- Valve released a preview of SteamOS 3.8.0 for initial Steam Machine support ahead of launch
- It also introduced major fixes, like improved Discord screen sharing functionality in gaming mode.
- The update says that the release date or price of the Steam Machine could be announced soon
Valve is still working hard behind the scenes on the release of its Steam Machine, after plans were stifled by a delay due to the ongoing RAM crisis. Fortunately, a new update could be a strong indication that its launch date announcement could be closer than expected.
Announced on Steam, Valve released a preview of SteamOS 3.8.0 with “initial support for the next Steam Machine.” It comes with numerous graphics driver, performance, and stability fixes, including improvements for Steam Deck and non-Steam Deck handhelds that use SteamOS.
Unfortunately, the RAM crisis and its impact on the PC hardware market seems pervasive, and an indefinite delay seems more likely in recent months (and arguably could be the ideal solution), especially since the Steam Deck OLED, which uses similar memory and storage, has been affected by sudden drops in availability.
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Nonetheless, the patch notes suggest that the 3.8.0 preview is a “small update”, but there are a significant number of improvements that could prove extremely beneficial to the Steam Machine’s functionality from day one once it finally launches.
One of these fixes is the long-awaited improved support for screen sharing and streaming to Discord and OBS in SteamOS game mode. This should make Discord much easier to use for handheld and Steam users.
More importantly, these updates indicate that a potential release date or pricing announcement is imminent, but that doesn’t necessarily mean consumers will be able to get their hands on it anytime soon.
It is obvious that Valve does not want to make a mistake by announcing a price that is not achievable.
If Valve’s Steam Machine comes with a higher price tag than most expect, it will likely be a major problem for consumers. However, a more affordable price may not be ideal for Valve, given the unstable state of the market and prices of memory and storage, but it will please its customers.
It’s a tough situation for Valve, but there’s a good chance it’s about to take another step toward the highly anticipated Steam Machine launch.
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