SteamOS Linux 3.8 Released
Valve has released SteamOS 3.8, a new stable version of the Linux-based operating system for the Steam Deck. The update includes various system improvements, bug fixes, and performance enhancements to improve the gaming experience on the handheld device.
Background
- SteamOS is the Linux-based operating system developed by Valve for the Steam Deck handheld gaming PC, as well as for the Steam Machine line of living-room gaming consoles (now discontinued). It is built on top of Arch Linux, a popular rolling-release Linux distribution.
- This release (3.8) is significant because it updates the underlying Linux kernel to version 6.11, brings in newer graphics drivers (Mesa 24.3), and adds support for reading from Xbox USB controllers and the older PlayStation 4 DualShock controller in Bluetooth mode — fixing long-standing gaps for many PC gamers.
- The update also includes a new kernel-level security feature (SafeSetID LSM) that restricts which user IDs can be assumed, as well as the newer Vulkan 1.4 graphics API, which will eventually enable better performance and effects in games.
- For owners of the Lenovo Legion Go, Asus ROG Ally, or other handheld PCs, SteamOS 3.8 brings improved support for "embedded displays" and the non-Nintendo Switch Online variant of the Switch Pro controller — reflecting Valve's continued efforts to make SteamOS work well on third-party hardware.