SteamOS is a fork (modified version) of a Linux distribution (distro) built by Valve for its Steam Deck handheld, previously based on Debian but switching to Arch Linux when the portable device launched in 2022. Its UI is practically identical to Steam's "Big Picture" mode, designed initially to simplify PC gaming on large-screen televisions, but it can switch to a traditional desktop UI based on KDE Plasma.
However, it's now optimized for various screen sizes and focuses on supporting controller inputs rather than a traditional mouse and keyboard. While SteamOS is still primarily built for AMD hardware, starting with the Steam Deck and recently expanding to the Lenovo Legion Go S, it can be compatible with NVIDIA and Intel Arc graphics with mixed success.
SteamOS differs from Windows 11 because it is immutable, meaning the user can't modify or overwrite its core system files. Plus, while Valve's Proton translation layer can attempt to run any game or application designed for Windows, its stability is never guaranteed, and some core systems like anti-cheat software still suffer incompatibility — rendering some multiplayer games unplayable.
Latest about SteamOS
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Steam Machine gets its own "Red Line of Death" scare with a dead GPU
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Valve drops Steam Machine 4K 60 FPS claim
VALVE Valve has quietly removed its earlier 4K 60 FPS claim for Steam Machine, replacing it with a more cautious description highlighting FSR 4.1 support.
Valve is reportedly bringing FSR4 to Steam and Proton
VALVE Valve is reportedly integrating a custom version of AMD's FSR4 into Steam and Proton, potentially bringing better image quality to more devices.
Valve says Steam Machine is still shipping this summer
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I bought Valve's new Steam Controller, and you only need to know about one downside
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Windows 10 users are holding out in Steam — by choice or force?
PC Gaming Valve's new hardware survey shows that a quarter of Windows users are holding on to Windows 10, while the most popular PC components paint a broader picture.
How much is 100 exabytes? Ask Valve, the company behind Steam.
PC gaming Valve's Year in Review breakdown for Steam shows off some mind-boggling numbers to do with data delivery. Can any other PC gaming platform ever hope to be as popular?
