A number of increasingly accurate rumours suggest that the release of SteamOS for all PCs is imminent. Code changes point to extended hardware support, which is in line with official reports that SteamOS will soon be available, and not just for Steam Deck devices. Information that could also explain why Microsoft has decided to get off its backside on the subject.
At CES 2025, Valve revealed its plans to make SteamOS available to third-party manufacturers. We were able to see the first device from another brand to be equipped with SteamOS: the Lenovo Legion Go S, due for launch in May 2025. This isn’t the first time that Valve has tried to make its mark in the world of the classic PC. Older users will remember the Steam Machines, which were launched with great fanfare only to end in a resounding flop.
Nevertheless, with the portable PC console market taking off, we can see that SteamOS offers an optimised Linux alternative for gaming. The idea is that Valve could position itself as a serious competitor to Windows, providing an interface that is better suited to gamers who prefer the ‘console’ experience to Windows tinkering. The main advantage of SteamOS is that it offers a considerably simplified user interface and is free of unnecessary services that constantly consume a lot of resources with Windows 11.
If we go a little further, we know that Nvidia will be entering this field with an ARM chip. So to consider the possibility of even wider hardware support, including for ARM-based devices, is to go a little further in the speculation. However, it seems that a number of players are in the process of lining up for battle in this sector. Nvidia is obviously a big fish… But let’s not doubt Microsoft’s reaction in this area. Will dual boot make a comeback?
