Valve expands SteamOS support to third-party handheld devices

Valve has released the SteamOS 3.8.25 beta, expanding its support for third-party handheld gaming devices. This update introduces controller support for several non-Valve devices, including the MSI Claw 8 AI+, Ayaneo Pocket S2, and Konkr Fit, while providing improved support for the OneXPlayer Apex.

The update specifically targets Intel-based handhelds, such as the MSI Claw 8 AI+ utilizing the Lunar Lake architecture. Testing indicates that demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Forza Horizon 6 can run stably at a 15-watt power draw. Additionally, the update enhances Proton compatibility to over 18,000 Steam titles and introduces new emulation workflows to integrate ROMs and emulator content more easily into the Steam library.

By expanding controller and hardware support beyond the Steam Deck, Valve is positioning SteamOS as a general-purpose operating system for handheld gaming computers. This move presents a potential challenge to Microsoft, as many existing handhelds currently rely on Windows, which is designed for mouse and keyboard input rather than the controller-centric interface of SteamOS.