Valve announced that it is collaborating with Intel and Nvidia to offer the well-known operating system SteamOS to a wider range of hardware. This move is considered an important step for users looking for a smoother gaming experience, especially on Windows-based handheld consoles.

The company added first-ware support for Intel-based handheld consoles with the SteamOS 3.8 update it recently released. This update brings controller support on devices such as MSI Claw, making the Linux-based gaming experience more accessible.

Hardware Collaboration with Intel and Nvidia

Valve official Pierre-Loup Griffais stated that they are working closely with Intel on optimizing the graphics stack. On the Intel side, there are statements stating that they are aware of the demand on the Linux side and that they are working together with Valve on Mesa drivers.

In tests conducted on YouTube, it was observed that SteamOS 3.8 version works largely on MSI Claw devices. Additionally, a Reddit user managed to run SteamOS on an Intel Arc B580 desktop graphics card.

On the Nvidia side, the process is moving a little slower and Valve does not expect comprehensive support for these hardware to arrive this year. The company confirmed that it has established a special team to work on Nvidia drivers and that they are collaborating closely in this area.

Build Your Own SteamOS PC

With the newly announced Steam Machine launch, Valve is also allowing users to build their own SteamOS-based desktop computers. SteamOS version 3.8 paves the way for such custom installations, allowing users to use Valve’s operating system on their own hardware.

Although a clear timetable is not yet shared for new generation hardware such as Intel’s Panther Lake architecture and G3 Extreme chip, it is emphasized that work on the Linux side continues. With these technical partnerships with both Intel and Nvidia, Valve aims to bring the SteamOS ecosystem to platforms other than AMD.

What do you think will change in the gaming world if SteamOS comes to different hardware?