SteamOS Is Officially Launching on a System That\'s Not By Valve

Lenovo's Legion Go S: The First Third-Party SteamOS Handheld

Lenovo has unveiled the Legion Go S, a groundbreaking handheld gaming PC, marking the first third-party device to ship with Valve's SteamOS. This collaboration expands SteamOS beyond its original home on the Steam Deck, offering consumers a new choice in the handheld gaming market.

The Legion Go S, launching in May 2025 for $499, boasts a 16GB RAM / 512GB storage configuration and leverages the smooth, console-like experience of SteamOS, a significant advantage over Windows-based competitors like the Asus ROG Ally X and MSI Claw 8 AI+. The SteamOS version offers optimized performance for a portable form factor, a key differentiator from the often less-optimized Windows experience on similar devices.

Valve's commitment to expanding SteamOS to third-party devices has culminated in this partnership. While initially leaked, the announcement at CES 2025 confirmed the Legion Go S's SteamOS variant alongside a Windows 11 version of the device. The Windows version, launching in January 2025, offers configurations of 16GB RAM / 1TB storage ($599) and 32GB RAM / 1TB storage ($729). The flagship Legion Go 2, however, will not initially include a SteamOS option.

Lenovo Legion Go S Specifications:

SteamOS Version:

• Operating System: Valve's SteamOS
• Launch Date: May 2025
• Price: $499
• Configuration: 16GB RAM / 512GB storage

Windows Version:

• Operating System: Windows 11
• Launch Date: January 2025
• Price: $599 (16GB RAM / 1TB storage), $729 (32GB RAM / 1TB storage)

Valve assures full feature parity between the SteamOS version of the Legion Go S and the Steam Deck, including identical software updates (excluding hardware-specific adjustments). This partnership represents a significant step for SteamOS, and a public beta will soon be available for other handheld devices. For now, Lenovo holds the exclusive title of the first licensed SteamOS partner beyond Valve itself.