Speculations have been spreading about Valve aiming to broaden the horizons of its SteamOS Linux distribution beyond the confines of the Steam Deck. It is expected to be done with Lenovo’s upcoming Legion Go model which is supposed to play a major role in this strategy.
A clear timeline for the widespread availability of SteamOS is starting to take shape after Lenovo’s announcements at CES. It suggests major implications for the future of handheld gaming PCs.
Consumers starting in May will have the opportunity to get Lenovo’s recently launched Legion Go S handheld gaming PC. This PC will feature Valve’s Steam OS as an alternative to Windows.
However, Valve has also indicated that a beta version of SteamOS for other handheld devices will be available for consumers even sooner, likely in April.
While the Steam Deck may lag behind competing models from Lenovo, Asus, GPD, and MSI in terms of raw power, its operating system stands out as its most attractive feature.
SteamOS is designed especially for controller-based navigation unlike Windows, which can feel unwieldy on smaller screens. SteamOS also includes enhancements that can boost its performance.
Valve plans to allow users of other handheld devices to download as well as experiment with SteamOS before Legion Go S’s launch with the operating system pre-installed.
This download will make use of the same software image like the Steam Deck making sure that the users receive the same updates and precompiled shaders offered by Valve.
Lenovo’s competitive pricing makes the handheld particularly appealing despite other devices having gained access to SteamOS before the release of Legion Go S. The Windows 11 version of the Legion Go S will be available for users later this month. It will be available at $729 with additional configurations ready to launch in May starting at $599.
In contrast to this, the Linux-based SteamOS edition will also begin at just $499, reflecting the absence of a Windows license.
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