A move that signals the arrival of incredibly powerful Intel-based consoles.
The news isn’t exactly a surprise, but it does mark a shift in mindset at Valve. Initially, SteamOS—the operating system developed by Valve—was designed exclusively for the Steam Deck, the portable console from Gabe Newell’s company. SteamOS is a Linux-based operating system—originally Debian, and now ArchLinux—designed to run as many video games as possible as smoothly as possible, whether they were built to run natively on Linux or were originally intended for Windows. Success has been widespread, both for the Steam Deck (by far the best-selling portable PC console) and for SteamOS, which is inspiring many users.
Proof of this success is the emergence of Linux distributions like Bazzite, which also focus on gaming via Linux. Better yet, Bazzite is far less picky about the hardware used and works just as well with AMD architectures as it does with Intel architectures. SteamOS clearly cannot say the same, as it is limited to supporting only the Steam Deck. A first sign of a change at Valve: SteamOS is beginning to support other consoles, such as models from ASUS and Lenovo. Oh, this isn’t official support—no support is offered—but the hardware is recognized and, in reality, fully functional. This comes as no surprise, though, since these consoles’ architectures are very similar to that of the Steam Deck, both being AMD-based.
For Intel-based products like the MSI Claw 8 AI+, however, it was impossible to run SteamOS… until the release of SteamOS beta 3.8.7, which is very clear on several points: addition of controller support for MSI Claw handheld consoles (A1M, 7 AI+ A2VM, 8 AI+ A2VM, A8 BZ2EM); improved gyroscope response for devices using AccelGyro3D (such as the Legion Go 1 or the Claw A1M). Although beta 3.8.7 was released just a few days ago, YouTuber ETA Prime wasted no time in posting a video demonstrating the quality of this support: yes, the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is indeed supported, and nearly all features are present.
Better yet, Valve clearly seems committed to providing quality support for Intel platforms. First, the Claw 8 AI+ isn’t actually the only one—all MSI Intel and AMD consoles are mentioned. Second, we’re seeing a steady stream of updates: hot on the heels of beta 3.8.7, betas 3.8.8 and 3.8.9 have already been released—all within a few days. Of course, Valve isn’t providing any specifics, but we can assume that its interest in Intel platforms also stems from the fact that the American company’s upcoming mobile chips, the G3 and G3 Extreme, are extremely promising. It’s better to be prepared in case they become a real hit with gamers, right?
