Valve Expands Support for ROG Ally with Steam Deck OS
Valve’s journey with the development of the Steam Deck gaming handheld has been a long and winding one. From the initial concept of every PC maker having their own “Steam Machine” running SteamOS to the eventual creation of the Steam Deck, the company has always had a vision of expanding the reach of their gaming platform. The latest development in this saga is Valve’s announcement of support for the Asus ROG Ally gaming handheld with the Steam Deck OS.
Lawrence Yang, a designer at Valve, confirmed to The Verge that the company is working on adding support for third-party devices like the ROG Ally to SteamOS. This move signifies Valve’s commitment to making their gaming platform accessible beyond their own hardware, opening up possibilities for other manufacturers to integrate SteamOS into their devices. The addition of support for “extra ROG Ally keys” in the latest SteamOS release notes indicates that Valve is actively working on expanding compatibility with rival handhelds.
Valve’s Progress on SteamOS Support for Rival Handhelds
While the inclusion of support for ROG Ally keys in the SteamOS release notes sparked speculation about Valve’s intentions, Yang clarified that the company is indeed focused on supporting additional handheld devices on SteamOS. This move aligns with Valve’s long-standing goal of making SteamOS available to a wider range of hardware, beyond just their own Steam Deck.
It’s important to note that while Valve is working on adding support for devices like the ROG Ally, it does not necessarily mean that manufacturers like Asus will officially endorse the installation of SteamOS on their devices. The decision to ship with Windows is often influenced by factors such as compatibility testing and validation processes carried out by Microsoft. Despite this, Valve’s efforts to expand SteamOS support to rival handhelds show their commitment to creating a more diverse ecosystem for PC gaming.
Valve’s Dual-Boot Support for Steam Decks
In addition to expanding support for rival handhelds, Valve is also working on enabling dual-boot functionality on their own Steam Deck devices. This feature would allow users to switch between SteamOS and Windows, providing flexibility in choosing the operating system that best suits their gaming needs.
While Valve has made progress in preparing Windows drivers for the Steam Deck OLED, including firmware updates for the Bluetooth driver, the timeline for dual-boot support remains uncertain. Yang emphasized that dual-boot functionality is still a priority for Valve, but they have yet to finalize a timeline for its implementation. This feature would further enhance the versatility of the Steam Deck, allowing users to access a wider range of games and applications.
Expanding the Reach of SteamOS to Windows Handhelds
Valve’s efforts to adapt SteamOS for use on Windows handheld devices reflect the company’s commitment to creating a seamless gaming experience across different platforms. Universal Blue, a software developer, has already demonstrated support for the Asus ROG Ally X on their Bazzite operating system before its official release. This highlights the growing interest in bringing the benefits of SteamOS to a broader range of devices beyond Valve’s own hardware.
As Valve continues to make progress on expanding support for rival handhelds and implementing dual-boot functionality on Steam Decks, the future of SteamOS looks promising. The company’s dedication to innovation and collaboration with other manufacturers signals a new era of possibilities for PC gaming. Whether it’s through partnerships with third-party devices or the development of new features like dual-boot support, Valve is paving the way for a more inclusive and versatile gaming ecosystem.