Valve has rolled out SteamOS 3.8.0 to users on the Steam Deck Preview channel. The update introduces initial support for the Steam Machine and includes several improvements aimed at external displays, discrete GPUs, and third-party handheld hardware.
The Steam Machine is Valve’s upcoming desktop gaming PC. It was originally expected to launch in early 2026, but has been delayed due to GDDR6 RAM shortages caused by industry-wide memory supply issues. Valve has not announced a new release date.
SteamOS 3.8 Display and Multi-Monitor Upgrades
SteamOS 3.8.0 introduces support for HDR and VRR on external monitors. The update also allows users to maintain different scale factors across multiple displays simultaneously, improves default scaling for TVs, and provides better support for rotated displays.
These changes particularly benefit Steam Deck users connecting to external monitors and are clearly aimed at the Steam Machine’s desktop usage. Additionally, a new version of KDE Plasma is included, which Valve says enhances gaming performance in desktop mode.
SteamOS 3.8 Boosts Discrete GPU Performance
Valve says it has made significant improvements to VRAM management on discrete GPUs in this update. The Steam Machine features a custom 8GB dedicated graphics chip based on AMD’s RDNA 3.5 architecture.
Prior benchmarks showed that SteamOS lagged behind Windows on systems with dedicated GPUs, especially those with 8GB of VRAM, although it performed well in systems with unified memory.
SteamOS 3.8 Support For Third-Party Handheld Gaming PCs
SteamOS 3.8.0 adds better support for controllers, power buttons, SD card slots, and other hardware found in third-party handheld gaming PCs. Currently, the Lenovo Legion Go S is the only non-Valve device with official SteamOS support, with the Legion Go 2 expected to follow. Valve has also been in talks with Asus, OneXplayer, GPD, Zotac, Anbernic, and other manufacturers about SteamOS compatibility, though no official announcements have been made.
Microsoft plans to respond to Valve’s desktop focus next month with Xbox Mode for Windows 11, which offers a controller-friendly interface across all PC form factors.
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