Valve has confirmed that it will be releasing a beta version of its SteamOS operating system for handheld devices ahead of the official launch of the Legion Go S in May. The Steam Deck, which was released in 2022, is one of the devices that will support the beta release.
In a statement, Valve said it will ship a beta of SteamOS before the Legion Go S launches, and users can download and test it themselves. However, no details were provided on when or which devices will explicitly support the beta.
Based on historical information, it is likely that the SteamOS beta will be released to the public “at some point before May 2025”. The exact timeline is unknown, but an update from Valve PR may provide more clarity.
The SteamOS beta has garnered praise for matching the native Steam Deck experience, including supporting unique hardware features such as TDP control and RGB lighting. Devices with AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chipsets are likely to be supported, making it a promising platform for handheld gaming.
However, not all devices will receive the SteamOS beta. The MSI Claw 8 AI+ with Intel’s Lunar Lake chipset is unlikely to support the operating system, while Nvidia-powered desktops may also be excluded.
The upcoming release of SteamOS for handheld devices is an exciting development in the Linux and gaming space. With the Steam Deck paving the way, Valve’s efforts are poised to bring high-performance gaming to a wider range of devices.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2025/01/07/valve-set-to-release-a-steamos-beta-for-multiple-devices