Valve works with Intel and Nvidia to broaden SteamOS GPU support
Valve and Intel say they are collaborating on SteamOS support, while Nvidia support is also in progress but not expected this year.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Valve is working with Intel and Nvidia to make SteamOS run on more graphics hardware, a step that could widen the operating system beyond Valve’s own devices and AMD-based gaming PCs. The effort matters for handhelds and desktop builders who want a Steam Deck-style software experience without relying on Windows.
Valve and Intel told The Verge that the companies are working together as Intel-powered handheld gaming PCs begin to show signs of SteamOS compatibility. MSI’s Claw handhelds, which use Intel chips, have mostly shipped as Windows machines so far, according to The Verge.
Valve’s SteamOS 3.8 update says the company has added initial firmware for upcoming Intel handhelds. The update also adds controller support for some MSI Claw models, including the Claw 8 AI Plus, The Verge reported.
Early testing has already moved beyond release notes. YouTuber ETA Prime ran a beta version of SteamOS 3.8 on an MSI Claw 8 AI Plus and said the setup was “not perfect,” according to The Verge, while the demonstration appeared to show the system working well in broad terms. The Verge also cited a Reddit user who managed to boot SteamOS on an Intel Arc B580 desktop GPU, a result previously reported by Tom’s Hardware.
Valve is also opening SteamOS 3.8 to people who want to build their own Steam Machine-like desktops, according to The Verge. The company made that point alongside the launch of its newly announced Steam Machine.
Pierre-Loup Griffais of Valve told The Verge that Valve is working closely with Intel. He said Intel has been doing substantial work to get the graphics stack running and optimized for SteamOS.
Intel has not given a public schedule for broader support. During a briefing for MSI’s Claw 8 EX AI Plus, Intel’s Nick Mijuskovic told The Verge that the company had no timeline to share for SteamOS support on Panther Lake, the architecture that includes the handheld-focused G3 Extreme chip used in that device.
Mijuskovic told The Verge that Intel is aware of demand for Linux gaming support and that some Intel employees play games on Linux. He said Intel is working on the Mesa driver and with Valve, but did not offer further detail.
Nvidia support is also on Valve’s list, though it appears farther out. Griffais told The Verge that Valve is collaborating very closely with Nvidia and has a growing group assigned to Nvidia driver work.
Griffais also told The Verge that he does not expect Nvidia support to be ready this year. That leaves Intel handhelds and selected Intel graphics hardware as the nearer signs of SteamOS expanding beyond its current base, while Nvidia users may have to wait longer for official support.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.