Steam Deck users had to use a special community-made custom version of Proton called Proton GE (named after its creator, glorious eggroll) to get ARC Raiders to run properly on the gaming handheld. Now, though, it should run smoothly with the official version of the software.

Official Steam Deck support for ARC Raiders is great to see, as it stands tall as one of 2025's biggest multiplayer games and undoubtedly one of its best-selling in general. About a week and a half ago, its developers announced that over 4 million copies of the game have been sold since launch, and that over 700,000 concurrent players have been recorded in-game across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5.

Those numbers may not top the best-selling game of 2025, Battlefield 6, but they're nevertheless incredibly impressive, and ultimately, there's no way that the extraction shooter isn't one of this year's most lucrative titles. It's been at the top of Steam's Top Sellers chart for weeks, after all, and is surely a strong performer on consoles as well (though sadly, we can't see specific metrics).

Undoubtedly, many of the game's thousands and thousands of players own a Steam Deck, or there are plenty of folks with one that have been holding out hope for verification before buying a copy of the game. Now that it's there, they can finally take the beloved shooter with them on the go (or to bed, which is where I suspect most Steam Deck users actually use the handheld.

Note that ARC Raiders is $39.99 across all of its platforms at its MSRP, though right now, it's on sale for some great deals at Loaded. Specifically, the PC version of the Standard Edition is $34.99 at Loaded. The PC variant of the $59.99 Deluxe Edition is also only $50.19 at Loaded, with the Xbox one going for $56.79 at Loaded.

There are seven accessories I recommend to everyone who owns a handheld gaming PC, mostly because these are the devices I regularly use with my own portable gaming machines.

My very first recommendation is the Tomtoc Carrying Case, since I personally have used it to carry my Steam Deck, Xbox Ally X, Legion Go 2, Nintendo Switch 2, and other devices in its protective embrace. I also love the shoulder strap, which frees up my hands when I'm on the move, and the spacious storage pockets for toting around other accessories.

Regardless of which handheld gaming PC you happen to own, each of the accessories below should work well with it.

Based on my hours and hours of experience with several different handheld gaming PCs, I can easily boil down everything I know to three major choices — best budget, best mid-range, and best premium handheld.

If you're willing to spring for it, the Xbox Ally X is my top recommendation of all three, and it happens to be the premium handheld on this list. If you don't need the most powerful handheld and want to save some money, then the Steam Deck LCD is an excellent low-cost option. Meanwhile, Legion Go S (Z1 Extreme, SteamOS) is my mid-range pick, since it doesn't cost as much as some options, and offers a much better screen than Steam Deck (and Hall effect joysticks, too).

BTW, I've previously talked extensively about the very best gaming handhelds on the market today, if you want a more in-depth read.

We've rounded up the best Steam Deck accessories, including docks, and there's now a new entrant that aims to do so much more than just provide additional ports. The naming is unconventional to say the least — it's called the Chizha Mount Ling Dock — but if you look past that, you'll see that it is uniquely great.

The dock is made by Dockcase, a Chinese brand that's known for rolling out USB hubs and docks. I used a half-dozen of its hubs in the past, and the brand is now venturing out into the broader world of accessories with this Steam Deck dock. Like its other products, Dockcase is using the crowdfunding model, with the Chizha Mount Ling Dock listed on Kickstarter for $109 — a $90 discount from its eventual $199 retail price.

That's just for the dock; there's also a combo that includes the dock and a traditional USB hub, and that comes out to $169. We still love the Steam Deck, and now, this might be the perfect pairing for it.

This dock has a unique sci-fi design

While it's on the costlier side, the dock has plenty going for it. There's the unique design; it differentiates the dock by quite a margin, and the triangular design is stylized after Lingshan, a mountain that's a part of the Taihang Mountains located outside Beijing. The angular design makes the dock grab attention immediately, and the base has a rubberized texture that ensures your Steam Deck doesn't pick up any scratches.

Oh, and did I mention there's RGB lighting? There are dedicated lighting zones on either side at the front, and they get pretty bright. The angular design continues over here as well, and I like the attention to detail Dockcase lavished on this dock. While the dock is bigger than similar products I've used, it has built-in active cooling, and the design is such that it doesn't block the Steam Deck's rear-mounted vents.

All the ports you need — and then some

Coming to connectivity, you get all the ports you could ever need. The dock has two USB-A and two USB-C ports, one HDMI 2.0 out, Ethernet connectivity, and even optical out. There's a dedicated USB-C port that lets you connect the dock to the Steam Deck, and you get an angled USB-C 10Gbps cable to do so.

What I like the most is that the underside of the dock features an M.2 2280 slot, giving you the ability to add up to 4TB of storage — there's the provision to slot in M.2 2230 or 2242 drives as well. You can then connect the dock to the Steam Deck and make use of the external storage, and this is a pretty cool addition. Outside of formatting the drive to ensure it's detected by the Steam Deck, I didn't run into any issues in this area.

Another cool feature is the built-in panel at the front; it shows the connectivity status of all the ports, including HDMI, SSD, and power. On that note, the dock gets 100W USB PD passthrough, so you can easily charge your Steam Deck while using the dock. I didn't see any issues while using the dock with my Steam Deck, and I was able to connect a mouse and keyboard, slot in a 1TB SSD, and connect it via HDMI to a monitor with ease.

The built-in fan is audible under full load, but it isn't so loud that it becomes a bother. And considering the use case of the dock, it's not like you're going to be sitting right next to it. I like the extras, and while the built-in panel is frivolous to the usage of the dock, it's a fun addition nevertheless.

Overall, the Chizha Mount Ling Dock is a great choice if you're looking to pick up an accessory to get the most out of your Steam Deck. And with the crowdfunding pricing valid for another three days, you may want to act soon if you don't want to shell out the full retail price when it debuts.

The Steam Machine is back (among other announcements), and the success of the Steam Deck has proved that this time around, things are very different. Game compatibility is largely very good thanks to Proton, but there is still an annoying fly in the ointment.

Anti-cheat is not a blanket exclusion on SteamOS, but in some of the biggest multiplayer titles on the planet, it very much is. It's because these systems are built for Windows, more specifically, to access the Windows kernel.

SteamOS uses the Linux kernel, which is different. But will it ever change? Never say never, but right now, it doesn't look likely. Here's what's going on.

Windows-based kernel level anti-cheat can't just be made to work

The kernel sits at the very core of the operating system. Windows has its own kernel; SteamOS uses the Linux kernel. The Linux kernel is open source; the Windows kernel very much is not.

Naturally, they're both designed for different operating systems, but they're also fundamentally different architectures. An anti-cheat solution built to access the Windows kernel simply would not be able to do the same in the Linux kernel.

This article on LinkedIn is a brief overview of the differences between the two and how they operate.

PC games built for Windows 11 work on Linux, though, don't they? Yes, they do, but the kernel isn't in play here. The Proton compatibility layer, in its simplest terms, takes APIs and translates them into something Linux understands. It's a combination of WINE and specific graphics API libraries, with the latter converting DirectX into Vulkan.

It works extremely well, but it can't do anything about software that requires the deepest level of access inside Windows.

If there were ever to be a solution, Valve is the company that can make it happen. But it would likely involve specific customizations to SteamOS that wouldn't necessarily be available on other Linux distros.

SOME anti-cheat has been made to work with Linux

The likes of Riot's Vanguard, EA's Javelin, and Activision's Ricochet are a complete no-go on SteamOS. But there are some anti-cheat solutions that DO work. Valve has worked with some, including Easy Anti Cheat and Battleye, to create versions that are compatible with Linux.

Instead of trying to translate calls to the kernel (which sounds extremely difficult if it's even possible at all), these solutions have a dedicated version for Linux. They are, however, not as deeply rooted in the system as a kernel-level anti-cheat.

Essentially, instead of kernel access, the anti-cheat that does work on Linux runs in user space instead. These are decent, but they're not going to be able to do the things that full kernel-level anti-cheat can.

It's the most competitive titles that insist upon such access to the system. On Windows 11, we're also now starting to see TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot as mandatory in games such as Battlefield 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

Right now, we have the solution we have, which works, but is highly unlikely to be adopted by the most competitive titles out there. Competitive integrity is important, and if the anti-cheat can't do what it needs to do, it's pointless.

It's also down to developer discretion, even if they're using an anti-cheat that does have a version that works on Linux. It's opt-in, not opt-out, and if the developers don't want to do it, we can't have it.

Destiny 2 is a good example. It uses Battleye, and given it's not exactly known as a competitive game (though PvP players would probably disagree), you'd think they might be on board.

But because Bungie doesn't want to support Linux in any form, not even SteamOS, they haven't enabled it. So you can't play at all.

So how do you find out if a game has a working anti-cheat on SteamOS?

If you have a Steam Deck or SteamOS handheld, or you're planning to get a new Steam Machine, how do you find out if your favorite games will work?

There are three resources I recommend:

• ProtonDB
• Steam's own SteamOS compatibility checks
• Are We Anti-Cheat Yet?

Steam has a compatibility rating for every game in the catalog, and whether it'll play on a SteamOS handheld. That will likely be expanded to include the more powerful Steam Machine, broken out with its own information.

If it's playable or verified, you can play. If it's not, then you might not be able to.

Taking things a step further are two helpful community resources. ProtonDB is fantastic for not only checking compatibility, but also getting specific tips on making games run the best they can.

AreWeAntiCheatYet? focuses on anti-cheat compatibility, quickly allowing anyone to look for their favorite game and get a response.

If you don't play multiplayer games, chances are you'll rarely run into any issues on SteamOS. If you do, though, the simple truth is you either use cloud gaming or you use Windows 11.

Given the constraints in the video game industry as of late, you might think it was a crazy move to launch anything like a new console in the coming years. Valve is no ordinary company, though.

Despite Xbox hardware being down year-over-year for several quarters and PlayStation posting a very modest 1% increase in playtime hours despite PS5 sales keeping pace with PS4 — Valve is unbothered and has decided it's time to revive its Steam Machine efforts that originally started in 2014.

Following the success of the still beloved Steam Deck, Valve is doubling down on hardware in a big way and has revealed a range of new hardware today as part of that effort. We have an all-new Steam Machine, targeting a Spring 2026 launch, as well as a long-rumored VR headset called the Steam Frame, previously codenamed Deckard. There's also a brand-new Steam Controller to go along with both. Here's everything we know so far.

Steam Machine specifications

Valve's Steam Machine (not to be confused with the 2014 Steam Machines) sports some impressive specs on paper, though it doesn't seem to outclass the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, despite using some more modern AMD Zen 4 architecture. Valve itself says the Steam Machine is "over 6x more powerful than Steam Deck", and should offer a comparable 4K @ 60 FPS experience when stacked up against Microsoft and Sony's consoles, while soundly beating the Xbox Series S and Nintendo Switch 2.

Again, the Steam Machine uses AMD's more modern (but technically previous-generation) Zen 4 processor architecture, sporting six CPU cores with twelve threads at 4.8 GHz. Despite having fewer cores than the Xbox Series X and PS5, the process node should give it superior per-core performance. These new Steam Machines should punch above their weight owing to that updated, more efficient technology, but the Xbox Series X, PS5, and PS5 Pro in particular should easily keep pace owing to higher core counts.

It's a similar story with the GPU: the Steam Machine's recent RDNA 3 architecture also offers improved power efficiency and higher performance compared to the older generation (but still not using RDNA 4, AMD's current tech). Even the Xbox Series X|S can use the same generation of upscaling as the Steam Machine — FSR 3.

The Steam Machine sports 28 compute units (CUs) at 2.45 GHz, compared to the Xbox Series X's 52 CUs at 1.8 GHz, and PS5's 36 CUs at 2.23 GHz. Microsoft's console, again, offers the most raw graphics computational power here, but the Steam Machine will punch above its weight owing to its more modern architecture and choice of lightweight operating system, SteamOS.

Memory (RAM) is where things continue to diverge. The Steam Machine hasn't yet offered official memory bandwidth figures, but it combines 16GB of DDR5 system memory with 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM for the GPU.

It has more total memory on paper than the Xbox Series X's 16GB dual-pool GDDR6 RAM and PS5's unified 16GB GDDR6 pool, but the Steam Machine's PC-like split memory design may impede its overall memory bandwidth despite having a larger amount. It should, in theory, remain competitive here with both the PS5 and Xbox Series X, but we need more information to know more to get a solid answer.

The Steam Machine oddly has only two storage options up for grabs: a 512 GB model and a 2TB model. Xbox storage cards are notoriously expensive CFExpress PCI cartridges, while the PS5 went with more standard M.2 NVMe options that users can purchase off the shelf. The Steam Machine diverges by offering microSD expansion, allowing its users to easily transfer large amounts of games from a Steam Deck and back to their Steam Machine.

MicroSD technology isn't fast enough to effectively run all AAA games, but the Steam Machine's internal storage should be more than up to the task for the majority. Although we don't have a ton of info on what's sitting inside it here, it's unlikely to be using ultra-modern microSD Express tech.

Finally, we have the operating system. SteamOS has become incredibly capable over the last few years, with Valve deploying reams of updates as part of its Steam Deck line. It's incredibly user-friendly and easy to use, and its powerful Proton layer translates Windows games to Linux without any developer input — generally speaking, at least.

Proton does have some shortcomings, namely with functions like anti-cheat systems. As such, many Windows-native multiplayer games with kernel-level anti-cheat systems don't run on SteamOS. Proton will only get better over time, too. SteamOS does allow you to exit out into full Linux desktop mode as well, allowing you to install launchers, games, and other apps not available on the Steam store itself.

You can get things like Xbox Cloud Gaming, Battle.net, Genshin Impact, and other titles that aren't available to buy via Steam like this, but it isn't always a particularly easy experience — even more so if you include the fact that you need a mouse and keyboard to navigate it effectively.

Regardless, Steam has quite literally thousands of games available directly on its store, the vast majority of which will run on this platform without issue. This will be the first "console" that has games from Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox on a single device, via a single store.

It does miss out on many of the world's most popular games that aren't available on Steam or Linux, such as Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite (not to mention GTA 6 at launch), but there are workarounds for many of these if you're willing to tinker. And who knows, if SteamOS begins to see broader adoption, maybe these games will come across natively as well.

Given that this is more designed for a sofa-style experience, I expect Valve will use its Steam Deck Verification process to verify games for the Steam Machine in a similar way. Though there's absolutely no reason why you wouldn't be able to plug a keyboard and mouse in and use this as a full desktop mini PC.

The Steam Machine interestingly reflects Xbox's vision for its own next-gen console, which will be more PC-like, complete with the ability to exit out to the desktop, and install other launchers and games not available natively on Xbox itself.

Valve hasn't yet confirmed pricing, although the more modern and pricy RDNA3 and Zen 4 components are a strong indicator that it might be difficult for the Steam Machine to undercut its PS5 and Xbox Series X rivals in any significant way. We'll have to wait and see there. For now, the Steam Machine is targeting that aforementioned Spring 2026 launch. Until then, you could try building your own Steam Machine.

Steam Controller specifications

Interestingly, the Steam Machine will only include a controller optionally, since the console will work with any Xbox or PlayStation controller you have lying around already. Any controller that's compatible with the Steam Deck (and that's a lot) will also be compatible with the Steam Machine.

However, if you do want or need a controller, here's what Valve is offering as a follow-up to its original, less successful Steam Controller from 2015.

The Steam Controller works with any device running Steam, which includes Windows PCs, macOS, and devices like the Steam Deck. It should also be compatible with the next-gen Xbox as well, given that the next Xbox is going to run full Windows.

It connects up with a USB "puck" which can connect four controllers simultaneously, and it also supports Bluetooth and USB wired play on top. The puck is pre-paired and has a proprietary wireless signal, which should be comparable in quality to PS5 and Xbox controllers for speed and reliability.

Where it has the Xbox and PS5 standard controllers beat is battery life, with 35+ hours on a single charge, making it more like the Xbox Elite controller. It also boasts magnetic TMR thumbsticks, which should eliminate drift in ways the Xbox and PS5 controllers currently don't.

Where things get even more interesting are the large dual trackpads, similar to that old-school Steam Controller and the Steam Deck. These support haptics and help control games that don't have native joystick support. It also supports gyro gameplay, with six-axis motion sensing.

It has ABXY Xbox-style buttons and symmetrical PlayStation-style thumbsticks, while sporting four programmable back buttons and standard triggers and bumpers. It also sports capacitive grip sense, detecting when it has been picked up.

There's no mention of price yet, but I imagine it'll sit somewhere between a standard Xbox controller and a more pricey Xbox Elite controller in price, given its impressive specs.

What do you think?

Seeing a new console launch in an era where both PlayStation and Xbox are pointing at short-form video platforms like TikTok for decreasing growth might seem like a bold move, but the Steam Machine is no typical console.

Despite some limitations of Proton and Linux, Steam remains one of the world's most popular and favored video game ecosystems. Steam sales are legendary, Valve's approach to customer satisfaction is industry-leading, and developers flock to the platform owing to its relaxed certification processes.

Steam's discovery engine is second to none. Every time I log into Steam, I discover new games I've never heard of, as the system understands my habits and has more options to cater to those habits than other platforms. Some of the world's most popular games, like Fortnite and Roblox, might not be available natively, but Steam has become home to massive viral mega-hits in recent years, such as Megabonk and Peak more recently. I wish Xbox were capable of delivering similarly, but Microsoft has been pursuing a more Steam-like feature set for its own Xbox PC platform recently, which it says is growing rapidly, too.

Rumors have been ramping up that Valve might seek to pair its Steam Machine launch with the borderline mythical Half-Life 3, too. The team at Valve makes legendary games in its own right, including DOTA2, Counter-Strike 2, Left 4 Dead, Portal, Team Fortress, and more. Valve used Half-Life Alyx to boost interest in its own VR efforts previously, so could it pull off a similar feat for the Steam Machine?

The Steam Machine will also be the first "console" in the world that comes with games from Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox as standard, as the walls around "exclusivity" become increasingly blurred. PlayStation recently said its unprecedented launch of Helldivers 2 was a huge success on Xbox, and Microsoft has been putting its games everywhere and anywhere at a breakneck pace.

What the future of the game industry looks like is anyone's guess, but Valve is becoming an increasingly interesting part of the hardware discussion, which is great to see.

FAQ

Valve's Steam Deck needs no introduction. It is to handheld gaming PCs what the iPad is to tablets. It's the one that everyone thinks of first. Whenever I was using other options, such as the highly praised ASUS ROG Ally X, the first question I'd regularly be asked was, "Is that a new Steam Deck?"

I've owned one since April 2022, delivered less than two months after the first units started shipping. It's still the only thing, tech or otherwise, that I pre-ordered the moment I could. I was pumped. Having spent much of the previous two years learning about Linux and the quirks of gaming on it, I had high hopes.

Initial reactions were pretty positive across the board — including our own Steam Deck launch review. Sure, it didn't run Windows 11, but that wasn't a problem then, and it's even less of a problem now. But as three years (with some change) have passed, and the market has a lot more competition among the best handhelds, is the Steam Deck still worth it in 2025?

I think it is. I'd have no problems recommending someone buy one, even with the likes of the slightly more powerful Xbox Ally on offer alongside the SteamOS-based Lenovo Legion Go S and its monstrous, Windows-based Legion Go 2 successor, which joined the party this year. However, the conversation is certainly more complex than it was when the Steam Deck first launched.

How has the Steam Deck hardware held up since 2022?

Having owned the same Steam Deck since mid-2022, I feel like I'm in a good place to talk about how it's held up. The short version is that it's done really well, and continues to do so. That's not to say there haven't been people with issues on their units, but my own has been solid throughout.

Aside from spending the last couple of years inside a $60 dbrand Killswitch case, I can't say I've been treating it particularly like a fragile baby. It gets tossed into bags, it's been used by children (a traditional test of durability), and it still looks about as good as it ever did. The only visual 'mod' it currently has is a dbrand Steam Deck skin on the front.

I did use the JSAUX transparent rear case on my Steam Deck for a time, but I went back to the original for a couple of reasons: one was that I didn't like the replacement rear buttons, and the second was that it featured a heatsink, which ironically became pretty hot on the outside. So, I went back to stock parts.

The screen is still perfect on my early LCD model, and while the battery will have undoubtedly degraded over time, it's still holding up. With the kinds of games I'm typically playing on my Steam Deck these days, I can still get around 3-4 hours of playtime, which is far more than you should expect from any AAA titles.

How has SteamOS held up?

I'll tackle the elephant in the room first. The Steam Deck doesn't run Windows 11; it runs SteamOS instead, which is based on Arch Linux. "But, games are built for Windows, it can't possibly work that well, right?"

Wrong. Valve has put significant work into the Proton compatibility layer over the years, both before and since the Steam Deck launched. In the majority of cases, the hardware is more of a limitation than the software. There are exceptions, though. You can't play the modern Call of Duty games, for example. Nor can you play Fortnite, EA multiplayer titles, or Destiny 2.

But you can use the cloud, and NVIDIA even has a native Steam Deck app now for GeForce Now. Xbox Cloud Gaming on Steam Deck can also be used via standard web browsers, and there's even an official Xbox guide to setting it up.

The reason for these missing games isn't that the hardware isn't capable; it's that the anti-cheat solution simply doesn't work. The worst part is that some anti-cheat solutions, such as Destiny 2's, actually do work on Linux — but it's down to developers to enable it. Others, such as Activision's Ricochet, Riot's Vanguard, and EA's Javelin, do not support Linux at all.

Currently, these kernel-level anti-cheat solutions are only compatible with Windows 11.

Can you play as many games as people claim?

Thanks to Proton, a huge percentage (I believe at last count was around 90%) of the Steam catalog works on the Steam Deck. At least, if the hardware can handle it. Just like graphics cards, which get updated drivers targeting specific games, Proton does the same. Valve does all the hard work, so the game developers don't have to.

But as the market has matured, many have taken it upon themselves to ensure their games work well on handhelds through optimized settings. Cyberpunk 2077, Spider-Man 2, and Forza Horizon 5 are just a few examples of fairly demanding AAA titles from my own library of games that are enjoyable on the Steam Deck.

There are sacrifices to settings and frame rates, but 30 FPS is perfectly fine on a handheld. In many games, I've found (and so have others) that the sweet spot is targeting 40 FPS, for a balance of performance and battery life on the Steam Deck. Lock the refresh rate to 40Hz, and you're generally good to go.

Naturally, the focus is on Steam, but you can also play games from other stores. Thanks to the broader Linux community, there are simple ways to play your Epic Games, GOG Galaxy, and even Amazon Games on the Steam Deck, with tools such as the Heroic Games Launcher and Junk-Store.

Here are some examples from my own library, including a couple of older, less demanding games, all running at 1280x800 resolution:

Thankfully, the community database at ProtonDB is a great way to get an idea of how your games will play, along with some handy tips for optimization.

The hardware and software could be just as good as it is all day long, but it doesn't matter if the games don't run well enough. As the Steam Deck heads towards its fourth birthday in February 2026, it can't be denied that, on sheer performance, it's starting to fall behind the competition.

Repairable, upgradeable, and customizable

Mercifully, I haven't had to repair my Steam Deck in the 3+ years I've had one (compared to the two months my ROG Ally lasted before dying). Nevertheless, it's incredibly easy to repair and customize. The battery and the SSD are both easily accessible, and anyone with a screwdriver and a little time can swap them out if needed.

There's a healthy third-party market of customizations, too, to truly make your Steam Deck your own. That starts with skins and goes all the way to customizable shells, upgraded displays, hall-effect sticks, and custom buttons; there's so much out there.

Any upgrades are always done at your own risk, and my colleague, Jennifer Young, can tell a tale of woe about attempting a shell swap (with stories on the contrary, highlighting Valve's great customer service), but if you're careful, you can make your Steam Deck whatever you want it to be.

That also applies to the software, too. Unlike Windows 11, which can be customized away from its stock settings but requires a more involved process, SteamOS can be easily tweaked to look however you want. Using Decky Loader, a third-party plugin tool and store, you can go absolutely wild, changing the look and adding new features to your Steam Deck.

On my own, I've altered the look of the homescreen, applied custom colors and fonts, custom game art, a plugin to improve compatibility with my XR glasses, added custom system sounds, and found a fantastically helpful plugin that puts ProtonDB compatibility badges on every game. And yes, you can install Windows 11 on a Steam Deck instead of SteamOS if you really want to. It's just a PC, after all, and Valve has ensured it will work as best it can.

Should you still buy it?

Be it the Steam Deck LCD or the slightly upgraded Steam Deck OLED, it's still an easy handheld gaming PC to recommend. It's a little larger than some other handhelds, and quite hefty, but with the overall package of price, software, and performance, it still stands strong. I still use mine regularly, and it's single-handedly helping me play games in my backlog that I just wouldn't have done otherwise.

Still, the market has changed a lot since the first Steam Deck reviews surfaced online, not least because of Valve's behaviour. You can now put official builds of SteamOS on other handhelds, such as the ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go, even the new Xbox Ally, if you wish.

This is where it gets more complicated. I have no problems recommending the Steam Deck, but if you want more performance behind the same experience, that's now possible without having to dabble with community-built Linux distros such as Bazzite.

The software is where the Steam Deck has always stood tall, even with its mostly anti-cheat-related limitations. SteamOS is just better to use on a handheld than Windows 11, even with the recent improvements like Microsoft's dedicated full-screen mode that was added to the Xbox app as part of recent OS updates.

✅You should buy it if ...

• You want a 'console-like' approach to PC gaming
• You're realistic with graphical performance expectations

❌You should not buy it if ...

• You play anti-cheat-protected multiplayer titles
• You're a regular user of PC Game Pass

The Steam Deck was built from the ground up to work like a handheld console, and you don't ever have to go into the desktop UI if you don't actually have a specific need to, such as installing Decky Loader. Windows 11 will get there — hopefully — but right now, SteamOS installed on either its native Steam Deck or overwriting a Windows 11 handheld is still my preferred choice.

It even has performance benefits, as we've seen with those aforementioned folks trying it on their Xbox Ally. SteamOS is far leaner than Windows 11, and it shows. So, if you really want a Steam Deck, go buy one. It's still a brilliant handheld gaming PC. If you want something with a bit more horsepower, grab an AMD Z1 Extreme or better in a different handheld and slap SteamOS on it.

The only people that I still wouldn't recommend buying a Steam Deck are those who are heavily invested in the Xbox Game Pass or Play Anywhere ecosystem. If your games primarily come from Microsoft in this way, you can't get them on SteamOS. Likewise, if you want to go handheld with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, the same applies.

For everyone else, the Steam Deck is still here. And it is still glorious.

While there is some disagreement on the subject, many gamers prefer the Steam Deck's simple, console-like SteamOS interface to Windows 11 or the Xbox Ally X's Xbox full-screen experience.

The thing is, the Steam Deck is relatively old at this point and is one of the weaker PC gaming handhelds on the market today. In other words, its internals aren't powerful enough to play some games that can be played on other handhelds. However, if you get a stronger Windows handheld and then put SteamOS on it, those who prefer SteamOS can get the best of both worlds.

Still, you should weigh the pros and cons before actually doing this. Here are reasons for and against putting SteamOS on ROG Xbox Ally, ROG Ally, Legion Go 2, and other handhelds.

How to install SteamOS on handhelds

If you're already sold on this idea, then check out my guide on how to install SteamOS on Windows gaming handhelds. This process should work for all mainstream devices, including Xbox Ally, ROG Ally, Legion Go 2, Legion Go, and more.

However, I do recommend understanding the pros and cons of doing this before going through with it. I'll list those in the next section.

4 reasons to put SteamOS on your Windows handheld and 3 reasons not to

For some of you, putting SteamOS on your handheld could solve most of the inconveniences you have with modern handheld gaming PCs. However, you should consider the perks and drawbacks to doing this before actually doing it.

Pro 1: Gives you a console-like UI and powerful internals

There's no denying that SteamOS offers the smoothest and most intuitive interface of any handheld to date. The simplified design makes you feel like you're interacting with a gaming machine rather than a PC, but you can also go into the desktop mode and use it like a personal computer.

Meanwhile, most other handheld gaming PCs on the market (including Xbox Ally X, ROG Ally X, ROG Ally, Legion Go, Legion Go 2, and more) all offer more powerful APUs (accelerated processing units) with better graphics abilities. Most offer higher memory and SSD storage capacities as well, which are both important for gaming.

As such, putting SteamOS on one of these Windows devices won't just provide a convenient interface; it will allow you to play some games that the Steam Deck isn't strong enough to handle.

Pro 2: Reduces bloat and increases system efficiency

Windows has a ton of extra programs running in the background that cause the system to work less efficiently and drain the battery faster. This being the case, when you swap to SteamOS, you might notice increased performance and longer playing sessions on your formerly Windows handheld.

Pro 3: Gives players plenty of customization options

Linux is a very customization-friendly software, and many Steam Deck users have been able to modify it to get it working just the way they want it to.

Of course, some Windows handhelds are also designed around upgradeability, so, in some cases, you can also upgrade battery life and the SSD without much hassle. Being able to get the operating system, programs, and internals just the way you want can help you make your perfect gaming machine.

Pro 4: It's cheaper than buying a Legion Go S SteamOS

I previously reviewed the Legion Go S (SteamOS) and absolutely loved this device. It's more powerful than the Steam Deck and comes with SteamOS already in place.

The thing is, the version of the Legion Go S (SteamOS) that I recommend sells for a pricey $899.99 at Best Buy. Meanwhile, you could get the ROG Ally for a less expensive $649.99 at Best Buy and then put SteamOS on it to save some money.

Con 1: This action isn't permanent, but has some risks

If you decide you don't like SteamOS, you should be able to put Windows back on your handheld. That's because many Windows handhelds have cloud recovery, which allows you to reinstall Windows 11 Home from the BIOS. This is very nice considering Windows 11 licenses aren't cheap, having an MSRP of $139.00 at Microsoft.

However, there is always some risk to removing Windows from the device, so be sure you know what you're doing. As an example, some people have had problems putting Windows back on their device after deciding they don't like SteamOS as much as Windows. So, be ready for a potentially long-winded process for putting Windows back on your handheld.

Additionally, the cloud recovery process is different from one device to the next. For instance, ROG Ally makes the cloud recovery process easier than it is on Legion Go, so just know what you need to do beforehand.

I highly recommend backing up your SSD before wiping Windows 11 and putting SteamOS on your handheld.

One of the easiest ways to back up your SSD and Windows info is using an SSD enclosure adapter and Macrium Reflect. I go over how to do this in my guide on how to back up and upgrade the ROG Ally SSD as well as in my guide on how to back up and upgrade the Legion Go's SSD.

WHAT ABOUT DUAL BOOTING WINDOWS AND STEAMOS?

Some people have also made it so their handheld can dual-boot Windows and SteamOS. This can be a good option for some, but it requires a bit more work to get it set up. Additionally, setting up dual boot takes up a lot of storage space, and having both operating systems on the system can take more power, causing a handheld's battery to drain faster.

Know what you are getting into and then you can get your handheld running the way you prefer.

Con 2: Not all games are supported on Linux-based SteamOS

The vast majority of PC games are designed for Windows, and this is why the Steam Deck uses Proton to translate Windows instructions for Linux.

The problem is, some games still don't work well on Linux or have an aspect that doesn't work well.

As an example, Call of Duty, Battlefield 6, and many other multiplayer games don't work on the Steam Deck since they require the use of a kernel-based anti-cheat software, which doesn't work with Linux. If you really want to play those games on a handheld, you're better off using Windows.

Con 3: You might not be comfortable finding Linux workarounds

Linux-based SteamOS works very differently from Windows, and some people can find it a little daunting working with the operating system.

Out of the box, the SteamOS won't let you access other game services like Battle.net, Epic Games, and others, while you certainly can do these things on a Windows handheld out of the box. Still, there are workarounds that are easy enough to get a handle on.

As an example, a plugin called Decky Loader makes it possible to quickly access different services. If you want help, you can check out my guide on how to install Decky Loader on SteamOS.

On the plus side, the Steam Deck is incredibly popular, and there are plenty of tutorials out there to help you get it working just the way you want it to.

Steam Deck is awesome, but SteamOS is even better

For some people, SteamOS is the preferred operating system for handhelds compared to Windows.

When the Steam Deck launched a few years ago, it was the only mainstream handheld gaming PC. But since then, far more powerful handhelds have released with internals that can handle games that the Steam Deck cannot.

For this reason, it might be a good idea to put SteamOS on your Windows handheld gaming PC. But, only if you've truly weighed the pros and cons of doing so.

Hopefully, this page helped you think through your decision. If you ended up putting SteamOS on your Windows handheld, tell us about your experience in the comments.

SteamOS FAQ

Valve has rolled out a new beta update for the Steam Deck that lets the handheld finish active downloads with the screen off to save power. It's enabled by default when plugged into a charger, and you can turn it on for battery use in Settings, under Power.

The feature kicks in after an idle period while something is downloading, and the Steam Deck will drop into full sleep if the battery falls below 20%, even if a download is still running.

It is currently available on the Beta and Preview channels before rolling out to everyone. It is a welcome quality-of-life upgrade that gives the Steam Deck an advantage over the otherwise highly praised Xbox Ally X for background downloads and battery-first features.

Why it gives Steam Deck an edge over the Xbox Ally

Not being able to download with the display off properly on my ROG Ally has always been annoying, and I am sure others with an Xbox Ally, or any Windows-based handheld, feel the same. You can set the display to turn off and keep apps running in Windows, but it requires extra steps and never feels seamless.

Steam Deck’s new display-off, low-power download mode should really help anyone who needs to leave big installs running overnight, especially if you have a slower connection. It is a small change, but it adds a meaningful quality-of-life upgrade for the handheld.

When a download is active and you tap a button or move a trigger, the Deck briefly wakes to show progress before the screen turns off again. It is a clean, console-like behavior.

This kind of update shows how Valve continues to refine the Steam Deck experience in ways that feel tailored to portable play, rather than forcing desktop behaviours into a handheld shell. SteamOS keeps gaining thoughtful features that make living with the device easier, especially for players who travel or install big games often.

If Valve keeps layering on quality-of-life improvements like this, the Deck will remain a very compelling option for anyone deciding between a dedicated handheld OS or a Windows-powered machine.

That said, if Microsoft can push further with the Xbox Ally and bring Windows closer to a true console-style handheld experience, it could be a real turning point. It already feels like progress is happening, and I would love to see a handheld future where Windows matches SteamOS for simplicity and polish.

FAQ

For anyone looking to take id Software and Bethesda Softworks latest big shooter on the go, there's great news. Update 2.2 for DOOM: The Dark Ages arrived on Wednesday, bringing a number of bug fixes and, most importantly, a host of improvements for various gaming handheld devices.

That includes Steam Deck verification, as well as better performance on all gaming handhelds like the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X and Xbox Ally, which are set to launch on October 16.

With this update, DOOM: The Dark Ages also now switches to optimal settings when running on a gaming handheld, with settings stored per device.

Below, you can see the expected performance for DOOM: The Dark Ages running on different devices, based on id Software's testing:

• Steam Deck: 720p @ ~30FPS 
• Z1 Devices: 720p @ ~30FPS (such as ASUS ROG Ally) 
• Z1E Devices: 1080p @ ~30FPS (such as ASUS ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go) 
• Z2A Devices: 720p @ ~30FPS (such as XBOX ROG Ally) 
• Z2E Devices: 1080p @ ~60FPS (such as XBOX ROG Ally X) 

Id Software notes that these rough benchmarks do assume that the device in question is set to the highest power setting and is not running off of battery.

Even so, the Xbox Ally X can clearly be expected to turn in significantly better performance than the other gaming handhelds.

That's consistent with comments from reviews so far, including our own, where gaming editor Rebecca Spear praises the Xbox Ally X's performance in many newer games like Fantasy 16. That performance comes at a price, however, with the Xbox Ally X commanding a $1,000 price tag in the U.S.

You can find the remaining patch notes from Update 2.2 below:

Bug Fixes and Improvements

• Enemy AI:
  • Resolved a rare crash if the player used the Shield Throw on Plasma Shield Soldiers with the “Power Surge” Shield upgrade 
• Final Battle:
  • Visuals for area denial from Prince Ahzrak’s Blood Pillars expiring now render correctly. 
  • Fixed a rare crash when using the BFC during the beginning of each phase of the enhanced Prince Ahzrak boss fight 
• Gameplay:
  • Fixed an issue where death and damage stats were not registering properly in cases of multiple damage instances occurring on the same frame as an entity death. (This change also addresses a bug where the Accelerator Mastery Challenge was not incrementing properly) 
  • Cycler Plasma Gun no longer glows white when fired with Berserker Power in Harbor of Souls and Resurrection 
  • Using the Shield now correctly recovers from staggering during a melee strike while attempting to block or parry. This prevents a Shield lockout or cases where the Shield would briefly pop into a blocking state after the input was released 

Levels

• Hebeth 
  • Fixed an issue where reloading checkpoints after the Gold and Sentinel Shrine tutorial could cause objectives to vanish until level restart or transition 
• Sentinel Barracks 
  • Mancubus no longer respawns during the Vagary Champion boss fight. 
  • Removed Hell Knight and Stalker Imp reinforcements from Mancubus Leader spawn wave in the burning tree fight 
• Siege – Part 1 
  • Hell Knights, Stalker Imps and Imps no longer respawn during the Vagary fights throughout the battlefield 
  • The wolf statue Ruby no longer gets stuck behind a red energy gate if it is not collected after breaking the wolf statues and reloading the south gore portal checkpoint 
• Siege – Part 2 
  • Fixed an issue where an errant Serf could appear in the courtyard when reloading the checkpoint 
• Ancestral Forge 
  • Arachnotron no longer respawns during Agaddon Hunter fight at the end of heart sandbox section 
  • Fixed a potential crash when loading a checkpoint after dying in the Agaddon Hunter fight in the Ancestral Courtyard 
• Spire of Nerathul 
  • Chaingun Arachnotron no longer respawns during final encounter of the cathedral stasis emitter section 
• Temple of Lomarith 
  • Arachnotron and Cacodemon no longer respawn during the shipwreck morale fight 
  • The melee pickups now appear correctly on the secret boat “Hell Knight rush” encounter 
• Resurrection 
  • The armored Arachnotron that spawns after the Acolyte dies no longer respawns during first morale fight 
• Reckoning 
  • Arachnotron no longer respawns during buffed Agaddon Hunter encounter 

The Ripatorium

• All Platforms:
  • Vagaries should now only spawn in open areas where they can move around 
• Xbox Only:
  • Fixed a crash to the Xbox home screen when changing profiles while suspended in an active Ripatorium match with full demon bar 

Audio

• Fixed an issue where the Shield Saw grinding SFX could stop if the player opens the Dossier while the Shield is in a Power Node and then returns to gameplay 

UI

• Fixed an issue with Codex entries not tracking progress properly after revisiting levels via Mission Select 
• Resolved an issue with the Ripatorium tutorial pop-up intended for first visit of the game mode occurring on subsequent visits 
• Fixed bug where opening the Dossier the frame after breaking a metal lock or using a switch could cause the trigger to fail and block progression 
• Addressed a potential crash when Alt-Tabbing away and returning to the game during a load screen 

VFX

• Corrected issue where picking up a toy collectible could trigger the Shield or an equipped weapon’s visual effects during the animation 
• Addressed stray purple lines appearing when overloading a Cacodemon with the Cycler 
• Addressed bug where first-person gore overlay flickers around screen edge during AI execute actions while resolution scaling is active 

New Active Tunables

• Reduced damage of certain attacks from the Agaddon Hunter, Cosmic Baron, Hell Knight and Komodo to reduce the number of attacks that break the Shield in one hit on Nightmare Difficulty 
• Adjusted the Brink of Death system on all difficulties to be more in line with the game at launch. This system protects the player from certain instances of lethal damage, creating the opportunity to fight back from a near-death state 

Developed and published by Soft Rains, first-person shooter and immersive sim Ambrosia Sky is one of the most unique science-fiction games around, and it's launching fairly soon...well, at least partially.

During IGN Fan Fest on Wednesday, Soft Rains announced that Ambrosia Sky's first act is launching on Nov. 10, 2025 for PC. Act 2 and Act 3 of the game do not have exact release dates, but will be coming sometime later in 2026.

Ambrosia Sky is set in the far future, when humanity has abandoned Earth. Players step into the shoes of Dalia, who is part of the Ambrosia project that seeks to understand the very nature of death in pursuit of immortality.

The game opens as Dalia returns to the rings of Saturn, where she grew up, discovering a catastrophe with everyone dead or missing.

As part of her work, Dalia is responsible for cleaning out contamination, cutting and removing alien fungus while carefully harvesting samples. She's also tasked with giving last rites to the dead while trying to find clues and unravel the mystery of exactly what has happened to her home.

Uncovering the secrets of death

I played a demo of Ambrosia Sky back during Summer Game Fest 2025, and ever since, I've been intrigued by how unique the world is that Soft Rains is crafting. I also recently had the chance to play a new demo as part of Steam Next Fest.

This new demo includes a fair few updates over what I previously played, including voice acting for Dalia, adding her somber, reflective tones into what was already an extremely moody experience.

It's often subtle, but it adds a lot, especially since Dalia is (by design) alone on these missions trying to piece together what's happened.

In the demo I played back in June, Dalia already had multiple different sprayer types unlocked, but that's not the case here. This new demo also introduces the skill tree, which requires samples of varying fruit in order to unlock said various sprayer upgrades.

That makes it extra-important to be as careful as possible when cutting the fungus across different missions, as the fruits can be damaged or destroyed through unfortunate (though admittedly oft-amusing) chain reactions set off by sloppy work and imprecise cutting.

This is also where many of the game's immersive sim elements come into play, as new ammo types and other upgrades give Dalia additional options for navigating missions and completing her objectives. Missions can even be replayed in order to nab something that you previously missed.

While there are plenty of things to point to for inspiration (in particular, I see a fair bit of Arkane Studios' criminally underrated 2017 title Prey), there's nothing else quite like Ambrosia Sky, at least from what I've seen and played so far. If any of that sounds interesting and you're looking for something new, I highly encourage keeping a close eye on the first act when it drops.

If you want to try it out even sooner than that, the demo is live right now and is included in Steam Next Fest through October 20.

The developers have also noted that Ambrosia Sky plays great on Steam Deck and should play well on other gaming handhelds as well. That means if you're planning on picking up the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X, you should have a great experience there as well.

Ambrosia Sky's first chapter is launching on Windows PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.

After a huge launch on Xbox, Helldivers 2 sold over 920,000 copies in its first week, surpassing its debut numbers on PlayStation. Following that success, Game Director Mikael Eriksson sat down for an interview on the game’s official YouTube channel to discuss performance, the current state of the game, and what comes next.

While some fans might be disappointed that Arrowhead isn’t focusing on new content right now, Eriksson reassured players that the decision is for the best. He acknowledged that Helldivers 2’s performance “leaves a lot to be desired,” and after playing on Xbox myself, I can confirm it’s still far from perfect.

Arrowhead presses pause to fix Helldivers 2’s performance

Eriksson has directly acknowledged performance issues following the most recent Into the Unjust update, citing problems beyond framerate stutters, including crashes, bugs, and general jank during gameplay.

It hasn’t just been Arrowhead that’s noticed, either. Many players have taken to the game’s Discord to voice their frustrations — something Eriksson believes is justified and being taken seriously. He said:

However, issues on consoles may take longer to resolve. Eriksson explained:

Fortunately, he added that improvements are already being made and that he’s confident the team will get there, and the full interview does dive into much more detail for those interested, it can be checked out above or here.

Why stability matters more than new content right now

Helldivers 2 is good fun, and Xbox fans are clearly enjoying it. I personally welcome that Arrowhead is prioritizing the game’s performance, as these improvements will eventually trickle down to devices like the Steam Deck, the Xbox Ally, and the upcoming Ally X — all of which can struggle to run Helldivers 2 comfortably in its current state.

It’s not the first time Arrowhead has addressed Steam Deck performance. CEO Shams Jorjani previously said on the official Discord:

Returning to the interview with Mikael Eriksson, he made it clear this decision comes down to prioritizing quality over quantity:

“We have made the decision to push some of our content and feature updates a little bit into the future while we’re addressing these things.”

It’s encouraging to see Arrowhead committed to making Helldivers 2 as enjoyable as possible across every system, rather than chasing flashy updates. It’s a refreshing contrast to games that neglect optimization and rely on technologies like FSR or DLSS just to maintain playable performance.

A promising future for Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 saw a strong start when it first launched and an equally impressive second wind when it arrived on Xbox. I’m hopeful Arrowhead can deliver on its optimization promises, and I can only hope that once these improvements are complete, the studio revisits features like cross-progression and cross-saves — something it has previously dismissed.

It would also be great to see Arrowhead explore an eight-player mode, something the CEO has previously commented on, saying:

“8 players is technically very challenging, but it would be cool and messy.”

Another feature fans continue to ask for is split screen, which the studio has described as “technically feasible.” As someone who grew up playing Halo in split screen, that’s the feature I’d personally love to see the most.

While the game recently became available through Xbox’s Stream Your Own Game feature, it would be great to see it added to Xbox Play Anywhere as well, especially if these performance fixes make it more stable on devices like the Xbox Ally and Ally X.

I’m fully on board with Arrowhead shifting focus away from new content to strengthen performance, and I think most players should be too. After all, no one wants a repeat of the technical issues that plagued the last major update.

No Steam Deck support at launch, sadly

With the likes of ARC Raiders and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on the way in the coming weeks, this autumn is shaping up to be an exciting quarter of 2025 for multiplayer and FPS fans. A game that has major potential to outperform them both, though, is Battlefield 6 — the latest installment in Electronic Arts' (EA) and DICE's legendary combined arms-driven PvP shooter.

Following a bombastic head-turning multiplayer reveal in late July and an industry-dominating Open Beta in August that even managed to break a long-standing Call of Duty record, Battlefield 6 has enjoyed a colossal launch in October and has rapidly become one of the most popular multiplayer titles available right now.

Players have greatly enjoyed a Battlefield with the series' traditional class system again, along with tons of new guns and gadgets, the franchise's most advanced destruction physics yet, and more. It's on traditional systems like Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5, but fans are also wondering if they can enjoy it on gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck, too.

The answer is ultimately that it depends on the handheld you're using, and unfortunately for Steam Deck users, that answer is no. Aside from the fact that the system would likely struggle to run Battlefield 6 due to its weak overall specs, it also uses the Linux-based SteamOS; the game's proprietary EA Javelin anti-cheat software is a kernel-level program that doesn't work on Linux, meaning the game won't run on the Deck.

Of course, you can always install Windows on your Steam Deck so you can enable Secure Boot to get around this limitation, but doing so leads to a somewhat notoriously buggy experience. And again, on top of that, the handheld's lower-end specs mean Battlefield 6 might not run well on it even if you had Windows.

What about other gaming handhelds?

While playing Battlefield 6 on the Steam Deck is either impossible due to the Linux-based nature of SteamOS and its incompatibility with EA's anti-cheat, or simply a bad idea because of the system's instability with Windows and its entry-level specs, doing so with other gaming handhelds is a different story.

Specifically, more performant Windows gaming handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go, and the MSI Claw 8 AI+ (good luck finding one) should have no serious trouble running EA's new FPS. You don't have to worry about the Steam Deck's Linux problem since they use Windows, and they all have far more impressive hardware under the hood, too.

There's also the ROG Xbox Ally, ROG Xbox Ally X, and Lenovo Legion Go 2, both of which are newer handhelds with even stronger specs than the aforementioned options. These, too, will be very well-suited to playing Battlefield 6.

It helps that Battlefield 6 also has fairly tame minimum requirements and recommended specs for a new AAA game in 2025, translating to a smoother experience when using a handheld. Notably, the game's August Open Beta ran very well on these systems, which is a very good sign.

Of course, you'll have to keep in mind that you'll need to turn various settings in the game down, as even the most performant gaming handheld out there pales in comparison to the horsepower of a regular gaming PC and thus can't handle cranking things to max. Still, thanks to smaller screens and the availability of Super Resolution technologies like AMD FSR, low resolution and low settings still look excellent on these systems.

Note that Battlefield 6 is available to purchase for $69.99 across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (Steam, Epic Games, EA), and PS5. There aren't any deals for the Standard Edition available, but there's one for the $100 Phantom Edition that knocks it to $89.99 at Loaded (formerly CDKeys) on Xbox.

While looking around at deals this Amazon Prime Day, I noticed that the foldable Bluetooth keyboard that I use with my various handheld gaming PCs is on sale.

It usually sells for $40.99, but right now it's discount to just $34.43 at Amazon during Amazon Prime Big Deal Days.

Type and navigate more easily on your handheld gaming PC

A few years ago, I was playing a game on my ROG Ally X and it regularly asked me to type in information. The problem is, typing on the ROG Ally X (and many other handheld gaming PCs) isn't the most comfortable thing.

To fix this, I ended up buying the Artciety Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard, and I've loved having it. I've even used it when conducting my Legion Go 2 review. It's worked beautifully with every handheld I've connected it to so far.

My guess is it will work with the upcoming Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X since it works so well with the ROG Ally and ROG Ally X.

I chose this specific keyboard for a few reasons. First off, it has a touchpad, so I can use it to navigate my handhelds instead of also connecting a separate mouse.

Secondly, I like that it can remember up to three Bluetooth connections, making it easier to use between my Legion Go 2, ROG Ally X, and other handhelds. I just have to press the function button plus one of the three Bluetooth buttons to swap between remembered connections.

Third, I wanted a keyboard that I could easily travel with, and since this one is smaller, can fold up, and comes with a carrying case, it's more doable than some other options. I also like that it's protected by a hard shell when folded to keep it safe in transit.

The hinge areas are designed to move around the keys in such a way that they don't get damaged when folded. I've never run out of battery life while using this keyboard, but I tend to keep it charged up between sessions.

It's worth noting that the included cable is a USB-C to USB-A cord. So, if the keyboard is out of battery, you can still use it if you plug the keyboard into your handheld. However, you will need a USB-A to USB-C adapter, like this Syntech USB-C to USB-A 3.0 Adapter that sells for $12.99 at Amazon, to make this work.

Sometimes I like to dock my handhelds and play on a TV. Having the Artciety Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard has also made this more convenient.

I've always found that the connection works well, even when I'm laying in bed or sitting on the couch several feet away while my handheld is connected to the TV. You just need to make sure nothing obstructs the path between the television and the handheld in order for it to work well.

Artciety Foldable Keyboard FAQ

I've been using this keyboard with my various handhelds for a few years, so here is some additional information about it.

I've owned every major handheld gaming PC that has been released in the last few years, and after playing each device for dozens, if not hundreds, of hours, I've gained an appreciation for peripherals that improve my gaming sessions.

Many of my most-used handheld accessories are already inexpensive, but Amazon Prime Day, has made some downright cheap and very affordable. Grab these for your Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Legion Go, or other handheld gaming PC.

There are even more discounts available during Amazon Big Deal Days.

Protect your handheld and make it more convenient to use without spending a ton

I chose the accessories on this list because they are useful to every single handheld currently out there, whether you've got the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Legion Go, Legion Go S, MSI Claw 8 AI+, or have preordered one of the upcoming Xbox Ally or Legion Go 2 handhelds.

It's hard to decide which of these accessories is most important for your handheld gaming PC, but then, that really depends on how you use the device and what setup you currently have.

If you tend to play a lot of games, then it's a good idea to pick up a microSD card if you haven't already. I personally hate having to uninstall and rearrange game files too frequently, so having a larger storage space to work with adds a lot of convenience.

Outside of that, my most-used accessory is either the USB-C 90 Degree Male to Female adapter or the extra 65W charger. I highly recommend the adapter since it puts less strain on your handheld port and the charging cable, potentially allowing them to last longer without getting damaged.

My next most-used accessory has to be the USB-A to USB-C adapter. I've plugged so many of my USB-A accessories into this inexpensive peripheral, including headsets, my colorimeter, keyboard and mouse dongles, and more. It's much cheaper than a docking station or a hub, and its small size makes it super easy to travel with, too.

If you're playing a game that requires you to type things in or requires some cursor controls, then you might want to get the Artciety Foldable Keyboard. I've used this several times to interact with certain games. I've even used it to type articles on my handhelds. It works very well.

Lastly, I love having a docking station so I can play my handheld on a large TV or computer monitor when the mood strikes me. The iVanky one I highlighted is great for most handhelds; however, if you have a larger device like the Legion Go, Legion Go 2, or ROG Ally X, grab the JSAUX one. It's designed specifically so that the USB-C cable can reach these larger handhelds' ports without straining.

Handheld Gaming PC FAQ

I know that some people aren't all that familiar with mini PCs, so I've taken a moment to answer some commonly asked questions about these small desktops.

I wrote this before Microsoft announced price increases for Xbox Game Pass.

I'm a confessed convert to Windows-based gaming handhelds, triggered by ASUS' ROG Ally. Eventually, after a wild trip to the expensive fringe with MSI's Claw 8 AI+, I realized that Valve's otherwise legendary Steam Deck just wasn't powerful enough to occupy my downtime anymore.

This isn't a Windows 11 vs. SteamOS debate, by the way, as the Linux-based distro still offers incredibly appealing benefits for novice PC gamers and enthusiasts, particularly when you start digging into expanded forks like Bazzite.

No, this is a self-therapeutic attempt at justifying a purchase of the new Xbox Ally X, a co-operative stab at the ultimate gaming handheld from ASUS ROG and Microsoft. My colleague Jennifer Young already ordered the Xbox Ally X, and it's primarily her that I'll blame for my temptation. Here's why I think the price is fair.

Both Jen and I live in the United Kingdom, where the Xbox Ally X carries a £799.99 GBP price tag at Currys (around $1,073.58 USD, as of September 29). It's slightly less than I expected, considering the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is still £899 at the same retailer (Currys is probably our closest equivalent to Best Buy), and I had braced for a listing around £900.

Now, to be crystal clear: I am not implying that the Xbox Ally X is an "affordable" device, nor am I comparing it to the $399 $319.20 Steam Deck — that would be ludicrous. These two handhelds might be in the same category, but they aren't in the same price bracket.

The Xbox Ally X hasn't changed my appreciation for the Steam Deck, either. If you haven't tried handheld gaming before, and you're tentative about spending your money on one of these unusual PCs-disguised-as-consoles, then Valve still has the best deal in PC gaming. My 512GB Steam Deck served me well.

On the other hand, I've previously played my Steam Deck almost every evening for a couple of years. I became quite familiar with a handful of games that ran perfectly on its comparatively restricted hardware — Balatro dominated my time in particular, another one to blame Jennifer for — but other obsessions bogged it down.

In particular, the resource-gathering evenings of co-operative Viking action in Valheim with my partner were awful on the Steam Deck. To be fair, it was only bearable on the ASUS ROG Ally and its AMD-based Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip when I used the $7 Lossless Scaling app, but it ran perfectly fine on the Intel-based MSI Claw 8 AI+.

That, and multiplayer games of Rematch were far better on the higher-tier handhelds than the Steam Deck, and I found myself pushing my luck with more demanding games that were far beyond the realms of Valve's more budget-friendly option.

Still, after handing off the ROG Ally to Zac Bowden for Xbox full-screen experience testing, I'm convinced the more expensive models are quite tempting, at least compared to the average desktop gaming PC. That, and it feels as though some AAA games overestimate what the most common rig actually looks like, so optimizing for handhelds shouldn't be so far-fetched.

Steam isn't the de facto authority in PC gaming, but it certainly offers one of the broadest sample sizes when it asks gamers to submit their specs for its monthly hardware survey. At the moment, the average rig is reasonably modest, or at least slightly below mid-tier in comparison to the components on sale today.

A 6-core CPU with 16GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU with 8GB of VRAM running at 1080p is, frankly, quite close to what I'd consider a budget build. Presuming I would pair an RTX 40-Series graphics card with a processor of the same era, then an AMD Ryzen 5 7600X would definitely suffice.

Even a single stick of 16GB DDR5-6000 MT/s RAM would be particularly "future proofed", later pairing a second module for 32GB and getting closer to what I'd consider a "normal" amount of memory.

Naturally, this kind of hardware in a properly-cooled desktop PC will perform better than a handheld, but this first point is more about arguing for AAA game optimization than any direct comparisons.

The heroes at PCPartPicker make this kind of preliminary (and imaginary) PC build possible, but again, this doesn't include any kind of input peripherals or a screen — both of which are built into the Xbox Ally X. Nevertheless, it pushes the total price over $1,000, which hints at the average PC gamer's spending.

So, if the Xbox Ally X is just a portable PC (which it is), and it's built by ASUS ROG, the same manufacturer who already made the best effort of wrangling Windows 11 into a handheld format with third-party and first-party apps, like the ROG Ally X, then I don't find it hard to accept the price tag.

That is, the price tag that we, the lime-enjoying Brits, can enjoy (tax included), for the Xbox Ally X at launch. What might happen to the MSRP via tariffs or any other Xbox console-like price hikes, I can't say for sure — but it's incredibly tempting right now. I can't say that about the white Xbox Ally and its less-powerful AMD APU, but I'm frankly struggling to understand why that model exists in the first place.

Ultimately, the Xbox Ally X is like a refined, ergonomic variant of our most highly-rated handheld, and it's priced reasonably close (if slightly below) the most common desktop PC configuration in the world. Which, in theory, should mean that upcoming games should target a reasonable minimum specs requirement — unless they're Borderlands 4.

It isn't cheap, but it's fair for what it is. If I didn't have a wedding to pay for, I'd have ordered it already. Must stay focused.