Valve, the company behind the popular Steam platform, has always been a pioneer in the gaming industry. They once envisioned a world where every PC maker could have their own “Steam Machine,” a PC game console running on the company’s Linux-based SteamOS. While it took a decade for this dream to evolve into the Steam Deck gaming handheld, Valve’s original vision is far from dead.
Recently, Valve designer Lawrence Yang confirmed to The Verge that the company plans to let other companies use SteamOS as well. This means explicitly supporting rival handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally. In Valve’s latest SteamOS release notes, there was a line that caught the attention of many: “Added support for extra ROG Ally keys.” This indicates that Valve is actively working on supporting rival devices in addition to their own Steam Deck.
According to Yang, the note about ROG Ally keys is related to third-party device support for SteamOS. The team at Valve is working on adding support for additional handhelds on SteamOS, including the Asus ROG Ally. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that Asus will officially endorse Valve’s installer or sell the Ally with SteamOS, it’s a step in the right direction towards broader device support.
Valve acknowledges that there are challenges ahead in terms of offering SteamOS for rival handhelds. While they are making steady progress, it’s not something that will be ready to run out of the box anytime soon. Additionally, Valve is working on a general release of SteamOS 3 that can be installed on non-handheld PCs, expanding the reach of their operating system beyond just gaming handhelds.
Valve had also promised to allow users to turn Steam Decks into dual-booting Windows machines, giving them the flexibility to switch between the two operating systems at will. While this feature is still a priority for Valve, they haven’t been able to provide an update on the timing for dual-boot support. The company is actively preparing the remaining Windows drivers for Steam Deck OLED, but there is still work to be done before this feature becomes available.
Valve isn’t the only player in the game when it comes to adapting Linux and controller-friendly UI to Windows handhelds. Universal Blue has already achieved support for the Asus ROG Ally X on their Bazzite operating system even before the device was released. This competitive landscape pushes companies like Valve to continue innovating and expanding their support for a wide range of devices in the gaming industry.
Valve’s support for rival handhelds marks an exciting new chapter in the evolution of SteamOS. By expanding device support and working towards dual-boot capabilities, Valve is positioning themselves as a key player in the future of gaming technology. While there are challenges and obstacles to overcome, Valve’s commitment to innovation and competition bodes well for the future of gaming on both Windows and Linux platforms.