Valve’s huge SteamOS 3.8 update adds long-awaited features — and supports Steam Machine | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Valve’s huge SteamOS 3.8 update adds long-awaited features — and supports Steam MachineComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...GamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPC GamingClosePC GamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PC GamingValve’s huge SteamOS 3.8 update adds long-awaited features — and supports Steam MachineSteam Deck hibernation mode, Bluetooth headset microphones, and lots of support for Xbox Ally, Legion Go 2, and more.Steam Deck hibernation mode, Bluetooth headset microphones, and lots of support for Xbox Ally, Legion Go 2, and more.by Sean HollisterCloseSean HollisterSenior EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Sean HollisterMar 20, 2026, 12:34 AM UTCLinkShareGiftIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.Photo by Everything Time Studio / The VergePart OfSteam Deck, ROG Ally, and more: all the news about the handheld PC gaming revolutionsee all updates Sean HollisterCloseSean HollisterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Sean Hollister is a senior editor and founding member of The Verge who covers gadgets, games, and toys. He spent 15 years editing the likes of CNET, Gizmodo, and Engadget.Valve has just released SteamOS 3.8.0 in preview, and it’s a doozy.Not only is it the first release to support the upcoming Steam Machine living room gaming PC, it comes with long-awaited features for Valve’s handhelds and more support for other companies’ handhelds than we’ve seen to date — including Microsoft and Asus’ Xbox Ally series, the Lenovo Legion Go 2, the OneXPlayer X1, and additional support for MSI, GPD, Anbernic, OrangePi, and Zotac.The one that excites me most: Valve is adding genuine hibernation and “memory power down” modes to the Steam Deck — though just the LCD model to start — which should help extend battery life when you hit the power button or leave them idle. Some Windows machines currently last longer than the Steam Deck when asleep, because they self-hibernate to save power, while the Steam Deck has an instant-on sleep mode.RelatedValve says it still plans to ship the Steam Machine in 2026Our first look at the Steam Machine, Valve’s ambitious new game consolePlus, Valve has finally added a setting in its gaming mode to let you use your Bluetooth headset microphones — something I’ve been asking for since the beginning. (Valve did add it to the Linux desktop mode last year.) And the Steam Deck LCD is finally getting Bluetooth Wake re-enabled, so you can turn on your TV-connected Deck with a wireless controller from your couch.The update comes with all sorts of improvements for the Linux desktop modes that sound like they’ll come in handy on a Steam Machine plugged into a TV or monitor, too, including desktop HDR, VRR display support, per-display scaling, “improved windowing behavior for games running in Proton,” and an upgrade to KDE Plasma 6.4.3 among other things.And for a Steam Machine or Steam handheld plugged into a home entertainment system, they can now detect how many audio channels you have over HDMI to enable surround sound. (I believe surround sound was already a thing, so perhaps this is just a different and better automatic implementation.)There’s also a new Arch system base and an updated graphics driver.Perhaps most surprisingly, the “Non-Deck” section of the changelog is huge. Valve says long-pressing your power button should work “across a wide variety of devices” to power off, restart, or switch to the desktop mode. You should be able to change your processor’s power modes on the Xbox Ally now, and night mode and screen color settings should work on AMD Z2 Extreme handhelds in general.There’s also “Greatly improved video memory management with discrete GPU platforms,” you can limit how far the battery charges in any of the Lenovo Legion Go handhelds (in desktop mode), and it should fix “washed out colors for Zotac and OneXPlayer handhelds with OLED.”Valve began offering SteamOS for non-Valve handhelds last May, but the company’s hardware team doesn’t like to promise too much in the way of support and doesn’t currently let most rivals ship handhelds with preloaded SteamOS — Lenovo’s the only partner we’re aware of, and its second SteamOS handheld will be a variant of the Legion Go 2 in June. If you want to put it on a different handheld, that requires sideloading and is at your own risk, despite Valve’s improvements.There’s a lot in this update, and it’s possible I missed a feature you care about, so check out the whole changelog here and below.Image: ValveImage: ValveFollow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Sean HollisterCloseSean HollisterSenior EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Sean HollisterGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsPC GamingClosePC GamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PC GamingMore in: Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and more: all the news about the handheld PC gaming revolutionThe Xbox Ally X now lets you let AI record your screen and cut together highlight reels.Sean HollisterMar 2The 512GB Steam Deck OLED is back in stock in US. Might disappear any second.Sean HollisterFeb 27Qualcomm won’t be announcing Windows gaming handhelds at GDC after allSean HollisterFeb 26Most PopularMost PopularBelkin’s wireless HDMI adapter freed me from a long annoying cable when I travelTesla’s Full Self-Driving is on the cusp of a recallCasio’s new $600 calculator is a work of artA rogue AI led to a serious security incident at MetaLina Khan was rightThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in GamingMicrosoft’s go-to Xbox controller is selling at its best price of the yearMeta is actually keeping its VR metaverse running, for nowEpic and Disney now let Fortnite creators make Star Wars gamesLina Khan was rightWeird Nintendo never went awayNvidia has lost the plot with gamersMicrosoft’s go-to Xbox controller is selling at its best price of the yearCameron FaulknerMar 19Meta is actually keeping its VR metaverse running, for nowJay PetersMar 19Epic and Disney now let Fortnite creators make Star Wars gamesJay PetersMar 19Lina Khan was rightVictoria SongMar 19Weird Nintendo never went awayAndrew WebsterMar 18Nvidia has lost the plot with gamersSean HollisterMar 18Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop StoriesMar 19Lina Khan was rightMar 19Marc Andreessen is a philosophical zombieMar 19All the wrong EVs are getting canceledMar 19Prediction markets are trying to lure journalists with partnership dealsMar 19Paramount’s $110 billion Warner Bros. gambleVideoMar 19Nothing Phone 4A Pro review: That flagship feelingThe VergeThe Verge logo.FacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesArchivesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie PolicyLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform Status© 2026 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved

Valve’s SteamOS 3.8 update represents a significant development within the handheld PC gaming ecosystem and expands the operating system’s support beyond its core Steam Deck hardware. This release, detailed by Sean Hollister, introduces a multitude of features and optimizations designed to broaden compatibility and enhance user experience across a range of third-party handheld gaming devices. The update’s primary focus is the inclusion of long-awaited functionality for devices like the Xbox Ally series, Lenovo Legion Go 2, and other popular handheld PCs, marking a notable expansion of Valve’s support network beyond its own hardware. Specifically, a key element is the implementation of genuine hibernation and “memory power down” modes for the Steam Deck LCD model, addressing a prior limitation where the device’s sleep mode lagged behind Windows machines in terms of power-saving performance. This enhancement aims to significantly extend battery life when the device is idle or powered off.

Furthermore, a long-requested feature—Bluetooth microphone support—has been added to the Steam Deck’s gaming mode, previously available in the Linux desktop mode. The update also includes enhancements such as desktop HDR and VRR display support, designed to improve visual fidelity when utilizing the SteamOS on a larger monitor or television alongside the Steam Deck. Modifications to windowing behavior for games running through Proton, a compatibility layer facilitating Windows games on Linux, contribute to a smoother gaming experience. Valve has upgraded KDE Plasma to version 6.4.3, alongside further refinement of system-level elements.

Beyond the core Steam Deck features, the update incorporates significant improvements targeted at Steam Machines or handhelds connected to home entertainment systems. Valve now detects the number of audio channels available via HDMI to enable surround sound configuration, a feature that, while not entirely new, is presented with apparent refinements. The changelog also details adjustments for memory management with discrete GPU platforms, limits on battery charging for Lenovo Legion Go handhelds, and color correction adjustments for devices like Zotac and OneXPlayer handhelds utilizing OLED displays.

Perhaps the most significant aspect of this release is the expanded “Non-Deck” support, encompassing a vast array of devices. Valve has added long-press power button support across numerous devices, offering functionalities such as power off, restart, and switching to the desktop mode. This feature is designed to work with the Xbox Ally series, and provisions exist to modify processor power modes. Valve also addresses issues related to night mode and screen color settings on AMD Z2 Extreme handhelds. While Valve does not routinely provide formal support or preload SteamOS on competitor hardware, allowing sideloading has been refined, and the Lenovo Legion Go 2 variant, slated for release in June, will be a key focus of this support. The update incorporates a new Arch Linux system base and an upgraded graphics driver, reflecting a commitment to ongoing development and performance optimization. Hollister’s reporting highlights the continuing evolution of Valve’s approach to supporting diverse handheld gaming platforms.