Most recent handheld consoles run Windows with specific optimizations in the rapidly growing portable gaming market. However, according to a recent leak, SteamOS may soon become available on these devices.
The leak, reported by Gaming on Linux, suggests that devices using the Steam Deck’s operating system will carry a seal that reads “Powered by SteamOS”. This seal was illustrated in a Valve guide, indicating Valve’s plans to expand SteamOS beyond the Steam Deck.
The guide further describes SteamOS as a flexible operating system optimized for gaming, providing users with a robust platform to run their games without the need for Windows. While no official timeline has been revealed, the move could significantly impact the portable gaming ecosystem by offering a cohesive, Linux-based alternative for handheld devices.
“The Powered by SteamOS logo indicates that a hardware device will run SteamOS and boot into SteamOS when the device is turned on. Partners/manufacturers will ship hardware with a Steam image in the format provided by and/or developed in close collaboration with Valve . No physical changes should be made to the logo and it should not be combined with any other brand element.”
Valve’s confirmation in August about bringing SteamOS to the ASUS ROG Ally, one of Steam Deck’s major competitors, generated excitement. However, four months later, no official updates have surfaced. Now, with fresh leaks suggesting a wider rollout, it seems increasingly likely that other portable gaming devices will soon adopt Valve’s Linux-based operating system. Meanwhile, enthusiasts have discovered unofficial methods to install SteamOS on various devices.
The portable gaming market has experienced remarkable growth since the Steam Deck’s release in 2021, with numerous models launching annually, particularly from lesser-known Chinese brands. This boom has been fueled by advancements in mobile APUs from AMD and Intel, whose increasingly powerful iGPUs (integrated graphics processors) now offer sufficient graphical power to make portable consoles a viable gaming option.
SteamOS could be a game-changer for this market, providing an optimized, gaming-focused OS alternative to Windows and giving players a consistent interface across multiple devices. With a steady stream of hardware releases and improved processing power, the future of portable gaming looks promising—and SteamOS may soon play a larger role in shaping it.
