SteamOS Is Officially Launching on a System That’s Not By Valve

by

Summary

  • Lenovo recently revealed that its upcoming Legion Go S gaming handheld will ship with Valve’s SteamOS operating system.
  • Valve has been working to expand SteamOS to third-party devices for quite some time, and the Lenovo Legion Go S is the very first implementation of the same.
  • The SteamOS-powered Lenovo Legion Go S will cost $499 and launch in May 2025.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m thrilled about the arrival of the Lenovo Legion Go S, marking it as the first third-party handheld PC to run on Valve’s SteamOS. Up until now, SteamOS was exclusively available on the Steam Deck. However, with the introduction of the Lenovo Legion Go S, Valve is broadening the horizons of SteamOS by making it available on devices manufactured by other companies.

Despite strong competition from advanced gaming handhelds such as the Asus ROG Ally X and MSI Claw 8 AI+, the Steam Deck stands out due to an advantage it holds: unlike other portable gaming devices that run Windows, which isn’t fully optimized for portable use, the Steam Deck operates on a Linux-based system called SteamOS. This results in a more seamless and console-like user experience compared to those relying on Windows. Although the SteamOS is one of the Steam Deck’s key competitive advantages, Valve has been developing this operating system for various third-party devices over several years, and it’s now ready for use on other devices as well.

the Legion Go 2 and the Legion Go S. The Legion Go 2 is designed as a successor to the original Lenovo Legion Go, while the Legion Go S provides comparable power in a smaller, lighter design. This means that consumers will have more options when it comes to handheld gaming PCs, as one version of the Legion Go S will be powered by SteamOS.

Lenovo Legion Go S Handheld Gaming PC Details

SteamOS Version

  • Uses Valve’s Linux-based SteamOS operating system
  • Launching in May 2025 for $499
  • Available only in 16GB RAM / 512GB storage configuration

Windows Version

  • Uses Windows 11
  • Launching in January 2025
  • $599 for 16GB RAM / 1TB storage, $729 for 32GB RAM / 1TB storage

The Lenovo Legion Go S, powered by SteamOS, will be available for purchase at a price of $499 (equipped with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage) starting in May 2025. It’s worth noting that the SteamOS on this device will offer the same features as it does on the Steam Deck, and all SteamOS devices will receive the same software updates, except for any hardware-specific adjustments. If you prefer a Windows operating system, Lenovo is also releasing a Windows version of the Legion Go S. This version will hit the market in January 2025, starting at $599 with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, up to $729 for 32GB RAM and 1TB storage. As for the high-end Lenovo Legion Go 2, there are currently no plans to release it with SteamOS, but this could change depending on the demand for the SteamOS version of the Lenovo Legion Go S.

Currently, Lenovo is the sole partner of Valve for a licensed SteamOS device at this point in time. Yet, users of other gaming handhelds such as the Asus ROG Ally will soon have an opportunity to experiment with SteamOS on their devices. In addition, Valve has announced a public beta of SteamOS, which is expected to be released within the next few months for “users on various handhelds,” following the unveiling of the Lenovo Legion Go S.

Read More

2025-01-08 15:53