The Steam Deck, Valve’s gaming handheld, along with SteamOS, has a notable limitation: it primarily supports only Windows games that are compatible with its Proton layer, alongside those that run natively on Linux. While users can install alternative game stores and the Proton layer has proven capable, SteamOS does not yet serve as a full substitute for Windows gaming.
In response to this challenge, Microsoft has partnered with Asus to develop the ROG Xbox Ally, which aims to provide a more extensive compatibility solution for PC gamers. This device features a new Xbox-branded user interface that overlays a traditional Windows environment while preserving the user-friendly qualities of SteamOS. Initially, this interface will be rolled out for the ROG Xbox Ally, but Microsoft has indicated to Technology News that similar features will be made available on other handhelds in the future, with broader compatibility planned for additional Windows devices as early as next year.
Microsoft’s exploration into creating a handheld-optimized user interface for Windows has been ongoing since at least 2022. An internal hackathon led to the identification of various limitations within Windows for handheld devices and a proposition for a “Windows Handheld Mode.” Whether the new Xbox interface is a direct product of this initiative remains uncertain, but it does feature a tile-based, Switch-like layout with a few aesthetic similarities to recent Microsoft announcements. This potential Handheld Mode was intended to include enhancements for touch screens and address Windows’ shortcomings in controller support outside of specific applications.
The ROG Xbox Ally features a full-screen interface that eliminates the standard Windows desktop and taskbar, purportedly freeing up several gigabytes of RAM while reducing power and resource consumption. Traditional Windows systems running other software, such as the standard ROG Ally with Asus’ Armoury Crate, experience additional overhead that complicates the user experience when compared to SteamOS.
A conventional desktop interface will still be available on the ROG Xbox Ally; however, users must actively choose to access it. There is hope that a version of this interface for broader Windows PCs could eliminate the traditional UI to enhance resource efficiency.
The risks of lateness
Microsoft’s response to the emergence of SteamOS and the Steam Deck has been comparatively gradual. Initially, the handheld’s rough features raised doubts about its potential for success, and these devices do not pose an immediate threat to high-end gaming PCs. Much of Microsoft’s recent focus has shifted towards AI and security, leaving less room for significant advancements in gaming solutions.
This delayed response has created an opportunity for SteamOS and the Steam Deck to thrive, as they offer software solutions that enable a wide range of Windows titles to run without the need for Windows itself. The Proton project and its foundational tools, like Wine, have improved over time due to increased attention and development, while SteamOS is gradually extending its reach to additional gaming handhelds and PCs, including select Asus ROG Ally models.
To date, SteamOS has not prompted a mass migration away from Windows in consumer computing, although Linux’s market share has slowly risen, crossing the 4 percent threshold last year. For decades, Windows has positioned itself as a compatible environment for both legacy and modern applications. Initiatives like Proton, which facilitate running Windows software without Windows, could threaten this long-standing cycle of user reliance on Windows, especially if using Windows becomes increasingly cumbersome.
