‘I’m going to stick with SteamOS instead of going back to Windows’: Gamers prepare to ditch Windows 11, as Valve focuses on boosting SteamOS on desktop

Valve said it was “rolling out improvements to [SteamOS] it is therefore more compatible with office equipment”
The company also made it clear that it is working closely with Nvidia for better GPU compatibility.
The goal is to make SteamOS more widely deployed on DIY PCs outside of the Steam Machine, prompting some gamers to abandon Windows 11.

Valve has highlighted how it is improving SteamOS to allow players to create their own version of Steam Machine if they wish, which is already sparking enthusiastic discussions on Reddit about ditching Windows 11.

The Verge reports that Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais (an engineer who often gives interviews) made it clear that the company was “rolling out improvements to [SteamOS] therefore it is more compatible with desktop hardware” and also “works very closely with Nvidia” to ensure better compatibility with Team Green GPUs.

Before you get too excited, though, Griffais’ caveat is that Nvidia support won’t be coming anytime soon – meaning not this year – but that it’s “definitely something we’re working on in the background.”

Analysis: steamy windows

Steam engine power button

(Image credit: Valve)

It seems like this is making many gamers reconsider their stance with Windows 11, but we clearly shouldn’t get carried away just yet. SteamOS has a long way to go as a rival to Windows 11, as it remains a niche proposition, but it’s clear that Valve is working to make it a much more compelling alternative.

The good news is that even if you have no plans to go near the Steam Machine – and find it way too expensive, as many do (due to memory crunch) – the device’s launch could still benefit you, as SteamOS continues to progress. As Valve observes, you can simply build your own Steam Machine-style PC, or to avoid the RAM crisis price hike, simply repurpose an existing rig you own (perhaps with a choice upgrade or two purchased during a sale).

With some notable progress being made here – and some progress being made in terms of how anti-cheat games work as well, in some cases, although there’s still a lot of work to be done here – we can hope that SteamOS adoption can be significantly accelerated.

However, Windows 11 remains dominant by far in the PC gaming world, although the rise of SteamOS could worry Microsoft in the long run and prompt further efforts to improve Windows 11 for gamers – which would again be a victory, albeit an indirect one.

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