Since the launch of the Steam Machine just over a month ago, Valve has been releasing SteamOS updates almost weekly. The latest versions indicate that the system is gradually expanding beyond Valve's proprietary hardware to support more third-party handheld gaming PCs. According to the update notes, the MSI Claw series has received "improved support," while the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, Ayaneo Pocket S2, and Konkr Fit have gained "initial controller support."
The progress for the Claw 8 EX AI+ is not entirely unexpected, given its x86 architecture is similar to the Steam Deck. However, the Ayaneo Pocket S2 and Konkr Fit are drawing more attention; if they achieve full support in the future, they could become among the first Android handhelds capable of running SteamOS. This aligns with Valve's previous statements that SteamOS would not be limited to AMD hardware but would extend to Intel and ARM platforms.
On another front, while the Steam Machine is regarded as a console-like device, Valve has not prepared any launch exclusive games for it. Engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais told Bloomberg that restricting where players can enjoy a game "is not a good model, at least not for us." He further added that Valve is more interested in making the "entire PC catalog" the Steam Machine's "launch exclusive."
This strategy sets the Steam Machine apart from traditional consoles. Even when the Steam Deck launched the tech demo "Aperture Desk Job," the title was eventually made available on the general Steam store.
Considering the Steam Machine's relatively high price point, if Valve were to tie major titles like "Half-Life 3" to a single piece of hardware, it could potentially trigger a backlash. However, for SteamOS to truly achieve widespread adoption, Nvidia remains the biggest hurdle; its growth potential will likely remain limited until official support arrives.
via： Bloomberg GamesRadar+