Asus ROG Ally Will Get SteamOS Very Soon Thanks to Valve

Valve made a major hardware decision. Having conquered the world with Steam Deck, the company plans to support competing handheld consolesThe first to benefit will be Asus ROG allywhich will support SteamOS.

According to the SteamOS 3.6.9 beta release notes, the update adds support for the ROG Ally extra keys. To avoid confusion, Valve confirmed that they are working on support for the Asus console and other portable devices. This means that ROG Ally users will be able to install SteamOS if they choose..

In an interview with EdgeSteam Deck designer Lawrence Young said the note in the SteamOS update refers to third-party devices. “The team is continuing to work on add support for additional laptops on SteamOS“Ian mentioned it. Valve didn’t mention an exact date or consoles other than the ROG Ally.

Official support SteamOS is important for portable consoles for example, ROG Ally, Legion Go or MSI Claw. Despite the efforts of Asus and others to provide an attractive user experience, the reality is that The software on these devices is nowhere near what Steam Deck offers.. Part of this problem is related to Windows 11 itself, an operating system that is not optimized for gaming.

Some manufacturers have realized the importance of SteamOS and have tried to adapt it to their consoles. The most obvious example is Ayaneo, who announced a few months ago that the Next Lite would integrate Valve’s operating system instead of Windows. In the end, this announcement was a publicity stunt, since Ayaneo was referring to an “unofficial” version of SteamOS known as HoloISO.

Valve to Bring SteamOS to ROG Ally and Other Portable Consoles

If anything has become clear, it is that Valve intends to bring SteamOS to all portable consoles. A few years ago, the company said it viewed ROG Ally and other portable devices not as competitors to the Steam Deck, but rather as potential partners.

Pierre-Loup Griffe, another lead designer at Valve, said in a 2022 interview that companies creating clones of steam deck based on AMD hardware, They are not real competitors.While Griffiths’ comment was in reference to Valve’s console with a more efficient chip, Ian added context. “We want to work with them to make sure that if they want to use SteamOS or offer an alternative based on SteamOS, they can do that.”

The arrival of SteamOS to ROG Ally represents a major step forward for Valve and for users looking for an alternative to Steam Deck. On the one hand, the company expands its holdings through agreements with other manufacturers, as happened at the time with Steam Machines. On the other hand, the main beneficiary is the consumerr who wouldn’t have to deal with Windows 11 on their laptop.

Advertising can also Accelerate Microsoft’s Plans to Bring Xbox to Asus ROG Ally and other consoles. Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, said a few months ago that they are looking to improve the user experience on these devices. While some argue that Xbox is preparing a laptop, others are betting on gaming-oriented operating system.

Whatever the strategy, the final decision on whether to stay on Windows or switch to SteamOS will rest with ROG Ally owners. Is It’s hard to imagine Asus would push SteamOS support on your laptop, just like Ayaneo. The manufacturer continues to bet on its failed user layer, claiming that the only benefit it offers is access to Game Pass.