SteamOS Update Hints At Other Handheld Gaming PCs Possibly Adopting the OS
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Key points
- The SteamOS 3.7.0 Preview: Pi Day update hints at SteamOS possibly being adopted by other handheld gaming PC devices.
- Valve has partnered with Lenovo to make a handheld gaming PC that runs SteamOS. The device was announced at CES 2025.
- As of 2025, The Verge estimates that Valve has sold around 3.7 million to 4 million Steam Decks.
A SteamOS update that was released on March 15 includes a patch note that might allude to other handheld gaming PCs adopting SteamOS. The update in question is called the SteamOS 3.7.0 Preview: Pi Day update.
This update can only be downloaded through the Steam Deck’s Preview channel. Interestingly, the patch notes includes “Beginnings of support for non-Steam Deck handhelds” in it. This might mean that new handheld gaming PCs might start adopting the operating system.
One handheld gaming PC that’s already doing this is the Lenovo Legion Go S that has a variant powered by SteamOS. The device was announced at CES 2025 and is slated to release in May 2025.
Asus might also benefit from adopting the SteamOS as there were reviews saying that the Asus ROG Ally X really suffers from having Windows as its operating system rather than SteamOS. With that being said, handheld PC gaming might actually be in the minds of people over at Microsoft. A report by Windows Central revealed that Xbox has plans for a new hardware release this year, and it might just be a gaming handheld.
According to the report, Microsoft is working with a PC gaming OEM similar to Valve’s partnership with Lenovo to develop the aforementioned SteamOS version of Lenovo Legion Go.
The Steam Deck was released in 2022 for the LCD model and 2023 for the OLED model. General reception of the device was positive, with the head of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer congratulating Valve for its release. As of 2025, The Verge estimates that Valve has sold around 3.7 million to 4 million Steam Decks.
