Masies already package the new SteamOs for Snapdragon 8 gen 3

For context, I’ve spent years using macOS as my main OS for work and Windows as my gaming OS. I also work as a software engineer, so I’m fairly comfortable around computers.

Over the last few years though, I found myself gaming more and more on my Xbox Series X because I just got fed up with Windows 11. The bloat, random background processes, updates… it just made PC gaming feel like more hassle than it should be.
I’ve also messed around with Linux over the years, Ubuntu, Omarchy and a few others.

But there was always one thing stopping me from making the jump permanently.
Gaming.

If you wanted to play PC games properly, Windows was basically the only realistic option.
Not anymore.

I’m running SteamOS on a Minisforum UM790 Pro that I bought about two years ago (before the RAM prices went crazy).
Specs are a Ryzen 9 7940HS, Radeon 780M, 32GB RAM with 8GB VRAM allocated, outputting at 1080p.

I’ve mostly been using Proton 10, only switching to Proton Experimental if a particular game benefits from it. Honestly, it’s blown me away how much just works.

Performance has been way beyond what I expected from an iGPU. Older games are running at High settings, locked at 60 FPS, with temps generally sitting around the 60-70°C mark.
As a more recent example, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown runs on Ultra settings, the GPU sits at roughly 70% utilisation, and temperatures hover around 50°C, which genuinely surprised me. I mean… I know it’s a metroid-esque side scroller with a nice art style.. but for it to be as optimised and running as cool is insane to me.
Even more intense titles like Spider-Man lock at 1080/60FPS at the 60-70° at full APU utilisation.
🤯

The thing I didn’t expect to love as much as I do is SteamOS itself. Gaming Mode is exactly what I wanted from a console-like experience, and Desktop Mode gives you a proper Linux desktop whenever you need it. It’s easy enough that you can ignore Linux completely, but flexible enough if you enjoy tinkering.

I genuinely thought I’d install SteamOS, play around with it for a week and end up back on the Xbox for gaming..
Instead, it’s made me realise that Windows genuinely isn’t the default choice for PC gaming anymore.
For me, SteamOS has been a better experience in pretty much every way.

Hats off to Valve. I can’t recommend it enough.

https://steamdeckhq.com/steamoss-3-8-has-been-released-with-new-kernel-graphics-driver-and-initial-steam-machine-support/

SteamOS 3.8 has been released to the public with tons of changes, including a new kernel and graphics driver, game fixes, VRR support improvements, and initial Steam Machine support.

General

• Updated Arch system base
• Initial support for upcoming Steam Machine hardware
• Added support for waking from sleep via connected Steam Controller
• Substantially improved speed of future OS updates on high-speed connections
• Improved support for screen casting in Game Mode (e.g. OBS/Discord)
• Fixed dropdown menus not appearing in some games
• Fixed excessive trackpad sensitivity on certain early Steam Deck LCD models
• Improved support for games that attempt to open PDF files in external viewers
• Fixed an issue where video output could become frozen while using Remote Play
• Fixed a possible session crash when using Game Recording with certain "Maximum video height" settings
• Fixed an issue affecting certain titles (such as "SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide") where the game window could have an incorrect position
• Fixed closing certain titles (such as "STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor™" and Starfield) resulting in a session crash
• Improved support for certain USB racing wheels and USB devices that boot in a non-standard mode
  • Frequently these are devices that appear as USB storage devices with a driver installer, and must be switched to their normal mode by the OS
• Steam Deck controller firmware updates now display update progress on the splash screen
• Fixes issue on specific Steam Deck revisions where firmware updates could render the left controller inoperative for that session
• Numerous stability and security updates

Display / Performance

• Updated graphics driver with performance and stability fixes
• Added preliminary support for HDMI VRR for devices with native HDMI output
• Fixed an issue where "Allow Tearing" wouldn't have the intended effect in certain configurations
• Improved VRR frame pacing
• Fixed FSR badge remaining off in the performance overlay, even if it was actually active
• Fixed a case where per-app performance settings would intermittently fail to apply when launching a game
• Added missing graphics features needed for titles such as "Crimson Desert"
• Fixed an issue on certain TCL TVs where the display may remain blank using the Steam Deck Dock when VRR is enabled (requires a Dock firmware update)

Bluetooth / WiFi

• Fixed a case where WiFi performance could become degraded until the device was put to sleep or manually reconnected
• Re-re-enable Bluetooth Wake for Steam Deck LCD
  • Fix for more spurious wake issues that were present in earlier attempts

Audio

• Detect HDMI channel count and expose surround configuration if available
• Add a setting to allow using Bluetooth headset mics (Bluetooth playback quality will be worse while capture is active)
• Restore internal audio device on reboot if set to "Off" in desktop mode
• Increase suspend timeout for HDMI devices so initial audio isn't cut off after a few seconds of inactivity
• Fixed a bug with switching input devices when a wired headset is plugged in
• Fixed an issue where audio underruns could be experienced after sleep/resume
• Fixed a bug on Steam Deck OLED where rebooting would occasionally cause a loss of speaker output until rebooted again
• Fixed a case where FPS limits would fail to apply when downscaling games from a higher resolution

Accessibility

• Added an option to force mono audio output

Desktop Mode

• KDE Plasma updated to version 6.4.3 from 6.2.5, and now uses wayland by default
  • Fixes several cases of reduced performance in Desktop Mode compared to Game Mode
  • Improved support for rotated displays
  • Better scale factor out of the box on TVs
  • Adds support for external HDR displays
  • Adds support for VRR displays
  • Adds support per-display scale factor
  • For more information, see Plasma release announcements
    • https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.3.0/
    • https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.4.0/
• Keyboard layout and language are now obeying Game Mode settings
• Improved windowing behavior for games running in Proton
• Fixed a bug in Desktop Mode causing previously open applications to not be remembered when using the 'Return to Gaming Mode' shortcut to logout
• Fixes for experimental nested desktop mode
• Fixed Desktop Mode night color settings inappropriately remaining active when switching back to Game Mode

System Firmware

• Includes Steam Deck LCD BIOS v133
  • Security updates
  • Added "Memory Power Down" setup option
  • Preliminary support for hibernation
• Includes Steam Deck OLED BIOS v114
  • Security updates
  • Charging LED now changes color when charge limit is reached, rather than only at 100%

Non-Deck

• Improved compatibility with recent Intel and AMD platforms
• Greatly improved video memory management on discrete GPU platforms
• Fixed a compatibility issue with the SteamOS chainloader that could cause a boot failure on some desktop systems with recent UEFI firmware
• Power button short and long presses now supported across a wide variety of devices
• Improved controller support for OneXPlayer F1 series, GPD Win 5, GPD Win Mini, Anbernic Win600, OrangePi NEO, and Lenovo Legion Go
• Added controller support for OneXPlayer X1 series and Lenovo Legion Go 2
• Added system and controller firmware update support for the Lenovo Legion Go 2
• Added preliminary charge limiting support for Legion Go, Legion Go S, and Legion Go 2 - currently only accessible in Desktop Mode
• Added controller RGB LED color settings for the Lenovo Legion Go 2
• Added controller, TDP control, and speaker audio support for the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally series
• Reduced handheld controller input latency from 5-8ms to 100-500us
• Night mode, color vibrance, and color temperature sliders in Steam now work on Z2E and later AMD APUs
• Seamless boot fixes for Z2E and later AMD APUs
• Automatically handle internally rotated display for some third-party handhelds
• Improved motion control support for handhelds with BMI260 IMUs
• SD card reliability improvements for some third-party handhelds, including ASUS ROG Xbox Ally, Legion Go 1, Legion Go S, Legion Go 2, and MSI Claw
• Fixed washed out colors for Zotac and OneXPlayer handhelds with OLED
• Fixed some GPU hangs on Phoenix APU devices (Tales of Arise, Octopath Traveler II)
• Fixed ASUS ROG Ally power consumption from fingerprint reader while shut down
• Fixed trackpad losing functionality after sleep/resume on the Legion Go
• Fixed spurious wake-ups when using a Logitech Bolt receiver
• Add controller support for MSI Claw devices (A1M, 7 AI+ A2VM, 8 AI+ A2VM, A8 BZ2EM)
• Add controller support for OneXPlayer APEX and X1 series.
• Improved gyro response for devices that use AccelGyro3D (Legion Go 1, Claw A1M)
• Fixed a system crash on international Asus ROG Xbox Ally models
• Fix Bluetooth not working on some Intel handhelds
• Add initial firmware for upcoming Intel handhelds

Developer

• Desktop Mode now uses Wayland by default
  • X11 support may still be selected via Steam developer settings, or via `steamosctl`
• Updated Linux kernel to 6.16
• Steam now uses steamos-manager to query available desktop sessions and trigger desktop session switching
• Added support for setting the desktop password in developer settings
• Initial support for running as a Virtual Machine guest (virtio guest drivers)
• Added support for third-party devices to trigger the SteamOS boot menu via EFI variable
• Added `custom-update` verb to `atomupd-manager` for easier testing of specific builds
• System reports now include more audio debug information
• Initial support for LAVD CPU scheduler via `steamosctl set-cpu-scheduler lavd`

I have been hearing good things about the recent Steam OS update and that they are getting ready for the Steam Machine. My question is, is it finally a good time to get rid of windows and run Steam OS onto my PC?

Hey all! I've got some exciting news regarding my SteamOS Arm port based on Steam Frame, It now runs on Snapdragon 8 Elite and on (a lot more) SD 8gen2 Devices.

**Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, beta 9**

https://github.com/hashtagbasit/SteamOS-ARM-Handhelds/releases/tag/v1.3-beta9

This one took a lot of testing for having so many devices. 9 betas in 4 days, a pile of test kernels and a ton of debug logs from people in the Discord, to go from "black screen on everything" to one image that boots on all of these:

- AYN Odin 2

- AYN Odin 2 Mini

- AYN Odin 2 Portal

- AYN Thor

- Retroid Pocket 6

- Retroid Pocket Nova

- AYANEO Pocket DMG

- AYANEO Pocket EVO

They're all on a new kernel now. Beta 9 also fixed the black screen on the AYANEO Pockets, which is an awesome update!

The AYANEO Pocket ACE / DS / S 1K / S 2K use the same image and should work too, but nobody has tested them yet. If you have one, please give it a go and let me know! (If your device is not listed here, join the discord to share your reports after trying).

SD8GEN2 is almost at the end of beta.

**Snapdragon 8 Elite (AYN Odin 3), first beta**

https://github.com/hashtagbasit/SteamOS-ARM-Handhelds/releases/tag/v1.3-odin3-beta1

It boots straight from the SD card, Android stays untouched on the internal storage. Controls work out of the box (back buttons are L4/R4), there are fan profiles, the UI is sized properly for the 6" screen and Steam comes preinstalled. Big thanks to Chazmus!

8 Elite looks great so far, this beta will be much shorter than 8gen2 because of having way less devices. (Konkr Pocket Fit Elite users are welcome to try it and report on discord)

**REDMAGIC 6 -Snapdragon 888 (yes you read that right)**

It boots and works great with almost no bugs. Thanks to abstract6217. The flashable image can be built from github. Guide is in the repo.

**What's next**

Phones and tablets now have their own section in the repo, and the Lenovo Legion Y700 is very high on my list for tablets. The 8 Gen 3 devices (KONKR Pocket FIT, AYANEO Pocket S2) are on the stable v1.2 already, and v1.3 stable will bring all of the new socs together.

These are betas, so expect some rough edges. If something breaks, make a file called `debug` on the SD card's BOOT drive and send me the logs on discord or github, that's how most of these fixes happened (thanks to everyone who helped!)

Repo: https://github.com/hashtagbasit/SteamOS-ARM-Handhelds

Discord: https://discord.gg/EP53nZYvg

I only own a Pocket FIT G3 and give this project a lot of my time, so If it has made your device better, supporting me on Ko-fi would mean a lot. It would help me buy more devices for testing and keep development moving forward. A star on the repo helps too!

I just did another update today and the version on Steam OS Main is now 3.10 with 20260824.1000 build. Kernel is 6.18.45 . Unfortunately there are no patch notes so I cannot elaborate further.

Anyone know what is updated in this release?

Hey everyone, v1.2 is out and it's a big one.

Frame gen actually runs on ARM now The Lossless Scaling plugin only comes with x86 builds, so I added an ARM64 build of LSFG 2.0 that runs straight on the GPU. ARM64 games get frame gen too now, not just x86 games through FEX. The plugin comes preinstalled, so you just pick a game and turn it on.

It's not just the Pocket FIT anymore The Ayaneo Pocket S2 and S2 Pro have the same chip, so v1.2 has initial support for them too. I don't have one myself, so if you do, I'd love to hear how it goes. More Devices to be supported as well based on testers.

Based on the latest Steam Frame Build from 250926

You can put it on internal storage There's a new installer app in Desktop Mode: pick how much space Android keeps and it does the rest. Default android os stays, and you choose which one to boot. It's a lot snappier than running from the SD card.

And this should be the last time you reflash There's a new update app, so future versions install over what you have and keep your games, saves and accounts.

Other stuff that got fixed:

• the right stick moving the triggers

• Proper implementation of back buttons

• the fan jumping between your speed and 100%

• Louder audio

• Desktop Mode taking forever to open

• the controller service eating a CPU core in the background, making ui laggy

The Steam UI runs at 144Hz now too.

Download: https://github.com/hashtagbasit/SteamOS-ARM-Handhelds/releases/tag/v1.2

Discord if you want updates, share bug reports, feature requests, discuss with the community, share game compatibility, comparisons and benchmarks or want to test for new SOCS: https://discord.gg/EP53nZYvg

I do this in my spare time, so if it made your device better, a star on the repo or a coffee really helps.

Let me know If anything breaks!

With the latest Main Update two days ago and today the new mesa moving to 26.1.5 and mesa (extra) 26.1.2 along with intel-vaapi-driver dropped. I decided to run 2 benchmarks

These were carried out at 1440p only, No RT

Forza 6 - 53fps (XeSS - quality)

After the updates above

Forza 6 - 60fps (XeSS - quality)

Killer Instinct - 2238

After the updates above

Killer Instinct - 2538

CyberPunk 2077 - 105fps - XeSS quality and FSR3.1

Watch Dogs Legion - 111fps - avg fps 70fps

These were carried out at 1080p only, No RT

Forza 6 - 67fps (XeSS - quality)

Killer Instinct - 3739

CyberPunk 2077 - 140fps - XeSS quality and FSR3.1

Watch Dogs Legion - 143fps - avg fps 105fps

It is getting better and I have hope for future changes

Has anyone noticed if there has been an improvement to performance on this update?

Says the Mesa driver got updated but I cannot see any difference on a 9070XT

Also did they do the proper hdmi 2.1 yet as again cannot see any new resolutions or changes

Wow how much of a difference a year can make!

​

SteamOS 3.8.10 stable just landed and it includes a laundry list of performance and quality of life improvements.

​

It's not all rainbows and butterflies and I go over some of the highlights in today's video while performance testing three handhelds.

​

https://youtu.be/huyxbvjbUkQ

Do you guys feel like the steam button and the performance button feels like they don’t respond the first time you press them. I feel like after the update I have to press twice or “harder” to bring the menus on the screen. I am on a Ally X

This is Valve's own SteamOS for ARM, the build they made for the Steam Frame. The Frame uses the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 as the Pocket FIT's G3 Gen 3, so Valve's graphics drivers just work on it. You get the real Game Mode and the real KDE desktop, same as a Steam Deck.

It's based on MaSi's SteamOS port for the SD 8 Gen 2 devices, with several optimizations and changes along with the kernel and device specific features.

What's working:

- Game Mode, desktop mode, store, downloads

- x86 games through FEX, plus ARM64 Proton

- controller shows up as a Steam Deck controller, back buttons too

- the extra front buttons (performance profiles and stick RGB)

- performance overlay

- 60/90/120/144Hz, Steam switches it based on your frame limit

- Lossless Scaling frame gen through the decky plugin (had to make a new one specifically for arm, which I will be posting shortly)

- Decky, wifi, audio, touchscreen

The Valve Frame image is built for a VR headset, and a lot of its services just sit there crashing in the background on other ARM builds, which kills battery in standby. I turned all of that off, so standby is around 1W now. I also fixed the fan, unlocked the GPU to 903MHz like on Android, and kept games and the Steam UI off the slow cores onto the performance cores so menus feel way snappier.

Known issues: real kernel sleep doesn't wake up reliably yet so it uses a low power standby instead, and it runs hot in heavy games which ofcourse is expected.

For issues report them on github, further optimizations and support for different devices to be added soon.

Download and install steps: https://github.com/hashtagbasit/SteamOS-ARM-SM8650

Only tested on my own Pocket FIT G3 so far, so let me know how it goes if you try it.

I just updated my Steam OS stable version to the latest one on my steam machine. Fully thinking that the game recording functionality would be sorted by now but I’m not able to record the video. It only seems to record a couple of frames and just stays there, and I’m not sure if it’s only something that’s wrong on my side or it’s a systemwide issue. Would be keen to find out how it works for others.

I have been struggling with my ROG ally since I bought it last week. It refuses to download windows, and always blue screens of death. I tried to install steamOS 3.7 last week, and I would go through the whole setup and just be met with the Linux terminal, I only booted into steamOS once before it went black and never came back. I have tried to redownload it today due to 3.8 official release, after my Asus cloud recovery did not work and still blue screened. At this point do I need a new SSD? I bought the Ally off eBay and am unsure if I am able to return it. I would appreciate any help as I just want to start gaming.

Is anyone else having Orcaslicer failures during slicing after the SteamOS update?

Hi. I have a Lenovo legion go s with steam os. I have been getting wonderful download speeds (100 MBPS+) over the past year with our connection and router. Ever since I updated the OS to 3.8, the speeds seem to have been capped at around 2.4 MBPS. This is true both for the Steam client and a random internet speed test in Firefox. I’ve tried:
- restarting device
- sleep and wake
- toggle WiFi off and on
- forget and reconnect WiFi
I’m stymied. All my other devices work fine.
I’m on the stable 3.8.12 build. Please help!

Edit: also tried
- setting a download speed limit of an arbitrarily large number (1GBPS)
- enabled and disabled wifi power management

Really impressive results of the FSR 4.1 upscaling model. Even in performance mode it's hard to spot a difference from native resolution running side by side.

The only downside, this leaked DLL seems to work only with the latest RDNA4 cards. It loads on older cards but seems like upscaling just does not work, image flickers and looks blocky, like without any upscaling.

Somehow I recently had an issue with the controller not acting like it should with powering my PC on and off (with steamOs). I typically use the controller's power button but it can use the main menu and lowest tab of steamos in game mode too). I set this up a month or 2 ago and it was working fine. I switched TVs and then it stopped working suddenly, and just the day before it was fine in its functionality with the original t.v.

So I wanted to point out that this update solved this issue for me. If you were having some issues surrounding that feature of the controller, it may solve that for you too. Just wanted to give a heads up. Update that puck and controller!

SteamOS 3.8.13 has just been released for all users with the following changes:

General
Fixed an issue causing controller firmware updates to fail on certain Steam Deck models

Fixed an issue causing game crashes and launch failures with certain titles such as FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH

SteamOS 3.8.15 has just been released for all users with the following changes:

General
Fixed an issue preventing enabling HDR in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced

Fixed an issue that would result in degraded performance in some cases when composition was required (such as when having FSR enabled)

Security and stability improvements

title says it all

I updated to 3.8.13 this morning

after this, even though im on OS update channel stable and steam client update channel "steam deck stable" i have a software updates prompt for steamos 3.8.21 beta.... why?

thanks