The Quiet Revolution

Steam is winning the handheld war by porting its OS to other consoles.

Another step towards dominance: SteamOS will run on consoles other than Steam Deck.

The Lenovo Legion Go S, its next portable console, will ship with SteamOS by default in May, a first for Lenovo. This will be the first console beyond the Steam Deck to run Valve’s OS instead of Windows.

Like a Steam Deck, this new Lenovo will maintain logical differences in power and features but not in use: Valve’s Steam Deck makes it easy and fluid to access games from the company’s store (but it can sometimes make it hard to run games other than Steam). Steam is the main digital video game store, so this move to other consoles is crucial.

This new Lenovo console will weigh 0.7 kg and have an 8.8-inch 1920×1200 screen with 120Hz refresh rate and VRR support. A small touchpad, two USB 4 ports, and RGB-lit sticks are also included. It will have adjustable trigger sensitivity and a battery that lasts 2.5 hours with the most demanding games.

Lenovo’s exclusive AMD Ryzen Z2 Go chip extends battery life, but gamers are most interested in the $499.99 SteamOS model that will launch in May. Last month, a Windows console will be released.

Valve’s Rule
Depending on design, power, and other factors, users can choose their console. The AMD chip, for example, drains battery power more efficiently than the Steam Deck. Our review of one praised its lightness, but Valve’s strategy is that SteamOS extends beyond its console.

Valve told The Verge that it has no plans to adapt SteamOS for third parties other than Lenovo. But, and this is a big but, Valve will soon release a beta of its OS that “possibly” will work on other laptops (the Asus ROG Ally was already approached).

Lenovo recognises that SteamOS is unmatched in direct usability: you take the console out of the box, log into Steam, and wait for installation to start playing. It brings the console closer to the bomb-proof accessibility of a Nintendo Switch, which portable PCs have yet to achieve in a market that is growing rapidly. Valve can achieve absolute dominance by removing that barrier for players who prefer playing to tinkering.

In a constantly changing video game landscape, Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft compete. Valve may win the console wars despite its quietness. Valve, a non-console manufacturer, is building a gaming ecosystem across devices and operating systems with its Steam platform and strategic hardware and software moves.

Steam’s versatility is its strength. Its vast library includes indie and AAA games for all tastes. The vibrant community of forums, groups, and user reviews helps players connect, share, and discover. Regular sales and an open platform that encourages modding and customisation make this a compelling offer for gamers and developers.

Valve won’t stop there. The Steam Deck, a portable gaming PC, has revolutionised the handheld market by letting gamers access their Steam libraries. This move and Steam OS, a free and open-source gaming OS, show Valve’s platform agnosticism.

Valve expanding to third-party hardware like the Legion Go S and announcing free Steam OS for end users and 3rd party manufacturers will strengthen the ecosystem. This strategy lets gamers play Steam on more devices, meeting their needs and budgets.

The Quiet Revolution

By nr39r

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