Valve has recently built an operating system specifically for handheld gaming devices (Asus ROG Ally, Steam Deck OLED) called SteamOS 3. It is an open-source, Linux-based operating system which helps those handheld devices to run Steam games using a compatibility layer (with the help of developers from CodeWeavers).
For those who are familiar with Linux, this is practically your handheld gaming device running on Linux instead of Windows. This brings a lot of speculation from the public: could SteamOS finally replace Windows?
Problems with Windows
Windows has always been the staple of all PC and (previous) handheld gaming devices when it comes to operating systems for gaming. Since it is the only one that practically supports virtually all PC games that you can find on any game launchers and stores, there is no doubt people would choose this operating system over any others.
The problem starts when Windows operating systems begin to show issues that people grow to dislike over the years, especially when there is no other option for them to turn to.
Bloatware is a serious issue you will find on Windows, especially with the latest version. The majority of Windows computers, particularly OEMs (e.g., HP, Dell, Lenovo), have pre-installed programs such as trial versions of antivirus, productivity programs, or games. You will need to get rid of them manually or use third-party software to remove them altogether. But even with a clean installation, Windows still has its very own unwanted software like Microsoft Edge, Cortana (now known as Microsoft CoPilot), OneDrive, Weather, and News, to name a few. This bloatware drains the resources on your devices, which translates to reduced system performance and longer boot times.
Not to mention that Windows are generally slower in comparison, too, mostly because of the background processes from these applications running. Earlier when Windows 11 was first released, remember when the high requirements needed to run that operating system? Old machines that were still running Windows 10 back then couldn’t upgrade to Windows 11 because of the strict requirements. Yes, now the requirements are a bit more lenient, but old machines still struggle to run said operating system, whilst Windows 10 still runs as smoothly as they did a decade ago. That’s probably the reason why custom-made Windows operating systems are created, as I once wrote in this article.
If they were to resolve these issues, I myself wouldn’t be having as much feud with Windows as I do now.
Features SteamOS can Offer
SteamOS is a lean, game-focused operating system compared to Windows, which reminds me of Pop!_OS, one of the Linux distributions. With SteamOS optimised for games and running on Linux, it’s lean and light with good performance for devices like the Steam Deck and other handheld devices. As opposed to Windows pre-loaded bloatware and processes that quietly execute in the background, SteamOS focuses exclusively on games and reserves system resources to give users top-notch performance.
This usually has always been the case for Linux operating systems (speaking from personal experience). The background processes for Linux are far more optimised, so you wouldn’t be having issues with boot times or random crashes, especially on lower-end hardware.
One of SteamOS’s greatest benefits is the console-like, intuitive interface. Big Picture Mode is a clear and clean manner in which one can browse and launch games and can be accessed using a controller or observed on a television screen with ease.
This compares to Windows, which typically necessitates more setup and configuration from the user in order to produce an optimal gaming experience.
SteamOS also installs and manages drivers automatically, diminishing user interaction time and providing a smooth experience. There’s a friend of mine who owns a Steam Deck, proudly showing me pictures of his ‘setup’ for couch co-op sessions (which, mind you, is just the machine connected to a monitor with wireless controllers attached).
SteamOS is also free, open-source, and without the ads, telemetry, and licensing costs that come with Windows. It is thus a great choice for gamers who care about privacy and simplicity. Windows is still the gold standard for gaming, though, because of its unmatched compatibility. Regardless, SteamOS remains a niche, streamlined, and affordable alternative that is slowly gaining traction, particularly for handheld and casual gaming.
Will SteamOS Replace Windows?
No it won’t, at least not SteamOS. SteamOS is strictly a gaming operating system which focuses on handheld devices. It is not meant for PC users, as claimed by SteamOS developers themselves. SteamOS is built with couch experience in mind and does not consider the use of physical keyboards and mice. Plus, SteamOS is mainly just a Big Picture mode for those devices; an actual operating system for PC is far more complicated than a launcher for games.
But it does set things in stone. More eyes have been opened to the capabilities of open-source operating systems as opposed to Windows when it comes to performance.
If SteamOS succeeds in becoming the major operating system for handheld devices, it won’t be long before there will be a chain reaction that ‘incentivises’ similar operating systems for PC users as well. If somehow these open-source operating systems succeed in tackling all the issues we have about Linux distribution (mostly about compatibility) as discussed in my article previously, then I don’t doubt that users will slowly shift their preferences to an operating system that is more consumer-friendly.
But if I have to answer whether what will serve as a Windows competitor, it’s not SteamOS. We have yet any other majorly strong operating system that can match Windows compatibility.
If you are interested in reading things like this, feel free to check out more of my articles here. See you in the next entry!
A ’00 Malaysian freelance writer for MugenMilano. Occasionally writes for fun; otherwise, going to the gym and playing video games would be the R&R for Hariz. Having a keen interest in the area of gaming and technology, Hariz’s written materials would mostly be tech-related and gaming news, particularly in adventure, horror, and fighting genre. Doesn’t stop him from writing other interesting topics, though, as long as it is worth checking out.
