SteamOS 3.8.3 Beta arrives with improvements for Steam Machine and Steam Controller

SteamOS 3.8.3 Beta brings bug fixes and preparations for Steam Machine/Controller; see what's changed and how to test it.

Valve has released SteamOS 3.8.3 Beta, with a robust set of fixes and advancements that strengthen the ecosystem towards Steam Machine and Steam Controller. In parallel, a new stable version, SteamOS 3.7.22, arrives, dedicated to security and stability.

If you want to test the beta version, simply go to Settings > System > System Update Channel and opt into the corresponding channel.

What's new in SteamOS 3.8.3 Beta

• Regression fix: the on-screen keyboard in desktop mode was displaying incorrect keys in some IME modes.
• Faster future updates: significant improvement in update speed for fast connections.
• Graphic features added: support for missing graphics features required for titles like Crimson Desert.
• Stability in specific titles: crash fixes in games like Sushi Ben.
• Desktop mode crashes: several regressions causing freezes have been resolved.
• Stable overlay: fix for Steam Overlay failures during streaming.
• Wake sensitivity: adjustment to avoid spurious wake-ups with the Logitech Bolt receiver.
• Hardware support: improvements in future Steam Controller hardware support.
• Preparation for Steam Machine: expansion of future Steam Machine hardware support.
• Security and stability: additional security and reliability updates.

Steam Deck Beta Client Update (April 30th)

• General: an option was added to enable or disable controller connection/disconnection notifications.
• Device notifications: fix to avoid three connection notifications on startup.

Additional SteamOS 3.8 Beta updates (key items)

• General
  • Fixed degraded WiFi in certain sleep/reconnect situations.
  • Fixed excessive trackpad sensitivity on early Steam Deck models.
  • Initial support for upcoming Steam Machine hardware.
  • Arch Linux base update.
  • Graphics driver with performance and stability improvements.
  • Fixed failure when applying per-app performance settings when starting a game.
  • Improvements to screencast support in Game Mode (OBS/Discord).
  • Fixed dropdown menus that were not appearing in some games.
  • Improvements to VRR (Adaptive Sync) pacing.
  • Fixed FSR label state in the performance overlay.
  • Improved support for opening PDFs in external viewers.
  • Fixed window positioning in some titles.
  • Crash fixes when closing titles like STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor and Starfield.
  • Improved support for USB racing wheels and USB devices that initialize in non-standard mode (requires OS adjustment).
  • Steam Deck controller firmware update with progress bar on the home screen.
  • Fix for firmware on certain Steam Deck revisions that could render the left controller inoperative.
  • Numerous stability and security improvements.
• Bluetooth
  • Re-enabled Bluetooth Wake for the Steam Deck LCD and fixes for spurious wake-ups.
• Audio
  • HDMI channel count detection to expose surround sound configuration, when available.
  • New setting to use Bluetooth headset microphones (with possible quality drop in playback during capture).
  • Restoration of the internal audio device on reboot if it is set to Off in desktop mode.
  • Increased sleep time for HDMI devices to avoid audio cutouts after inactivity.
  • Fix when switching inputs with a wired headset connected.
  • Fixed audio underruns after sleep/resume.
• Accessibility
  • Option to force mono audio output.
• Desktop Mode
  • KDE Plasma updated to 6.4.3 (Wayland by default); performance improvements in Desktop Mode, support for rotated displays, external HDR, VRR, and per-display scaling factor.
  • Keyboard/language adjustments following Game Mode settings.
  • Window improvements for games running on Proton.
• System Firmware
  • Includes LCD BIOS v133 with security updates and options like Memory Power Down and preliminary hibernation support.
  • Includes OLED BIOS v114 with security updates and a charge LED that changes color upon reaching the limit.
• Non-Deck
  • Better compatibility with recent Intel/AMD platforms and improved discrete GPU memory management.
  • Boot improvements on desktop systems with recent UEFI firmware.
  • Improved support for various third-party devices (OneXPlayer, GPD, Anbernic, Lenovo, ASUS, etc.).
  • Reduced input latency for handheld controllers (from 5-8 ms to 100-500 µs).
  • Other display, power, and compatibility improvements for laptops/various hardware.
  • Fixes for washed-out colors on OLED devices and graphics hangs on some APUs.
• Developer
  • Desktop Mode now uses Wayland by default (X11 can still be selected via steamosctl).
  • Linux Kernel updated to 6.16.
  • Steam uses steamos-manager to manage desktop sessions.
  • Support for setting a desktop password in developer settings.
  • Initial support for running as a virtual machine (virtio guest drivers).
  • Support for third-party devices to trigger the boot menu via EFI variable.
  • custom-update command for atomupd-manager to facilitate testing specific builds.
  • System reports now include more audio information for debugging.
  • Boot into LAVD schedulers via steamosctl set-cpu-scheduler lavd.

This comprehensive coverage shows how much update 3.8 is targeting not just fixes, but a more solid foundation for new hardware and the day-to-day user experience. If you have already tested it, share in the comments how you perceived the performance on your SteamOS, Steam Deck, or Steam Controller setup.

CTA: Which update are you most excited to test? Tell us in the comments which aspect of SteamOS 3.8.3 Beta you hope to see in practice on your device.

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