Latest SteamOS Beta update adds ROG Ally and Legion Go support, new AMD CPU control and new KDE 6.2.5 UI and GPU drivers
Following the latest evidence of a full public release of Valve's SteamOS Linux-based operating system, a number of improvements have been introduced in subsequent patches and updates, often addressing support for other hardware and controller configurations. The latest SteamOS beta 3.7.5, titled Ready Steady Go, has just been announced, bringing along with it both improvements to third-party gaming handhelds, as well as some significant changes to the driver and software stack and much-needed quality-of-life improvements.
SteamOS 3.7.5 Beta changes
As mentioned in the previous SteamOS Preview update notes, the SteamOS 3.7.5 Beta channel implements support for the Lenovo Legion Go S's trackpad, but the Beta update also makes mention of "improved input support for Asus and Lenovo handhelds," indicating there are also other changes for the Legion Go (curr. $599.99 at Best Buy) that will likely be detailed when they reach the mainline SteamOS update channel. The new update also adds support for the Byowave Proteus controller — which is actually a massive win for accessibility — and fixes issues with the Nintendo Switch Pro controller's gyro inputs not registering on initial connection.
Perhaps more importantly, SteamOS 3.7.5 Beta also adds support for the AMD P-State CPU frequency control — moving on from the former Schedutil — which should expand the number of AMD CPUs that are able to be accurately controlled by SteamOS, make CPU usage more efficient, and prevent performance loss during situations when CPU load fluctuates dramatically. That's not the only significant change to the underlying software stack, either, with the 3.5.7 patch upgrading the Arch Linux base, moving to Linux kernel version 6.11, and now including Plasma 6.2.5 for the desktop mode. This is an update from KDE 5.27.10 to the next major release, which updates the desktop to the latest Qt version and makes the desktop a Wayland-first experience. SteamOS already used Wayland, but the update to Plasma 6 should make things work more smoothly and efficiently under Wayland.
The open-source AMD Mesa graphics drivers have also been updated. Aside from adding VRR framerate limiting for both the internal and external displays, these updates will mostly keep things up to date for security and compatibility reasons and fix minor bugs.
Some other miscellaneous updates that are making their way to SteamOS in this update include Bluetooth wake from sleep for the LCD Steam Deck, proper surround sound support, better and quicker switching between desktop and gaming mode, and fixes for bugs which include slow shutdowns and hanging when switching to desktop mode.
Source(s)
SteamOS 3.7.5 Beta: Ready Steady Go
Note: This update is for the Steam Deck Beta and Preview channels, and includes new features that are still being tested. You can opt into this in Settings > System > System Update Channel.
This is the first release of SteamOS 3.7 to the Beta channel. The below notes are for changes since SteamOS 3.6.24.
General
- Updated to a newer Arch Linux base
- Updated the Linux kernel to 6.11
- Updated the Mesa graphics driver base
- Desktop mode now ships with Plasma 6.2.5
- Beginnings of support for non-Steam Deck handhelds
- Added support for frame limiting with VRR displays (internal and external)
- Fixed a crash when no displays are connected
- Added support for the power button on Asus and Lenovo handhelds
- Improved input support for Asus and Lenovo handhelds
Controllers and Input
- Add support for the Proteus Byowave controller
- Fixed an issue where Switch Pro Controller gyros might not work on first connection
- Fixed an issue with stuck/hanging controller inputs when exiting Steam
Bluetooth
- Fixed Bluetooth devices still being able to wake the Steam Deck from suspend, even when Bluetooth was disabled from Desktop mode
- Enable HFP/HSP profiles, to allow using the integrated microphone from headsets and earbuds
- Currently only available to select in Desktop mode
- Added battery level display for supported Bluetooth devices
- Include a bugfix for the Airpods when using the AAC codec
- Bluetooth controllers can now wake LCD units from sleep, previously only available on OLED models
- Known issue: Bluetooth LE based controllers are not currently compatible with bluetooth wake on LCD models
Steam Deck Dock
- Made compatibility improvements for certain displays including TCL FireTV models and Dell VRR capable monitors
- Graphics and Performance
- Enabled AMD P-State CPU frequency control
- Fixed a performance regression for No Rest for the Wicked
Desktop
- Updated to Plasma 6.2.5 (previously 5.27.10) - see the big changes in Plasma 6 here
- Surround sound now works correctly
- Enabling the setting is currently only available via Desktop mode
- KDE Filelight is now installed by default for disk usage visualization and low disk space notifications
- Speed and robustness improvements when switching between desktop and game mode
- Fixed a common cause of hangs when switching to desktop mode
- Fixed some cases where Steam could take up to ninety seconds to exit on shutdown or switch to desktop
- Added 'gocryptfs' support to desktop session to enable use of the Plasma Vaults feature
Misc
- Fixed some cases where "filter-chain" or other virtual sound devices would erroneously appear in the UI
- Fixed cases where applying system updates could fail if certain configuration files were corrupted or malformed
- Various enhancements to System Report functionality for support and troubleshooting
- Fixed compatibility issue with certain DNS servers causing very slow domain lookups
- Improved responsiveness of system when running into out-of-memory crash situations
- Enabled IPv6 Privacy Extensions by default
- Fixed a bootloader crash on certain non-Steam Deck devices, including qemu-based virtual machines
Known Issues
- Super NES controllers can erroneously show up as connected when they are not
Developer
- Updated to a 6.11 based kernel
- Added debuginfod URLs for SteamOS
- Added systemd .socket units to the default list of /etc files preserved across updates
- When running in a VM, system will now default to the desktop session
- Swap file setup now uses standard 'mkswap' functionality instead of shipping an ad-hoc 'mkswapfile' script
- The steamos-readonly command now warns that the status might not be accurate when sysexts are loaded
- Fixed a case that could introduce duplicate boot entries for devices manually setup to dual-boot
- The pacman cache is now cleaned after applying a SteamOS update
- Fixes stale cache errors working with pacman after switching branches
