SteamOS receives preview update with initial Steam Machine support and hardware improvements

SteamOS preview update brings initial Steam Machine support, as well as audio improvements, Wayland by default, and firmware adjustments for Deck and other devices.

Valve has released a SteamOS preview update that introduces the first support for Steam Machine, indicating progress on hardware that still faces component shortages.

Hardware compatibility across devices

The announcement highlights expanded compatibility for devices from Lenovo, ASUS, OneXPlayer, GPD, and Anbernic. Additionally, controller input latency has dropped from 5–8 milliseconds to 100–500 microseconds on supported systems, resulting from internal optimizations.

Audio and accessibility improvements

The update now automatically detects the HDMI channel count for surround sound audio configurations and restores internal audio devices after reboots when desktop mode is disabled. A new accessibility option forces mono audio output, and the use of Bluetooth headset microphones becomes possible, with a trade-off in capture quality.

Desktop Mode and display

Desktop Mode now uses the Wayland protocol by default, while X11 remains available through developer settings or command-line tools.

External HDR, per-display scaling, and TV compatibility

There is support for external HDR, with better per-display scaling and improved compatibility with televisions right from the start.

Firmware and specific hardware

Firmware updates include BIOS version 133 for the Steam Deck LCD with security patches and a Memory Power Down option. OLED models receive BIOS 114, with charging LEDs indicating when user-defined charge limits are reached, not just when the battery is full.

Improvements on non-Deck platforms

Non-Deck systems gain increased compatibility with recent Intel and AMD platforms, as well as better memory management for discrete GPUs. The power button function (short and long press) now works on more devices, and boot fixes help modern AMD APUs.

Known issue and temporary workaround

Valve points out a known issue: users attempting to join the Preview channel may be automatically subscribed to the Beta Channel. As a workaround, enable Advanced Update Channels in developer settings until the Steam Client brings the fix.

What did you think of these changes? Which improvement are you most looking forward to testing on your SteamOS setup?

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