Valve Works with NVIDIA to Expand SteamOS Support and Bring the Operating System to More PCs

Valve has confirmed that it is working to make SteamOS compatible with an increasing number of computers, involving NVIDIA in a project dedicated to improving hardware support. The company's goal is to allow more PC gamers to use their operating system without being tied to specific configurations.

One of the most important steps came with SteamOS 3.8.10, an update that introduced significant improvements for compatibility with the latest platforms based on Intel and AMD processors. Thanks to these updates, Valve explained that users can create a sort of custom Steam Machine by freely choosing the components of their computer.

The Steam Machine, despite some criticism regarding its high price and performance that is sometimes considered inadequate, could represent an interesting solution for some users: a compact PC with a console-like experience, designed for comfortable gaming from the sofa. One of the fundamental elements of this approach is indeed SteamOS, which offers a simpler environment compared to the traditional use of Windows.

SteamOS on More Systems Thanks to NVIDIA

However, the next big goal concerns support for NVIDIA graphics cards. Pierre-Loup Griffais from Valve explained that the company is collaborating with NVIDIA to further improve the operating system's compatibility with desktop hardware. This type of integration poses one of the most significant challenges for the Linux gaming world, although full support for NVIDIA GPUs may not arrive within this year.

According to some analyses, SteamOS could play an even more interesting role in the gaming handheld device sector. The success of the Steam Deck has demonstrated how an optimized operating system can enhance less powerful hardware compared to standard PCs. With improvements for Intel devices and new generations of efficient chips, opportunities for future handhelds based on different platforms with official SteamOS support could arise.

Currently, there are already Linux distributions oriented towards gaming, such as Bazzite and CachyOS, capable of offering valid experiences. However, SteamOS has a significant advantage: it is developed directly by Valve and may have a greater capacity for widespread adoption among average users.