Valve’s own gaming operating system, SteamOS, is no longer limited to the Steam Deck.
A few days ago, at CES 2025, Lenovo formally unveiled the smaller, cheaper version of the Legion Go handheld console under the name Legion Go S, and at the same time showed the public the prototype of the next-generation successor, the Legion Go 2. There was also an important piece of information about both: prospective buyers do not have to stick to Windows 11, they can also choose an alternative operating system in the form of Linux-based SteamOS.
The latter was developed by Valve specifically for Steam Deck handheld consoles, and as confirmed by the company that also operates Steam, its support will soon be extended to Lenovo handhelds, even beyond them.
The SteamOS edition of Legion Go S will arrive in May, but before that, in April, users will be able to download the beta of the operating system, which anyone can experiment with after downloading. And for this, they will provide additional support in the future with releases to improve the experience.
The competition between operating systems in the segment of PC-based handheld consoles is therefore intensifying, where, with the exception of Steam Decks, Windows 11 has been completely dominant until now. Specifically optimized for gaming, SteamOS is designed to deliver a console-like experience, offering seamless system and game updates. It is also equipped with functions such as quick suspend / resume, which allows us to quickly enter and exit games.
The player gets access to the entire Steam ecosystem from the Library to the Cloud and Chat to Game Recording. The user interface has been designed in such a way that it feels as comfortable as possible when using a controller, and the installation and launch of Steam games are easy and smooth. This is true for most of the games in the catalog, but those that do not run well are also indicated separately by Valve specialists during the Verified program.
Source: www.pcwplus.hu