Collaboration between NVIDIA and Valve aims to expand SteamOS support for desktop systems
Valve is intensifying its efforts to adapt SteamOS to a wider range of desktop hardware, now also covering computers equipped with NVIDIA graphics cards. This initiative, as revealed in an interview by The Verge with Valve engineer, Pierre-Loup Griffais, marks an important step.
The company’s expert confirmed that the current focus is on continually improving the operating system’s compatibility with desktop machines, in parallel with developing the necessary support for NVIDIA graphics drivers.
Griffais revealed the existence of a “growing team” within Valve, fully dedicated to optimizing SteamOS performance for NVIDIA hardware. He also highlighted the strong union between the companies, stating: “We are collaborating very closely with NVIDIA.”
While full NVIDIA support may not be available later this year, this projection aligns with Valve’s 2026 hardware release schedule and is not a surprise. However, this direct partnership with Valve represents a notable advancement given the historical complexities of NVIDIA drivers in the Linux ecosystem.
Innovations and improvements implemented in SteamOS 3.8
Version 3.8 of SteamOS already features a list of significant improvements, including expanded compatibility with the latest platforms from Intel and AMD. The update also optimizes video memory management on systems equipped with dedicated GPUs and resolves issues on desktop computers using the most up-to-date UEFI firmware.
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While SteamOS is still ideally recommended for AMD-based systems and for PCs configured as consoles attached to televisions, Griffais assured that the current desktop experience is satisfactory for models that resemble the old “Steam Machines”, although some limitations remain.
However, some points still require attention, such as the lack of support for the HDMI-CEC feature. Furthermore, Valve does not yet provide a complete installer that simplifies the dual-boot process, allowing users to configure the system in conjunction with Windows.
NVIDIA’s collaboration in improving SteamOS represents excellent news for the gaming community, and there is an expectation that general Linux support will benefit. Unlike AMD and Intel graphics drivers, which are mostly open source and integrated directly into the Linux kernel and Mesa, NVIDIA’s approach has historically been different.
NVIDIA currently offers open source kernel modules for its latest GPUs. However, its main driver framework for the Linux operating system is still based on proprietary components, operating in user space. There is also the Nouveau/NVK open source initiative, but this alternative operates independently of the official NVIDIA driver and, so far, cannot completely replace the proprietary gaming solution.
