Valve plans to extend support for its SteamOS to the Asus ROG Ally and other competing handheld gaming devices. The company, known for its own handheld, the Steam Deck, will permit third-party devices to utilize its Linux-based operating system. SteamOS, crafted specifically for an enhanced “living room experience,” is what powers the Steam Deck, while many contemporary gaming handhelds, including the Asus ROG Ally, predominantly operate on Windows. Despite the flexibility offered by Microsoft’s OS and broader compatibility with third-party game launchers, devices running Windows have often received criticism for their subpar user experience.
SteamOS Compatibility for Competing Handhelds
Valve confirmed its intentions in a statement to Technology News, revealing that it aims to provide SteamOS compatibility for the Asus ROG Ally along with other Windows-based devices. Currently, competing handhelds can access the Steam desktop app while operating under Windows.
The recent release notes for the SteamOS 3.6.9 Beta included an update titled “Added support for extra ROG Ally keys,” which prompted speculation regarding the potential for SteamOS to support this device. Valve has since confirmed its commitment to this initiative.
Valve designer Lawrence Yang stated, “The note about ROG Ally keys is related to third-party device support for SteamOS. The team is continuing to work on adding support for additional handhelds on SteamOS.” This development suggests that other Windows-based handhelds, such as the Lenovo Legion Go and MSI Claw, might also receive SteamOS support in the future.
However, this announcement does not imply that rival manufacturers will soon offer their handheld gaming PCs pre-installed with SteamOS. Reports indicate that Asus continues to favor Windows due to Microsoft’s ability to ensure seamless performance across a range of devices featuring varying hardware configurations and chipsets.
Challenges for Windows-Based Handhelds
While Valve has outlined its plans for SteamOS support on third-party devices, users should not anticipate its implementation on other handhelds in the immediate future. The report indicates that, although progress has been made, the operating system is not yet in a position to be deployed on additional devices.
Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED models operate on SteamOS, featuring a console-like interface that allows users to navigate the extensive digital game library on Steam effortlessly. Although the Steam client is accessible on other handhelds through the Windows app, it lacks the streamlined interface that SteamOS offers.
The Asus ROG Ally X, recently launched, runs the Steam Windows client.
Although Windows-based devices like the ROG Ally benefit from broader support for various game launchers, including Epic Games Store and Xbox, the touch-oriented Windows OS often falls short in terms of user experience. These devices function primarily as handheld PCs, facing the continuous challenges of updates, bugs, and performance issues linked to the Windows experience. Conversely, the Steam Deck offers both a conventional Linux-based PC experience in its Desktop Mode and the user-friendly interface of SteamOS, enabling users to navigate their game libraries with ease.
SteamOS, Valve’s proprietary operating system, is built on Debian Linux and fine-tuned for a console-like “living room” experience, coming pre-installed on Steam Deck devices.
