Valve released SteamOS 3.8, the latest iteration of its gaming operating system, on June 18. The new version brings important improvements, with emphasis on optimizing installation on non-Steam-branded computers and better compatibility with recent Intel and AMD platforms.
This operating system, known for powering Valve devices like the Steam Deck and the recently released Steam Machine, is expanding its reach to third-party hardware. The addition of support for the Lenovo Legion Go S is a clear example of this strategy, accompanied by bug fixes and other compatibility improvements.
Among the many innovations in SteamOS 3.8, focused on devices other than the Steam Deck, are significant improvements for Intel and AMD platforms, as well as more efficient video memory management for dedicated graphics cards. There is also a reduction in input latency for handheld controllers and a fix for an issue in the SteamOS *chainloader* that prevented it from launching on some desktops. These improvements pave the way for enthusiasts to build their own “Steam Machines” with greater ease and performance, making the system a robust alternative for gaming on Linux PCs, not limited to Valve consoles.
The company officially confirmed on its support page that portable devices based on the AMD platform, as well as equipment using dedicated AMD graphics cards, are now compatible with the beta version of the operating system.