Background Information
SteamOS is an Arch Linux-based distribution developed by Valve and designed primarily for gaming. It powers the Steam Deck and is optimized for running the Steam gaming platform. SteamOS aims to provide a console-like experience on PCs, offering a streamlined interface, easy access to the Steam Store, and support for gaming controllers and traditional inputs.
The early versions of SteamOS were based on the Debian distribution, which made server configuration more convenient. However, this meant that updates to core OS software had to be made in one large release, with intermediate patches for known bugs and security fixes.
SteamOS was released as a beta in December 2013 and was dubbed SteamOS 1.0. Valve encouraged customers who were unfamiliar with Linux to wait until the 2.0 version launched in 2014. In November 2015, Valve would release the Steam Machine, which would have SteamOS pre-installed for users to use.
It wasn't until July 15, 2021, that Valve significantly overhauled SteamOS for their new handheld PC gaming device, the Steam Deck. This new version, titled Version 3.0, was based on the Arch Linux Distribution, which addressed significant software issues much quicker and allowed for greater customization.
Technical Specifications
General Information
- Developer: Valve, Collabora
- OS Family: Linux (Unix-like)
- Initial Release Date: December 13, 2013
- Latest Release Date: April 24, 2024
Availability Information
- Languages: Multilingual
- Platforms: x86-64
System Information
- Working State: Current
- Source Model: Open Source base system w/ Closed Source Components
- Package manager:
- Advanced Packaging Tool (APT)
- Flatpak
- Pacman
- Default User Interface:
- Steam (Gaming Mode)
- Plasma (Desktop Mode)