SteamOS update preview brings "initial support" for the Steam Machine, plus new power and Bluetooth tricks for Steam Decks
The SteamOS 3.8.0 update is available to try now on the Preview branch, and it’s the first to bring "initial support for the upcoming Steam Machine hardware." That is, of course, merely a passing mention of Valve’s reborn PC box in the 3.8.0 patch notes. Am I going to engage strong, some might say excessive optimism that this suggests its recent delay and subsequent release date uncertainty aren’t as damning as they look? Sod it, it’s Friday.
Those in search of more practical updates, and presumably own a Steam Deck, have much more to chew on. This is a wide-ranging patch, spanning a new graphics driver, improved support for OBS and Discord, better frame pacing with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) tech, crash fixes, and a bunch of tune-ups for non-Valve handheld PCs, with plenty more besides. I’m most intrigued by the bullet point that promises "Preliminary support for hibernation," which – assuming it works like hibernation on a Windows laptop – would drastically reduce the frequency with which I pick up my Deck to find its battery dead, drained to emptiness by my thoughtless misuse of Sleep mode. Yes, Valve. Continue to enable my shortcomings.