We still don’t know exactly when Valve plans to release the promised stable version of SteamOS for more handhelds, but it is coming, with each new SteamOS Preview release bringing some progress toward it. The previous SteamOS 3.7.3 Preview, for example, included improvements for ASUS and Lenovo handhelds. While not mentioned by name, Valve is surely referencing the ROG Ally and Legion Go devices.

The Steam Deck’s operating system is one of its strengths for those who want to stop gaming on Windows. Now, SteamOS 3.7.4 Preview is out, and along with a few bug fixes, the update addresses a bootloader crash affecting certain non-Steam Deck devices, including QEMU-based virtual machines.

Here are the patch notes:

General

• Fixed a regression from earlier 3.7 releases wherein corrupt Steam installs would fail to automatically self-repair in some cases
• Fixed the performance overlay displaying some incorrect GPU metrics in level four

Misc

• Fixed a bootloader crash on certain non-Steam Deck devices, including qemu-based virtual machines

Source: Steam

Apart from that, Steam installs will no longer fail automatically when attempting to self-repair after corruption. There’s also a fix for the level 4 performance overlay showing incorrect GPU metrics. This is an important change for anyone wanting to run Steam Deck benchmarks, especially with many AAA titles these days pushing the handheld to its limits, or often beyond. The new Oblivion remaster is an example game that barely runs on the Deck.

The first non-Steam Deck SteamOS handheld, the Lenovo Legion Go S, is confirmed for a May 2025 launch. A Windows variant was already released early this year. This means we’ll be seeing SteamOS officially running on a handheld other than the Steam Deck very soon. And from there, we can expect a general release for SteamOS 3.7.0 to follow. The SteamOS Go S is already available for pre-order on sites such as Best Buy, which lists the release date as May 25th for Z1 Extreme and Z2 Go models.

About the Author

Hassam Nasir

Hassam boasts over seven years of professional experience as a dedicated PC hardware reviewer and writer.