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.

These notes contain all changes since the current stable SteamOS 3.7 release, with the new changes since the previous 3.8.2 Beta noted below

New in 3.8.3

• Fixed a regression causing the Steam on-screen keyboard in desktop mode to produce the wrong keys in certain IME modes

• Substantially improved speed of future OS updates on high-speed connections

• Added missing graphics features needed for titles such as "Crimson Desert"

• Fixed a regression causing crashes in certain titles (such as "Sushi Ben")

• Fixed multiple regressions causing crashes in desktop mode

• Fixed a regression causing the Steam overlay to malfunction while streaming

• Fixed spurious wake-ups when using a Logitech Bolt receiver

• Improved support for upcoming Steam Controller hardware

• Even more support for upcoming Steam Machine hardware

• Even more security and stability updates

General

• Fixed a case where WiFi performance could become degraded until the device was put to sleep or manually reconnected

• Fixed excessive trackpad sensitivity on certain early Steam Deck LCD models

• Initial support for upcoming Steam Machine hardware

• Updated Arch system base

• Updated graphics driver with performance and stability fixes

• Fixed a case where per-app performance settings would intermittently fail to apply when launching a game

• Improved support for the screencasts in Game Mode (e.g. OBS/Discord)

• Fixed dropdown menus not appearing in some games

• Improved VRR frame pacing

• Fixed FSR badge remaining off in the performance overlay, even if it was actually active

• Improved support for games that attempt to open PDF files in external viewers

• Fixed an issue affecting certain titles (such as "SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide") where the game window could have an incorrect position

• Fixed closing certain titles (such as "STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor™") and Starfield resulting in a session crash

• Improved support for certain USB racing wheels and USB devices that boot in a non-standard mode

  • Frequently these are devices that appear as USB storage devices with a driver installer, and must be switched to their normal mode by the OS

• Steam Deck controller firmware updates now display update progress on the splash screen

• Fixes issue on specific Steam Deck revisions where firmware updates could render the left controller inoperative for that session

• Numerous stability and security updates

Bluetooth

• Re-re-enable Bluetooth Wake for Steam Deck LCD

  • Fix for more spurious wake issues that were present in earlier attempts

Audio

• Detect HDMI channel count and expose surround configuration if available

• Add a setting to allow using Bluetooth headset mics (Bluetooth playback quality will be worse while capture is active)

• Restore internal audio device on reboot if set to "Off" in desktop mode

• Increase suspend timeout for HDMI devices so initial audio isn't cut off after a few seconds of inactivity

• Fixed a bug with switching input devices when a wired headset is plugged in

• Fixed an issue where audio underruns could be experienced after sleep/resume

Accessibility

• Added an option to force mono audio output

Desktop Mode

• KDE Plasma updated to version 6.4.3 from 6.2.5, and now uses wayland by default

  • Fixes several cases of reduced performance in Desktop Mode compared to Game Mode

  • Improved support for rotated displays

  • Better scale factor out of the box on TVs

  • Adds support for external HDR displays

  • Adds support for VRR displays

  • Adds support per-display scale factor

  • For more information, see Plasma release announcements

    • https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.3.0/

    • https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.4.0/

• Keyboard layout and language are now obeying Game Mode settings

• Improved windowing behavior for games running in Proton

System Firmware

• Includes Steam Deck LCD BIOS v133

  • Security updates

  • Added "Memory Power Down" setup option

  • Preliminary support for hibernation

• Includes Steam Deck OLED BIOS v114

  • Security updates

  • Charging LED now changes color when charge limit is reached, rather than only at 100%

Non-Deck

• Improved compatibility with recent Intel and AMD platforms

• Greatly improved video memory management with discrete GPU platforms

• Fixed a compatibility issue with the SteamOS chainloader that could cause a boot failure on some desktop systems with recent UEFI firmware

• Power button short and long presses now supported across a wide variety of devices

• Improved controller support for OneXPlayer F1 series, GPD Win 5, GPD Win Mini, Anbernic Win600, OrangePi NEO, and Lenovo Legion Go

• Added controller support for OneXPlayer X1 series and Lenovo Legion Go 2

• Added system and controller firmware update support for the Lenovo Legion Go 2

• Added preliminary charge limiting support for Legion Go, Legion Go S, and Legion Go 2 - currently only accessible in Desktop Mode

• Added controller RGB LED color settings for the Lenovo Legion Go 2

• Added controller, TDP control, and speaker audio support for the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally series

• Reduced handheld controller input latency from 5-8ms to 100-500us

• Night mode, color vibrance, and color temperature sliders in Steam now work on Z2E and later AMD APUs

• Seamless boot fixes for Z2E and later AMD APUs

• Automatically handle internally rotated display for some third-party handhelds

• Improved motion control support for handhelds with BMI260 IMUs

• SD card reliability improvements for some third-party handhelds, including ASUS ROG Xbox Ally, Legion Go 1, Legion Go S, Legion Go 2, and MSI Claw

• Fixed washed out colors for Zotac and OneXPlayer handhelds with OLED

• Fixed some GPU hangs on Phoenix APU devices (Tales of Arise, Octopath Traveler II)

• Fixed ASUS ROG Ally power consumption from fingerprint reader while shut down

• Fixed trackpad losing functionality after sleep/resume on the Legion Go

Developer

• Desktop Mode now uses Wayland by default

  • X11 support may still be selected via Steam developer settings, or via `steamosctl`

• Updated Linux kernel to 6.16

• Steam now uses steamos-manager to query available desktop sessions and trigger desktop session switching

• Added support for setting the desktop password in developer settings

• Initial support for running as a Virtual Machine guest (virtio guest drivers)

• Added support for third-party devices to trigger the SteamOS boot menu via EFI variable

• Added `custom-update` verb to `atomupd-manager` for easier testing of specific builds

• System reports now include more audio debug information

• Initial support for LAVD CPU scheduler via `steamosctl set-cpu-scheduler lavd`

We have just shipped an updated Steam Deck Client to the Preview/Beta channel.

General

• Added setting to enable or disable controller connect/disconnect notifications.

• Fixed issue that could cause three controller connect/disconnect notifications at startup.

The Steam Client Beta has been updated with the following changes:

General

• Added setting to enable or disable controller connect/disconnect notifications.

• Fixed issue that could cause three controller connect/disconnect notifications at startup.

SteamVR

• Fix a case where it was impossible to reconnect a VR steamlink session after becoming disconnected without restarting SteamVR.

SteamOS 3.7.22 has just been released for all users with the following changes:

General

• Security and stability updates

The Steam Client Beta has been updated with the following changes:

General

• Added popup message when a controller connects or disconnects.

• Improved the Add A Controller user interface.

macOS

• Improved performance of Steam Overlay in games using Metal.

We have just shipped an updated Steam Deck Client to the Preview/Beta channel.

General

• Added popup message when a controller connects or disconnects.

• Improved the Add A Controller user interface

We have just shipped an updated Steam Deck Client to the Stable channel.

General

• Added a setting to enable 'Switch To Desktop' in the login screen. It can be found in System Settings.

• Added a low battery level toast for wireless gamepads.

• Added a battery indicator to the header for wireless gamepads.

• Updated the Store main menu option to navigate to the Steam Store home page instead of the Great On Deck hub.

• Improved compatibility with WiFi captive portals.

• Improved client performance when there are many unread account notifications pending.

• Fixed a case where opting into the 'Preview' channel could silently fail.

• Fixed subtle sizing issues with the Recently Played carousel.

• Fixed the Voice chat tab of the QAM not being hidden after exiting all active voice chats.

• Fixed spell check not working in certain browser views.

Chat

• Moved Steam chat into the quick access menu, making it easier to access while in-game.

• Introduced new quick chat feature for Steam Deck and Big Picture Mode.

  • When in a chat, press and hold the view button to bring up quick chat options.

  • Move thumbstick and release view button to send a quick chat.

  • Quick chats can be edited in Settings > Keyboard.

• Focus will no longer jump to room effect replay buttons when scrolling through chat history.

• Fixed a bug that would sometimes prevent chat history from loading when scrolling up.

Downloads

• Added Remote Downloads Management. This allows you to manage downloads on Remote Steam Clients from the downloads page. You can select different clients by pressing Y on the downloads page.

  • The App Details page now has the same options and statuses for remote clients as the local client.

  • Both the local and remote clients must be updated to enable this feature.

Game Recording

• Fixed the instant clip shortcut not working for non-Steam games when using a gamepad.

• Fixed a bug which affected taking a screenshot from a game recording clip.

Remote Play

• Added feedback if capture can't be started on the remote computer.

Cloud

• Fixed an issue which could lead to data loss when uninstalling, reinstalling, and playing a game without restarting the client in between.

Steam Input

• Revised controller settings to reduce clutter and to make them work better with gamepads.

• Changed controller settings to use a menu and details structure instead of tabs to list the connected controllers.

• Fixed a case where radial menus would fail to dismiss after releasing the joystick on Steam Deck.

• Fixed a case where the controller calibration screen could fail to load the correct values the first time it is opened.

A new Steam client has been released and will be automatically downloaded.

General

• Added a low battery level toast for wireless gamepads. Battery notifications for Xbox controllers on Windows are temporarily disabled.

• Added System Report button to the Help section on Windows.

• Improved client performance when there are many unread account notifications pending.

• Fixed spell check not working in certain browser views.

Big Picture Mode

• Moved Steam chat into the quick access menu, making it easier to access while in-game.

• Introduced new quick chat feature for Steam Deck and Big Picture Mode.

  • When in a chat, press and hold the view button to bring up quick chat options.

  • Move thumbstick and release view button to send a quick chat.

  • Quick chats can be edited in Settings > Keyboard.

• Added a battery indicator to the header for wireless gamepads.

• Updated the Store main menu option to navigate to the Steam Store home page instead of the Great On Deck hub.

• Fixed the Voice chat tab of the quick access menu not being hidden after exiting all active voice chats.

• Fixed an issue with the "use the gamepadui overlay when a controller is connected" mode where desktopUI chat windows could open and block the Big Picture overlay.

Downloads

• Added Remote Downloads Management. This allows you to manage downloads on Remote Steam Clients from the downloads page.

  • The App Details page now has the same options and statuses for remote clients as the local client.

  • Both the local and remote clients must be updated to enable this feature.

Remote Play

• Enabled streaming while Remote Desktop is active on Windows.

• Added more flexible options to the Advanced Host Options for selecting primary display, resolution, refresh rate, etc. while streaming from a Windows computer. This will also allow setting whether HDR is enabled while streaming.

• Added support for the SudoVDA virtual display driver on Windows. If you have the SudoVDA driver installed and select this as your primary display in the Advanced Host Options, Steam will automatically create a virtual display to match the client display settings.

• Added support for streaming 7.1 surround sound.

• Added a workaround for an AMD driver bug causing stream corruption and lockups on Windows. This bug is also fixed in the latest AMD drivers, version 26.3.1.

• Added feedback if capture can't be started on the remote computer.

• Fixed launching with surround sound audio when streaming a game from the library.

Game Recording

• Fixed the instant clip shortcut not working for non-Steam games when using a gamepad.

• Fixed a bug which affected taking a screenshot from a game recording clip.

Cloud

• Fixed an issue which could lead to data loss when uninstalling, reinstalling, and playing a game without restarting the client in between.

Steam Input

• Revised controller settings to reduce clutter and to make them work better with gamepads.

• Fixed a case where radial menus would fail to dismiss after releasing the joystick on Steam Deck.

• Fixed a case where the controller calibration screen could fail to load the correct values the first time it is opened.

Windows

• Updated CPUID SDK used for CPU Temperature in in-game overlay performance monitor when enabled.

macOS

• Fixed soundtrack playback not working on Apple Silicon machines.

We have just shipped an updated Steam Deck Client to the Preview/Beta channel.

Remote Downloads

• Fixed "Change Device" option not showing in Downloads if there are no pending entries in the queue.

The Steam Client Beta has been updated with the following changes:

Big Picture Mode

• Temporarily disabled low battery notifications and the battery indicator in the header for Xbox controllers on WIndows

Remote Downloads

• Fixed "Change Device" not showing in Big Picture Mode if there are no pending downloads in the queue.

We have just shipped an updated Steam Deck Client to the Preview/Beta channel.

General

• Improved client performance when there are many unread account notifications pending.

The Steam Client Beta has been updated with the following changes:

General

• Improved client performance when there are many unread account notifications pending.

*hey, we rhymed!

You can officially start adding Steam Controller to cart on May 4th, and we're excited for folks to get their hands on it (pun intended). You can learn more about Steam Controller (and bookmark it for when purchasing opens) on the official product page, but we thought it would be fun to do a quick intro here as well. 

This controller is packed with a ton of capabilities, so we wanted to take a moment to introduce you to what we think makes it so great.

Steam Controller is designed with all the inputs for you to play all your games on Steam, however you like to play.  PC? Check. Laptop? Check. Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and Steam Frame? Check, check, and check. All the inputs you’d expect for a typical gamepad are right where you’d expect them, and we spent a lot of time ensuring they feel comfy in your hands for extended play session. And all the extra inputs? Ready and waiting for you when you want to use them.

Upgrades!

The Steam Controller uses next-generation magnetic thumbsticks with TMR technology. Designed for an improved feel, responsiveness, and long-term reliability, they also support capacitive touch for motion controls. 

Also, it comes with a puck. The Steam Controller puck has two jobs: it provides a fast and stable connection as a wireless transmitter and serves as your main charging station, connecting magnetically to your Controller with a super-satisfying click.

Advanced Inputs for gaming flexibility and performance

We wanted to make sure to highlight the advanced inputs in this controller that really give you the power and flexibility to play how you want: 

• Trackpads

• Gyro

• Grip Sense 

• Grip buttons

We're highlighting some of the main features of Trackpads, Gyro, and Grip Sense below; but we'll also provide a more in-depth look for each of them in the coming weeks as we share their user guides, as well as details on ways you can customize these features for your experience.

Why trackpads?

Many games on PC are intended to be used with a mouse (think FPS, puzzle games, point-and-click adventures, and deck builders, in addition to a lot of older games). The trackpads on Steam Controller provide an enormous amount of flexibility for playing, especially in their ability to act as a mouse replacement for these kinds of games. They're highly precise and customizable, which allows you to dial them in whether for a cozy puzzle game or a highly competitive shooter. 

Besides just using them as a mouse, in Steam Input you have the option to map them as many other things as well, like button clusters, joystick, virtual menus, and more.

Gyro seems cool; what does that mean on Steam Controller?

Gyroscopes and accelerometers aren't new to gaming (nor to Valve devices), but more recently the growth of the gyro gaming community (specifically those who really "dial it in" for competitive games) has helped drive the technology forward. The gyroscope is a highly precise sensor that detects the rotation of the entire controller, meaning as you're gaming with your Steam Controller you can find yourself aiming, controlling cameras, steering wheels, and flight yokes with the tilt of the wrists.

We have a whole step-by-step guide for getting the most out of the gyro on Steam Controller that we'll be sharing soon on the product page. You should check it out!

But first--  we can't talk about gyro on Steam Controller without talking about Grip Sense.

Wait, what is Grip Sense? 

Grip Sense is what we're calling the new input that uses capacitive touch sensors to sense if you're holding the handles. There is one sensor in each handle of the Steam Controller. The primary use for this is to enable/disable Gyro quickly so you can reset your position when you get to the edge of your comfortable zone (called "ratcheting"). Kind of like when you reach the end of your mousepad and pick up your mouse to recenter it.

You can even map Grip Sense like any other button! We love using it to pull up menus, weapon wheels, and even pause the game when you put the controller down. 

Grip Buttons

Grip buttons give you 4 extra, easy to use buttons for you to map whatever you want to. They are most especially useful when mapped to ABXY: you never have to move your thumb off the right stick or trackpad, allowing you to maintain precision at all times. 

Powered by Steam Input

The Steam Controller and Steam Input would swipe right on each other if they could. (That's a terrible pun that just means they're a great match.) Using all the customization tools we provide in Steam Input Configurator, you can customize the Steam Controller however you want. The possibilities are limitless! (Well technically there is a finite amount of possibilities but it’s a really big number – it lets you do some crazy things)

Bonus cool factor with this? Steam Controller will be pre-populated with community configurations for thousands of games out-of-the box, and a good chunk of that is thanks to the hard work done by developers and the community for Steam Deck. You can also make and share your own! 

More to come

We'll have more posts leading up to launch and beyond including how to guides, deeper looks at how we arrived at some of the features we did (including Grip Sense), and tips for things like traveling with your Steam Controller, different connectivity modes, and more.

The Steam Client Beta has been updated with the following changes:

General

• Added a low battery level toast for wireless gamepads

Big Picture Mode

• Added a battery indicator to the header for wireless gamepads

• Fixed issue with controller battery status links in the Quick Access Menu not returning to the correct place.

• Fixed several navigation issues with controller settings.

macOS

• Fixed soundtrack playback not working on Apple Silicon machines.

We have just shipped an updated Steam Deck Client to the Preview/Beta channel.

General

• Added a low battery level toast for wireless gamepads

• Added a battery indicator to the header for wireless gamepads

• Fixed issue with controller battery status links in the Quick Access Menu not returning to the correct place.

• Fixed several navigation issues with controller settings.

We have just shipped an updated Steam Deck Client to the Preview/Beta channel.

General

• Updated localization.

The Steam Client Beta has been updated with the following changes:

General

• Updated localization.

We have just shipped an updated Steam Deck Client to the Preview/Beta channel.

Remote Play

• Added feedback if capture can't be started on the remote computer

The Steam Client Beta has been updated with the following changes:

Remote Play

• Added feedback if capture can't be started on the remote computer

Find yourself immersed in medieval times playing the games we're celebrating on Steam this week: Steam Medieval Fest is April 20th through 27th, and there are discounts and demos of all kinds.

You can protect your crown; expand your dynasty; even run a tavern for travelers. There are many ways to play games that take place way back when: from open world survivals to adventures, city builders to sims, and more.

Join us now for Steam Medieval Fest, packed with discounts and demos through April 27th at 10 am Pacific on Steam.

We have just shipped an updated Steam Deck Client to the Preview/Beta channel.

General

• Fixed on-screen keyboard stealing focus from chat textbox when touched or clicked.

• Fixed a case where the input textbox is not focused when opening a chat.

• Fixed the Voice chat tab of the QAM not being hidden after exiting all active voice chats.

• Fixed spell check not working in certain browsers.

Steam Input

• Fixed a case where the controller calibration screen could fail to load the correct values the first time it is opened.

The Steam Client Beta has been updated with the following changes:

General

• Fixed spell check not working in certain browsers.

Big Picture Mode

• Fixed on-screen keyboard stealing focus from chat textbox when touched or clicked.

• Fixed a case where the input textbox is not focused when opening a chat.

• Fixed the Voice chat tab of the QAM not being hidden after exiting all active voice chats.

Steam Input

• Fixed a case where the controller calibration screen could fail to load the correct values the first time it is opened.

SteamOS 3.7.21 has just been released for all users with the following changes:

General

• Security and stability updates

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.

These notes contain all changes since the current stable SteamOS 3.7 release, with those additional changes since the previous 3.8.1 Beta:

New in 3.8.2

• Fixed a regression that could cause Borderlands 2 to crash on startup on certain systems

• Fixed trackpad losing functionality after sleep/resume on the Legion Go

• Security updates to Flatpak, libpng and openssl

General

• Fixed a case where WiFi performance could become degraded until the device was put to sleep or manually reconnected

• Fixed excessive trackpad sensitivity on certain early Steam Deck LCD models

• Initial support for upcoming Steam Machine hardware

• Updated Arch system base

• Updated graphics driver with performance and stability fixes

• Fixed a case where per-app performance settings would intermittently fail to apply when launching a game

• Improved support for the screencasts in Game Mode (e.g. OBS/Discord)

• Fixed dropdown menus not appearing in some games

• Improved VRR frame pacing

• Fixed FSR badge remaining off in the performance overlay, even if it was actually active

• Improved support for games that attempt to open PDF files in external viewers

• Fixed an issue affecting certain titles (such as "SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide") where the game window could have an incorrect position

• Fixed closing certain titles (such as "STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor™") and Starfield resulting in a session crash

• Improved support for certain USB racing wheels and USB devices that boot in a non-standard mode

  • Frequently these are devices that appear as USB storage devices with a driver installer, and must be switched to their normal mode by the OS

• Steam Deck controller firmware updates now display update progress on the splash screen

• Fixes issue on specific Steam Deck revisions where firmware updates could render the left controller inoperative for that session

• Numerous stability and security updates

Bluetooth

• Re-re-enable Bluetooth Wake for Steam Deck LCD

  • Fix for more spurious wake issues that were present in earlier attempts

Audio

• Detect HDMI channel count and expose surround configuration if available

• Add a setting to allow using Bluetooth headset mics (Bluetooth playback quality will be worse while capture is active)

• Restore internal audio device on reboot if set to "Off" in desktop mode

• Increase suspend timeout for HDMI devices so initial audio isn't cut off after a few seconds of inactivity

• Fixed a bug with switching input devices when a wired headset is plugged in

• Fixed an issue where audio underruns could be experienced after sleep/resume

Accessibility

• Added an option to force mono audio output

Desktop Mode

• KDE Plasma updated to version 6.4.3 from 6.2.5, and now uses wayland by default

  • Fixes several cases of reduced performance in Desktop Mode compared to Game Mode

  • Improved support for rotated displays

  • Better scale factor out of the box on TVs

  • Adds support for external HDR displays

  • Adds support for VRR displays

  • Adds support per-display scale factor

  • For more information, see Plasma release announcements

    • https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.3.0/

    • https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.4.0/

• Keyboard layout and language are now obeying Game Mode settings

• Improved windowing behavior for games running in Proton

System Firmware

• Includes Steam Deck LCD BIOS v133

  • Security updates

  • Added "Memory Power Down" setup option

  • Preliminary support for hibernation

• Includes Steam Deck OLED BIOS v114

  • Security updates

  • Charging LED now changes color when charge limit is reached, rather than only at 100%

Non-Deck

• Improved compatibility with recent Intel and AMD platforms

• Greatly improved video memory management with discrete GPU platforms

• Fixed a compatibility issue with the SteamOS chainloader that could cause a boot failure on some desktop systems with recent UEFI firmware

• Power button short and long presses now supported across a wide variety of devices

• Improved controller support for OneXPlayer F1 series, GPD Win 5, GPD Win Mini, Anbernic Win600, OrangePi NEO, and Lenovo Legion Go

• Added controller support for OneXPlayer X1 series and Lenovo Legion Go 2

• Added system and controller firmware update support for the Lenovo Legion Go 2

• Added preliminary charge limiting support for Legion Go, Legion Go S, and Legion Go 2 - currently only accessible in Desktop Mode

• Added controller RGB LED color settings for the Lenovo Legion Go 2

• Added controller, TDP control, and speaker audio support for the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally series

• Reduced handheld controller input latency from 5-8ms to 100-500us

• Night mode, color vibrance, and color temperature sliders in Steam now work on Z2E and later AMD APUs

• Seamless boot fixes for Z2E and later AMD APUs

• Automatically handle internally rotated display for some third-party handhelds

• Improved motion control support for handhelds with BMI260 IMUs

• SD card reliability improvements for some third-party handhelds, including ASUS ROG Xbox Ally, Legion Go 1, Legion Go S, Legion Go 2, and MSI Claw

• Fixed washed out colors for Zotac and OneXPlayer handhelds with OLED

• Fixed some GPU hangs on Phoenix APU devices (Tales of Arise, Octopath Traveler II)

• Fixed ASUS ROG Ally power consumption from fingerprint reader while shut down

Developer

• Desktop Mode now uses Wayland by default

  • X11 support may still be selected via Steam developer settings, or via `steamosctl`

• Updated Linux kernel to 6.16

• Steam now uses steamos-manager to query available desktop sessions and trigger desktop session switching

• Added support for setting the desktop password in developer settings

• Initial support for running as a Virtual Machine guest (virtio guest drivers)

• Added support for third-party devices to trigger the SteamOS boot menu via EFI variable

• Added `custom-update` verb to `atomupd-manager` for easier testing of specific builds

• System reports now include more audio debug information

• Initial support for LAVD CPU scheduler via `steamosctl set-cpu-scheduler lavd`

We have just shipped an updated Steam Deck Client to the Preview/Beta channel.

The Steam Deck Client has been updated again on April 11th to fix a launch failure with certain titles.

General

• Additional improvements for captive portals.

The Steam Client Beta has been updated again on April 11th to fix a launch failure with certain titles on Linux.

The Steam Client Beta has been updated with the following changes:

General

• Added System Report button to the Help section on Windows.

SteamRT3 Beta

• Fixed a case where the ~/.steam/root symlink would fail to be created at client startup.

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.

These notes contain all changes since the current stable SteamOS 3.7 release, with no changes added since the 3.8.1 preview

General

• Fixed a case where WiFi performance could become degraded until the device was put to sleep or manually reconnected

• Fixed excessive trackpad sensitivity on certain early Steam Deck LCD models

• Initial support for upcoming Steam Machine hardware

• Updated Arch system base

• Updated graphics driver with performance and stability fixes

• Fixed a case where per-app performance settings would intermittently fail to apply when launching a game

• Improved support for the screencasts in Game Mode (e.g. OBS/Discord)

• Fixed dropdown menus not appearing in some games

• Improved VRR frame pacing

• Fixed FSR badge remaining off in the performance overlay, even if it was actually active

• Improved support for games that attempt to open PDF files in external viewers

• Fixed an issue affecting certain titles (such as "SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide") where the game window could have an incorrect position

• Fixed closing certain titles (such as "STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor™") and Starfield resulting in a session crash

• Improved support for certain USB racing wheels and USB devices that boot in a non-standard mode

  • Frequently these are devices that appear as USB storage devices with a driver installer, and must be switched to their normal mode by the OS

• Steam Deck controller firmware updates now display update progress on the splash screen

• Fixes issue on specific Steam Deck revisions where firmware updates could render the left controller inoperative for that session

• Numerous stability and security updates

Bluetooth

• Re-re-enable Bluetooth Wake for Steam Deck LCD

  • Fix for more spurious wake issues that were present in earlier attempts

Audio

• Detect HDMI channel count and expose surround configuration if available

• Add a setting to allow using Bluetooth headset mics (Bluetooth playback quality will be worse while capture is active)

• Restore internal audio device on reboot if set to "Off" in desktop mode

• Increase suspend timeout for HDMI devices so initial audio isn't cut off after a few seconds of inactivity

• Fixed a bug with switching input devices when a wired headset is plugged in

• Fixed an issue where audio underruns could be experienced after sleep/resume

Accessibility

• Added an option to force mono audio output

Desktop Mode

• KDE Plasma updated to version 6.4.3 from 6.2.5, and now uses wayland by default

  • Fixes several cases of reduced performance in Desktop Mode compared to Game Mode

  • Improved support for rotated displays

  • Better scale factor out of the box on TVs

  • Adds support for external HDR displays

  • Adds support for VRR displays

  • Adds support per-display scale factor

  • For more information, see Plasma release announcements

    • https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.3.0/

    • https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.4.0/

• Keyboard layout and language are now obeying Game Mode settings

• Improved windowing behavior for games running in Proton

System Firmware

• Includes Steam Deck LCD BIOS v133

  • Security updates

  • Added "Memory Power Down" setup option

  • Preliminary support for hibernation

• Includes Steam Deck OLED BIOS v114

  • Security updates

  • Charging LED now changes color when charge limit is reached, rather than only at 100%

Non-Deck

• Improved compatibility with recent Intel and AMD platforms

• Greatly improved video memory management with discrete GPU platforms

• Fixed a compatibility issue with the SteamOS chainloader that could cause a boot failure on some desktop systems with recent UEFI firmware

• Power button short and long presses now supported across a wide variety of devices

• Improved controller support for OneXPlayer F1 series, GPD Win 5, GPD Win Mini, Anbernic Win600, OrangePi NEO, and Lenovo Legion Go

• Added controller support for OneXPlayer X1 series and Lenovo Legion Go 2

• Added system and controller firmware update support for the Lenovo Legion Go 2

• Added preliminary charge limiting support for Legion Go, Legion Go S, and Legion Go 2 - currently only accessible in Desktop Mode

• Added controller RGB LED color settings for the Lenovo Legion Go 2

• Added controller, TDP control, and speaker audio support for the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally series

• Reduced handheld controller input latency from 5-8ms to 100-500us

• Night mode, color vibrance, and color temperature sliders in Steam now work on Z2E and later AMD APUs

• Seamless boot fixes for Z2E and later AMD APUs

• Automatically handle internally rotated display for some third-party handhelds

• Improved motion control support for handhelds with BMI260 IMUs

• SD card reliability improvements for some third-party handhelds, including ASUS ROG Xbox Ally, Legion Go 1, Legion Go S, Legion Go 2, and MSI Claw

• Fixed washed out colors for Zotac and OneXPlayer handhelds with OLED

• Fixed some GPU hangs on Phoenix APU devices (Tales of Arise, Octopath Traveler II)

• Fixed ASUS ROG Ally power consumption from fingerprint reader while shut down

Developer

• Desktop Mode now uses Wayland by default

  • X11 support may still be selected via Steam developer settings, or via `steamosctl`

• Updated Linux kernel to 6.16

• Steam now uses steamos-manager to query available desktop sessions and trigger desktop session switching

• Added support for setting the desktop password in developer settings

• Initial support for running as a Virtual Machine guest (virtio guest drivers)

• Added support for third-party devices to trigger the SteamOS boot menu via EFI variable

• Added `custom-update` verb to `atomupd-manager` for easier testing of specific builds

• System reports now include more audio debug information

• Initial support for LAVD CPU scheduler via `steamosctl set-cpu-scheduler lavd`

Steam's Hidden Object Fest is live, and as you can tell from the trailer we've hidden (in plain sight) above, it's packed with discounts on games that require your keen eye.

Search through buildings, castles, rooms, piles, you name it: The objective is to find the object.

The Steam Hidden Object Fest, on now through April 13th. Go check it out now!

The Steam Client Beta has been updated with the following changes:

Game Recording

• Fixed a bug which affected taking a screenshot from a game recording clip.