Pierre-Loup Griffais, a Valve engineer, recently confirmed that Valve is actively working with Nvidia to bring official graphics driver support, like AMD and Intel, to SteamOS. The main goal of this update is to let you easily install the Linux-based operating system on regular desktop PCs and build your own custom gaming computers, rather than limiting it to the Steam Deck. He also shared that a dedicated team is developing this support, and while it might not arrive this year, the feature is steadily making progress in the background.
This update will improve compatibility for recent Intel and AMD platforms
For your information, the announcement comes alongside the rollout of SteamOS version 3.8.10, which recently added improved compatibility for recent Intel and AMD platforms. Up until now, installing SteamOS on non-Valve hardware was mostly limited to AMD-based systems and required a complex workaround using the Steam Deck recovery image.
Thanks to the latest updates, Valve intends to make the installation process straightforward for standard desktop hardware. However, there are still a few limitations. The current SteamOS installer is designed to completely wipe a storage drive for a fresh installation, meaning dual-booting alongside Windows is not supported yet. Griffais mentioned that the team hopes to make coexisting with other operating systems a better experience in the future.
More freedom for PC gamers to customise their PCs
For now, the general release of SteamOS is ideal for console-like PC setups, such as a secondary computer connected directly to a living room TV. Once Nvidia support is fully integrated, gamers will have a much more viable, Linux-based alternative to Windows for their gaming rigs.
Personally, we feel this is good news for PC gamers in Malaysia. After all, there are more PC owners than console owners in this country. What are your thoughts on the news? Feel free to leave your comments below.
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