SteamOS Is Officially Launching on a System That\'s Not By Valve

Lenovo has recently unveiled the Lenovo Legion Go S, a groundbreaking gaming handheld that will ship with Valve's SteamOS operating system. This marks the first time SteamOS, previously exclusive to the Steam Deck, will be available on a third-party device. This move by Valve to expand SteamOS to other manufacturers is a significant step forward, and the Lenovo Legion Go S is leading the charge.

The Steam Deck has faced formidable competition from advanced gaming handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally X and MSI Claw 8 AI+. Despite this, the Steam Deck's unique advantage lies in its Linux-based SteamOS, which provides a seamless, console-like experience far superior to the Windows-based alternatives typically found in other gaming handhelds. Valve has been diligently working to make SteamOS available on third-party devices, and with the Lenovo Legion Go S, that vision becomes a reality.

Recent leaks hinted at an upcoming Lenovo Legion Go S variant with SteamOS, and Lenovo confirmed these rumors at CES 2025. Alongside the Legion Go S, Lenovo also introduced the Legion Go 2, a direct successor to the original Legion Go. However, the Legion Go S stands out by offering consumers a choice between two operating systems. The Legion Go S will be available in both a SteamOS and a Windows 11 version, catering to different user preferences.

Lenovo Legion Go S Handheld Gaming PC Details

SteamOS Version

• Operates on Valve's Linux-based SteamOS
• Launching in May 2025 priced at $499
• Available solely in a 16GB RAM / 512GB storage configuration

Windows Version

• Runs on Windows 11
• Launching in January 2025
• Priced at $599 for 16GB RAM / 1TB storage and $729 for 32GB RAM / 1TB storage

The SteamOS version of the Lenovo Legion Go S will hit the market in May 2025, priced at $499 for a 16GB RAM and 512GB storage configuration. Valve has assured that the SteamOS on the Lenovo Legion Go S will offer full feature parity with the Steam Deck, with identical software updates, except for hardware-specific modifications. For those who prefer Windows, the Windows 11 version of the Legion Go S will be available from January 2025, starting at $599 for 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, and escalating to $729 for 32GB RAM and 1TB storage. As for the Legion Go 2, Lenovo currently has no plans to equip it with SteamOS, though this may change if there's significant demand for the SteamOS version of the Legion Go S.

Currently, Lenovo is the only manufacturer collaborating with Valve for a licensed SteamOS device. However, Valve has announced that a public beta of SteamOS will soon be available for owners of other gaming handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally. This was confirmed in a Steam blog post released alongside the Lenovo Legion Go S announcement, promising that the beta will be available in the coming months.