Valve expands SteamOS to Non-Steam Deck Handhelds, starting with Lenovo Legion Go S

In a significant move for the handheld gaming market, Valve has officially released SteamOS 3.7.8, extending support beyond its popular Steam Deck to select third-party handhelds. This update, rolled out on May 22, 2025, marks a pivotal step in Valve’s strategy to broaden the reach of its Linux-based operating system, offering a smoother, console-like gaming experience to rival devices like the Lenovo Legion Go S, Asus ROG Ally, and original Lenovo Legion Go.

The star of this expansion is the Lenovo Legion Go S, the first non-Valve handheld to ship with official “Powered by SteamOS” branding, launching on May 25, 2025. Priced at $549.99, this device boasts an 8-inch variable refresh rate screen and Hall effect joysticks, positioning it as a direct competitor to Valve’s Steam Deck OLED. Valve’s update also includes a recovery image, allowing users to install SteamOS on other AMD-powered handhelds with NVMe SSDs, such as the Asus ROG Ally and original Legion Go, though only the Legion Go S has full official support for now.

This release follows months of preparation, with Valve teasing broader compatibility as early as January 2025 at CES, where the Legion Go S was announced. A beta version of SteamOS, introduced in April, hinted at support for additional handhelds, and the stable 3.7.8 release delivers on that promise. Valve has also introduced a “SteamOS Compatible” rating for over 18,000 games, ensuring players can easily identify titles optimized for these devices.

While SteamOS remains optimized for handhelds, Valve’s focus on AMD hardware means Intel-based devices like the MSI Claw are not yet supported, though future updates may address this. The update also brings Steam Deck enhancements, like a battery charge limit and Bluetooth headset microphone support in desktop mode.

Valve’s expansion of SteamOS could reshape the handheld gaming landscape, challenging Windows-based devices with a streamlined, gaming-focused OS. As Valve works with “select partners” for more officially licensed devices, 2025 may mark the rise of SteamOS as a dominant force in portable gaming.