The launch of the Nintendo Switch marked the start of a new generation of portable consoles, a generation where, in addition to the Nintendo model, we can also find the Steam Deck, the ASUS ROG Ally, the Lenovo Legion GO among other models.
While Valve’s console is managed by SteamOS, a Linux distribution that allows you to enjoy all the titles available in the video game store, inside the models from ASUS, MSI and Lenovo (to name the best-known manufacturers) we find Windows 11, an operating system that does not limit the installation of video games to the Steam store, allowing users to install games from Epic Games, GOGValve among others.
In addition to SteamOS and Windows 11recently new projects such as Bazzite and HoloISO have appeared that allow users to install a modified version of Steam OS-like for users of these portable consoles that only enjoy Steam games, a version that does not offer the same performance as Valve’s version, something that seems to be about to change.
Valve wants ASUS ROG Ally to be powered by Steam OS
Valve has just released a new beta version of SteamOS 3.6.8 for the Steam Decka new version that, as usual, fixes the stability issues and minor bugs that have been detected since the release of the previous version.
But it also includes a reference to ASUS’ ROG Ally, a reference that adds support for ROG Ally keys. This move is particularly striking since, as we have said, this operating system is only compatible with the Steam Deck.
In November 2023, a Valve employee stated that the company’s priority at the time was to release SteamOS 3 for other devices. portable consoles games, and then later on to laptops and desktops. If the company’s plans continue along this path, it means that the PC version shouldn’t be too far away.
Since this is a beta, it doesn’t mean that Steam is going to officially announce support for the ROG Ally, as it is simply conducting a test so there is a possibility that, ultimately, Steam decides that it doesn’t want to venture into offering support for other consoles in the future.
We’ll have to wait a few months to see if Valve confirms this move or if it was simply a test.
Is it worth it?
This depends on the user’s needs. Windows 11 as an operating system on a portable console makes much more sense as it offers greater versatility than SteamOS, and unless you only use the Steam app store, limiting yourself to a single store doesn’t make much sense.
If that’s the case, instead of buying the ROG Ally X, the MSI Clawn or the Lenovo Legion GOwe can buy the Steam Deck since it is cheaper and also has a fantastic OLED screen. If necessary, although the process is not at all simple, it is possible to install Windows 11.