SteamOS is Finally Rolling Out to the Wild

Handheld gaming consoles have seen a surge in popularity thanks to their portable nature, with devices now packing enough power to run games originally designed for computers and consoles.

Valve is one such organization that has capitalized on this trend, making a significant impact with their Steam Deck line of handhelds, which are equipped with SteamOS, an Arch Linux-based operating system designed specifically for gaming.

Now, they have introduced something that is set to further transform the handheld gaming scene.

What's happening: Coinciding with CES 2025, Valve has announced its first-ever officially licensed handheld console, the Lenovo Legion Go S, which ships with SteamOS.

It is a performance-focused handheld designed to deliver an optimized gaming experience that combines the power and flexibility of a PC for gamers on the go.

However, Valve is not stopping there. They have stated that they are working on improving compatibility with other handhelds while introducing support for more devices.

Valve also intends to release a beta version of SteamOS that is set to arrive before the Legion Go S ships 🔥

What To Expect: For starters, the fully-fledged SteamOS experience as found on the Steam Deck. With access to thousands of games on Steam, an optimized user interface for controller use, game recording, cloud saves, and the freedom to install software via the desktop.

As for the key specs of the Lenovo Legion Go S, it features:

• Battery: 3-cell 55.5 Whr.
• RAM: Up to 32 GB LPDDR5X @ 6400 MHz.
• APU: AMD Ryzen Z2 Go or AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme.
• Storage: Up to 1 TB PCIe Gen4 SSD (2242 or 2280 module).
• Display: 8″ WQXGA LCD @ 120 Hz, max resolution 1920 × 1200.

Where To Get: If you liked what you saw, then you will have to wait a bit before you can get your hands on it. At the time of writing, the SteamOS variant of the Legion Go S was not listed on the official website, and according to Lenovo, it will be available starting May 2025, with an expected price tag of $499.99.

Personally, I’m excited to see an officially licensed SteamOS handheld, especially since the Steam Deck isn’t available in my region. This gives me hope of owning a SteamOS-powered handheld console someday.

And, not to forget, just the availability of SteamOS on more devices and a beta release makes me excited!

You can go through the official announcement if you would like to learn more, and if you are interested in seeing how the SteamOS variant of the Lenovo Legion Go S performs, you can give Engadget's coverage a read.

💬 What about you? Are you excited to see SteamOS reach new horizons?