Valve's SteamOS is moving beyond the Steam Deck, with the announcement of the Lenovo Legion Go S, the first officially licensed third-party handheld powered by the operating system. This marks a significant step in the growth of SteamOS as a versatile gaming platform.
Lenovo Legion Go S: The First "Powered by SteamOS" Handheld
The Lenovo Legion Go S, revealed at CES 2025, is the first device outside of the Steam Deck that will officially ship with SteamOS. According to Valve, this expansion ensures a seamless user experience optimized for gaming, while maintaining the power and flexibility of a PC. Valve is working closely with Lenovo to provide the same smooth experience users have come to expect from the Steam Deck.
SteamOS Support for Other Handhelds
The work done to support the Lenovo Legion Go S will also improve SteamOS compatibility with other handheld devices. Valve plans to release a beta version of SteamOS, which is expected to enhance the experience on other handhelds. Users can download and test this beta themselves to experience the benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions About SteamOS
What is SteamOS?
SteamOS is an operating system developed by Valve. It is designed for a seamless gaming experience, while still allowing the power and flexibility of a PC. SteamOS plays tens of thousands of games from the Steam library and is currently officially on the Steam Deck and soon on some Legion Go S models. Valve is actively working on SteamOS support for more devices in the future.
What are the key benefits of SteamOS?
SteamOS is optimized for gaming and is meant to be used with a controller. It offers features like quick suspend and resume, seamless system updates, and easy game updates.
What is the user experience of SteamOS?
SteamOS puts the player directly into Steam, with access to the Steam Library, Steam Cloud, Steam Chat, Steam Game Recording, and more. The user interface is optimized for controller use, and installing and playing Steam games is easy. SteamOS automatically handles driver updates and hardware tweaks through built-in system updates.
Can this run every game on Steam?
SteamOS is Linux-based, but the vast majority of Steam library games run on SteamOS thanks to Valve's Proton compatibility layer. This layer allows developers to ship games for Windows without porting them to Linux. Games will seamlessly work on SteamOS. The "Verified" program identifies games that don't run well on SteamOS.
Is this the same operating system that is on Steam Deck?
Yes, it is the same operating system that powers the Steam Deck.
Is a user locked into playing only Steam games?
No, if players wish, they can go to desktop mode and install other game launchers and software if they wish.
Source(s): valve Official Website
