Valve to Support ROG Ally with SteamOS: A New Era for Handheld Gaming

Valve's Evolution from Steam Machines to Steam Deck

Valve once envisioned a world where every PC maker would produce their own "Steam Machine," a tailored game console powered by the company's Linux-based SteamOS. Despite the long journey, this vision culminated in the development of Valve's own Steam Deck gaming handheld. However, Valve's ambition to transform PC gaming with SteamOS did not stop there.

Support for ROG Ally: A New Chapter in SteamOS

In an exciting turn of events, Valve has now confirmed its plans to support rival devices, including the Asus ROG Ally gaming handheld. Lawrence Yang, a designer at Valve, clarified this in a conversation with The Verge. Recently, an intriguing note was found in Valve's SteamOS release notes, indicating the addition of support for extra ROG Ally keys. This raised questions about Valve's intentions regarding handheld gaming devices.

Expanding SteamOS's Compatibility

Yang explained that the mention of ROG Ally keys pertains to third-party device support for SteamOS. The team at Valve is diligently working on expanding the compatibility of SteamOS with various handheld devices. However, this process is still ongoing and will take some time to reach its full potential.

Challenges in Deploying SteamOS on Rival Devices

While Valve is making strides toward compatibility, they will not be directly providing SteamOS on Asus ROG Ally devices. Asus has expressed its reasons for shipping their handheld with Windows, primarily due to the dedicated validation teams at Microsoft that ensure optimal performance across diverse hardware setups.

Future of SteamOS on Non-Handheld PCs

Valve is also progressing on releasing SteamOS 3, allowing installation on non-handheld PCs. However, the company remains cautious and advises that it is not ready for a public rollout yet, though they are making steady progress.

Steam Deck Dual Booting: An Awaited Feature

Valve has also hinted at the potential for Steam Deck users to dual-boot into Windows, a feature eagerly anticipated by many. Yang indicated that they are preparing to release remaining Windows drivers for the Steam Deck OLED, particularly the firmware for the Bluetooth driver. However, no specific timeline for dual-boot support has been provided, but it remains a priority for the company.

Emerging Competitors: Universal Blue's Bazzite OS

Valve is not alone in this venture. Other companies, like Universal Blue, have already made strides in adapting Linux and a controller-friendly interface to Windows handhelds. Their Bazzite operating system has reportedly achieved compatibility with the Asus ROG Ally X ahead of its release.

Conclusion: SteamOS's Bright Future

Though Valve's dream of creating a universal Steam Machine has faced challenges, their commitment to evolving SteamOS and supporting a variety of handheld devices signifies a bright future for PC gaming. As updates on compatibility and dual-boot capabilities emerge, gamers can look forward to a more versatile gaming experience across multiple platforms.