Valve's SteamOS Goes Beyond AMD, Eyes Arm Devices

Lenovo's Legion Go 2 handheld will feature Valve's SteamOS pre-installed starting in June, marking a significant expansion for the Linux-based operating system. This follows Lenovo's prior release of a SteamOS-compatible version of its lower-end Legion Go S last spring, which even outperformed its Windows counterpart in some games. The new Legion Go 2 will boast a Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor, 32GB of RAM, and an 8.8-inch OLED screen, with a starting price of $1,199.

Valve is also making strides to broaden SteamOS compatibility beyond its own hardware. While current support extends to AMD-powered handhelds like the ROG Ally and original Legion Go, the company is developing a new version of SteamOS specifically for Arm-based hardware, first seen in its upcoming Steam Frame VR headset. This development aims to open up PC gaming possibilities to a wider range of devices.

This expansion into Arm-based hardware is particularly exciting given the prevalence of such chips in various gaming handhelds. Valve engineers expressed optimism about Arm's ability to compete with x86 chipsets, especially in lower-power segments. However, widespread adoption, particularly for desktop PCs, still faces hurdles, with integration on Nvidia GPUs noted as a work in progress due to nascent open-source driver support.