Valve Prepares for SteamOS Expansion, Issues Guidelines for "Powered by SteamOS" Branding

[AleksandarK]

Valve's headquarters is cooking something big, as the company has unveiled new branding guidelines for "Powered by SteamOS" as it prepares to expand SteamOS support for third-party handhelds and PCs. The branding guidelines include various cases. First in line is for games, which can carry a "Steam" logotype, showing that the game is available and runs on Steam. Next up is the "Steam Included" logo, which officially certifies that a hardware product comes with the Steam client pre-installed. To display this logo, manufacturers must comply with Valve's Steam Client Distribution Agreement and integrate the Steam client in its approved form—either as a bootloader or fully compiled software. What we are most interested in is the "Powered by SteamOS" logo, which certifies that a hardware device runs SteamOS as its primary operating system and launches directly into SteamOS when powered on, requiring hardware manufacturers and partners to use the official Steam system image either provided directly by Valve or developed in close partnership with Valve.

The "Steam Compatible" logo certifies that a third-party input peripheral has been reviewed by Valve and meets their established compatibility criteria for use with Steam on PCs, with manufacturers receiving licensing rights after Valve's verification of the device's implementation. Finally, the "Steam Play Here" logo identifies brick-and-mortar establishments with access to Steam games through the Steam PC Café Server, including commercial PC cafés, university computer labs, libraries, and trade shows, allowing these locations to promote their Steam gaming capabilities through window displays and interior signage, with all participating venues required to operate under the official Steam PC Café system guidelines.




All of these branding guidelines are coming in at an interesting time, when Valve is trying to keep its Steam Machine dream alive. Recent SteamOS 3.6.19 update notably included expanded support for competitors' hardware, such as additional ROG Ally keys and various third-party controllers like the ASUS ROG Raikiri Pro and Machenike G5 Pro. This will allow more hardware makers to join SteamOS handheld PCs and drive more developers to the SteamOS platform for games and optimizations. We can't wait to see what comes out next, so stay tuned as we follow the adventure.

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[AleksandarK]

Excuse the Gen-Z first sentence

 

[Quicks]

That's great we all need a gaming orientated OS.

Microsoft AI spyware is getting out of hand.

 

[Chaitanya]

MS is going to miss out on good chunck of market thanks to their overpriced overbloated garbage grade spyware.

 

[The Quim Reaper]

that a hardware device runs SteamOS as its primary operating system

If that doesn't worry Microsoft, it should.

In time they could easily lose gamers to Steam OS, most of whom only tolerate their telemetry infested bloatware for the purposes of gaming and would quite happily ditch Windows if they could.

 

[JIWIL]

I feel like the best thing MS can do right now is distribute a basic/purist windows build for 'the rest of us' that don't want all the BS. We all know this will never happen and our best hope remains mildly sketchy stripped down versions from third parties, but I can totally see migrating to a Steam OS or *nix in a few years when I finally give up the ghost on win10.

The only real concern I have is compatibility issues with a lot of older titles I play.

 

[_roman_]

Nice - the 11th level I have than to peel of any new monitor, smartphone, laptop and such device.

Peeling of stickers of new devices will be soon a new profession in tech outlets.

Intel inside / intel i7 / nvidia / amd / nvidia geforce / hdmi / dp / 1080P / full-hd / freesync / gsync / usb-c / ... ... ...

In time they could easily lose gamers to Steam OS

No

Playstation / Xbox / those small rip off handhelds with the pirate copy of 50.000 games / nintendo switch / all those android games which play fine on android tables and smartphones

 

[Gigaherz]

Peeling of stickers of new devices will be soon a new profession in tech outlets.

Intel inside / intel i7 / nvidia / amd / nvidia geforce / hdmi / dp / 1080P / full-hd / freesync / gsync / usb-c / ... ... ...

Heretic. Thats stuff is cool. And very helpful for scouting ebay etc. I hate unmarked devices

 

[AusWolf]

When I've given up on ever running SteamOS on PC, and am a happy user of Bazzite (a Fedora-based gaming-oriented Linux distro). Interesting.

MS is going to miss out on good chunck of market thanks to their overpriced overbloated garbage grade spyware.

I wish that was true. Unfortunately, there's still a myriad of hardware manufacturers, system builders and gamers who think that "operating system = Windows". That mindset needs to change.

 

[MCJAxolotl7]

Unfortunately, there's still a myriad of hardware manufacturers, system builders and gamers who think that "operating system = Windows".

I mean, I use Ubuntu 24.10 for gaming, I've never tried a steam deck or SteamOS.

 

[Space Lynx]

My body is ready.

 

[AusWolf]

I mean, I use Ubuntu 24.10 for gaming, I've never tried a steam deck or SteamOS.

That's great! And I'm on Bazzite ever since Windows 10 decided to be a total child of an OS like Windows 11, and install Copilot on its own and pester me about meaningless stuff all the time.

But the majority of gamers still doesn't see Linux as a relevant alternative, unfortunately.

 

[AsRock]

That's great we all need a gaming orientated OS.

Microsoft AI spyware is getting out of hand.

But will it allow you to play none steam games ?, and if not.

You'll own nothing.

 

[Chaitanya]

When I've given up on ever running SteamOS on PC, and am a happy user of Bazzite (a Fedora-based gaming-oriented Linux distro). Interesting.


I wish that was true. Unfortunately, there's still a myriad of hardware manufacturers, system builders and gamers who think that "operating system = Windows". That mindset needs to change.

Had it not been for the tools(for work and my clients who have their own set of tools for their machine tools) I use, I would be using Mac for my personal setup(most of my photography tools(except for ICE) have versions for apple silicon. For light gaming I do in my free time I wont mind buying a mini PC and installing Steam OS on it.

 

[AusWolf]

But will it allow you to play none steam games ?, and if not.

You'll own nothing.

Heroic Launcher lets you play Epic and GOG games on Linux. You're only stuck with games bought on Ubisoft's or EA's applications exclusively.

 

[Hecate91]

But will it allow you to play none steam games ?, and if not.

You'll own nothing.

SteamOS is based on Linux, it isn't restricted to Steam games.
Windows is heading more towards you not owning your PC or the OS install on your system with forced updates & features that you can't remove easily like copilot.

 

[colossusrageblack]

When I've given up on ever running SteamOS on PC, and am a happy user of Bazzite (a Fedora-based gaming-oriented Linux distro). Interesting.

Are you using an Nvidia or AMD GPU? I've tried it on a Legion Go. I am considering running Bazzite on my main PC, but my understanding is Nvidia Linux driver support is lacking and I may not be able to utilize some features or HDR/VRR. I have an OLED monitor and a 4080, so if that's the case, I couldn't switch just yet.

 

[jak_2456]

As someone who loves the Portal series, I love that Valve is still using the stick figures from Portal 2.

 

[wNotyarD]

Heroic Launcher lets you play Epic and GOG games on Linux. You're only stuck with games bought on Ubisoft's or EA's applications exclusively.

Don't know about Ubisoft, but Lutris allows you to run the EA Launcher and its games on Linux. It's a bit of a handful compared to Heroic, but it works.

 

[AusWolf]

Don't know about Ubisoft, but Lutris allows you to run the EA Launcher and its games on Linux. It's a bit of a handful compared to Heroic, but it works.

I tried configuring it once, but ehm... I'll be fine with Heroic.

 

[_roman_]

I would prefer if there would be more "linux" support for different hardware.

When valve can manage to get their label on more hardware which is valve operating system verified - there may be a chance that it will work on any "linux" distribution.
We are talking about the future - there are no facts.
I hope valve will give support for hardware for the linux kernel.

Years ago valve steam os was a relabelled Gnu arch linux. Linux is the kernel. The other stuff is than from different projects and than "glued togehter" by e.g. Arch linux, gentoo linux, linux mint, debian, slackware, ....

--

I do read datasheets for mainboards, graphic cards, ssds and other computer parts. Most often the operating system support is only "windows 11".

 

[AusWolf]

I would prefer if there would be more "linux" support for different hardware.

When valve can manage to get their label on more hardware which is valve operating system verified - there may be a chance that it will work on any "linux" distribution.
We are talking about the future - there are no facts.
I hope valve will give support for hardware for the linux kernel.

Years ago valve steam os was a relabelled Gnu arch linux. Linux is the kernel. The other stuff is than from different projects and than "glued togehter" by e.g. Arch linux, gentoo linux, linux mint, debian, slackware, ....

--

I do read datasheets for mainboards, graphic cards, ssds and other computer parts. Most often the operating system support is only "windows 11".

"Glued together" isn't necessarily a bad thing. Bazzite (a Fedora spin-off for gamers), for example, supports your Nvidia or AMD GPU by kernel, depending on which installer you download.

 

[Exilarch]

Valve already tried this and failed. The reason it failed is because there wasn't a single reason for people to switch to Linux for gaming.

Linux is great for development, and the only development OS for me. If the client or employer wants me to develop software on Windows I immediately start looking for another job. Everyone trying to get Argo Workflows to work on Windows machine based on their documentation alone, knows exactly what I'm talking about.

But why would I want to game on Linux? Well, for the same reason people buy Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo hardware. Exclusive titles. Everyone's doing it. You want audience on XBOX? You try to get more exclusive and better games on your platform. Want people to game on Sony system? Well, then you have either exclusives or timed exclusives or whatever souls like title is next being kept away from PC audience. Want people on Nintendo system? Just send in the plumber, his cheating princess girlfriend and the poor lizard boyfriend who can't have privacy in his multitude of castles. Everyone gets it. Except for Valve.

 

[Space Lynx]

Valve already tried this and failed. The reason it failed is because there wasn't a single reason for people to switch to Linux for gaming.

Linux is great for development, and the only development OS for me. If the client or employer wants me to develop software on Windows I immediately start looking for another job. Everyone trying to get Argo Workflows to work on Windows machine based on their documentation alone, knows exactly what I'm talking about.

But why would I want to game on Linux? Well, for the same reason people buy Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo hardware. Exclusive titles. Everyone's doing it. You want audience on XBOX? You try to get more exclusive and better games on your platform. Want people to game on Sony system? Well, then you have either exclusives or timed exclusives or whatever souls like title is next being kept away from PC audience. Want people on Nintendo system? Just send in the plumber, his cheating princess girlfriend and the poor lizard boyfriend who can't have privacy in his multitude of castles. Everyone gets it. Except for Valve.

times have changed and SteamOS has already proved itself for us handheld folk, also its not going to replace windows for all games, just a huge chunk of them.

 

[Daven]

Excuse the Gen-Z first sentence

What Gen is that last sentence about adventure?