Ever for the reason that Steam Machine got here out slightly over a month in the past, Valve has been busy releasing SteamOS updates virtually weekly. Within the newest replace, the corporate added preliminary gamepad assist for one of the vital highly effective handheld gaming PCs available on the market.
Whereas Valve nonetheless hasn’t added full assist for third-party handhelds, the update notes level to “improved assist” for MSI Claw handhelds, together with “preliminary gamepad assist” for the Claw 8 EX AI+, the Ayaneo Pocket S2 and the Konkr Match. Support for the Claw 8 EX AI+ is superior, however not essentially shocking. In any case, it is an x86 handheld similar to the Steam Deck (and all the opposite handhelds that presently assist Valve’s gaming OS). The 2 different handhelds listed below are significantly attention-grabbing, although.
Valve has been engaged on bringing SteamOS assist to ARM for some time now – in spite of everything, the Steam Body will likely be working the OS on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. However the Konkr Match and the Ayaneo Pocket S2 – in the event that they find yourself getting full SteamOS assist – can be the primary Android handhelds to achieve this.
As for MSI, most of its handhelds are powered by Intel processors and graphics, fairly than AMD chips. I’ve recognized that Valve was engaged on assist for different chipsets since I talked to the corporate again when the Steam Machine got here out, however this preliminary assist is an indication that it is truly occurring. It would not harm that proper now, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is probably the most highly effective handheld from a mainstream producer. The one factor that actually held it again once I reviewed it was Home windows, and getting SteamOS working on it will go a good distance to making it among the best handhelds available on the market proper now. It is solely a matter of time, then, earlier than SteamOS will get wider assist.
Valve has definitely stated that is one thing it is engaged on. Again when the Steam Machine got here out, the console’s FAQ re-asserted that individuals ought to set up SteamOS on their very own {hardware} if they cannot get their fingers on the Steam Machine. And, whereas Valve acknowledged that, on the time, the OS solely labored on AMD {hardware}, it was “engaged on increasing assist for the longer term.” Nicely, slightly greater than a month later, and it seems to be like that work is beginning to repay.
No matter whether or not or not you are excited about shopping for a Steam Machine – and the mini gaming PC/console hybrid has definitely been controversial – it actually does seem to be Valve is usually centered on simply increasing SteamOS. And, yeah, Intel and ARM platforms getting assist goes to assist lots with that, however the elephant within the room is Nvidia.
It is no secret that Nvidia’s graphics playing cards are within the overwhelming majority of gaming PCs on the market proper now, and the shortage of SteamOS assist is a critical barrier for Valve’s obvious mission. In accordance to the most recent Steam Hardware Survey, 72% of gaming PCs are utilizing Nvidia graphics. So, till Nvidia assist rolls out to SteamOS, there’s solely a lot room for SteamOS to develop. There are definitely methods to get Linux working on an Nvidia-powered rig, however they’re slightly extra concerned than simply putting in SteamOS on an AMD rig, and often requires utilizing a special distro, like Bazzite (which is superior, by the best way).
Valve did counsel in an Interview with The Verge that Nvidia assist can be coming a while sooner or later, and I hope that is true. However till we get some patch notes from Valve saying that Workforce Inexperienced’s GPUs are supported, we’re simply going to have to wait. As soon as that assist does come although, I am undecided there will likely be a lot motive to persist with Home windows 11 in any respect.
Jackie Thomas is the {Hardware} and Shopping for Guides Editor at IGN and the PC elements queen. You’ll be able to observe her @Jackiecobra