#SteamOS for ROG Ally

Valve is expanding the reach of its SteamOS platform, officially allowing installation on handheld devices beyond its own Steam Deck. Starting this April, a beta version of SteamOS will be available for download, giving handheld gaming enthusiasts a chance to experience the Linux-based operating system on third-party devices. Pierre-Loup Griffais, a lead designer for Steam Deck and SteamOS, revealed that the beta for other handhelds is expected to ship shortly after March. This marks a significant step in Valve’s ambition to make SteamOS a platform bigger than just the Steam Deck, providing gamers an alternative to Windows for portable PC gaming. This partnership showcases Valve’s strategy of making SteamOS a unified platform for handheld gaming, leveraging the same software updates and precached shaders that enhance performance on the Steam Deck. While Valve has not confirmed specific devices that will work seamlessly with SteamOS, there are strong indications that popular handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go could benefit. Valve has been adding support for the Ally’s controls and is likely to build on community-driven projects like Bazzite, a fork of Steam Deck’s OS experience. Bazzite has proven highly effective on devices like the Ally and Legion Go, though Valve emphasizes that it is not yet ready for preloading by manufacturers. Read more in our articles including "Valve Brings SteamOS to Other Handhelds, Beta Arrives in April" and "ROG Xbox Ally Prices Leak Online".