At CES 2025, Pierre-Loup Griffais spoke about the fact that SteamOS is not intended as a replacement for Windows. Rather, it is meant to be an alternative for users. Now, Valve is working to further expand the compatibility of SteamOS and optimize it for various devices and platforms.
SteamOS as an alternative for gamers: SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system from Valve, has been in development since 2012 but gained wider recognition through the Steam Deck. It is specifically designed for gaming and allows for improved performance by removing unnecessary additional features.
The team continues to work on making the OS compatible with various devices and platforms. At CES 2025, the Lenovo Legion Go S was presented, and a developer from Valve commented on the “competition.”
The Future of SteamOS – Choice Instead of Competition
Who is speaking? Pierre-Loup Griffais, a developer who has been involved with SteamOS from the beginning, emphasizes that Valve does not aim to displace Windows users:
“I don’t think it’s our goal to achieve a specific market share or to pull users away from Windows. If a user has a good experience with Windows, there is no problem.”
Rather, SteamOS is meant to provide a choice for users looking for an alternative.
What is Valve’s goal? Currently, Valve’s focus is on improving compatibility, for example, by optimizing open-source drivers. “There is simply a lot to do,” says Griffais. Thanks to the open structure of SteamOS, one can benefit from the work of the community. In the long run, SteamOS could offer an alternative not only on handheld devices but also on traditional PCs and other devices. Because SteamOS offers various advantages and disadvantages compared to others:
Advantages of SteamOS:
- Free: No licensing fees for manufacturers, making devices cheaper.
- Gaming-optimized: Specifically developed for games, without unnecessary ballast.
- Security & Privacy: Higher security due to the Linux base, less susceptible to viruses and malware
Disadvantages of SteamOS:
- Limited compatibility: Not all programs and games run natively on SteamOS.
- Performance losses: Depending on hardware and requirements, performance may be somewhat weaker because SteamOS is based on Linux.
- Limited stores: Not every store and software is directly accessible, which could be a hindrance for some users.
SteamOS represents a flexible alternative to traditional systems and offers new perspectives and possibilities for gaming. This is particularly important for handhelds. You can find the best gaming handhelds currently available directly on MeinMMO: Here you can find out more about the popular handhelds of the last year.
