Recently Valve Corporation presented its new hybrid console called Steam Deck , inspired by the design of a PC, and which has already sold more than a million copies prior to the official launch on the market, scheduled for late 2021 or early 2022.
The whole world has been talking about this new device, comparing it to the Nintendo Switch for the similarities that are easily found in its design, wondering if it comes to give it competition and being captivated by the descriptions that its developers have provided in each interview.
Although you have probably heard about this long-awaited product, you may not know very well what the new portable console offers. For that and more, today we invite you to discover this new device and we will inform you about the operating system included in the Steam Deck.
Index( )
- What operating system will the Steam Deck have by default?
- Is the Steam Deck compatible with Linux?
- Is there a possibility to add another operating system to the Steam Deck?
What operating system will the Steam Deck have by default?
Like any other device, the Steam Deck comes with a default operating system in charge of all its internal processes and the execution of each program: The Steam Deck developers have included the SteamOS 3.0 operating system, coming from Linux.
This operating system is based on the Debian 8 system, which is practically open, so it allows us to install almost any type of application (this is also due to Proton, part of the system compatibility that turns any Windows game into Linux to be accepted by the Steam Deck).
Linux is free software (not owned by any owner), open source, safe, practical and available for any type of computing device.
It is one of the most used operating systems around the world , preferred for its graphical interface, multitasking system, compatibility and a wide variety of distributions .
However, it does not escape limitations. And in the case of Steam, it does not have scope for all its programs, since it guarantees compatibility with any game solely and exclusively from the Steam catalog, such as Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Red Dead Redemption 2.
That is, with SteamOS you will not have access to games not belonging to the Steam store, which excludes the most acclaimed games, such as Call Of Duty, Legue Of Legends and Minecraft.
Among other games that are not compatible with this operating system, despite the Proton , are The Legends Of Zelda, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Monster Hunter Rise.
But we shouldn’t worry too much. Fortunately for everyone, the Steam Deck allows you to integrate a totally different operating system into the console, allowing much more freedom to the device.
Is the Steam Deck compatible with Linux?
The Steam Deck operating system is based precisely on Linux , the official distributor of programs dedicated to Steam, so any Linux program will run correctly on this console.
The latest version of SteamOS (SteamOS 3.0, as we said before), is powered by Arch Linux (open source software designed for advanced devices) that allows you to speed up your updates and optimize each of its functions or programs .
Is there a possibility to add another operating system to the Steam Deck?
It is very common that, whether on a Smartphone or computer, we must adapt to the operating system that the devices have integrated. But that’s not the case with the Steam Deck.
As we already mentioned, something that we must definitely highlight about the Steam Deck is the possibility of installing another operating system, because the Steam Deck is designed practically like a computer , thus allowing the installation of any type of software.
This means that, by replacing your operating system with some version of Windows (available up to Windows 10 for the console), we can easily use Xbox Game Pass or the Epic Game Store programs. Which is not a possibility with the Steam Deck’s default operating system.
It is pertinent to remember that, despite the comparisons between the Steam Deck and the Nintendo Switch, both consoles are completely different in terms of capabilities and operation , and it is prudent to consider their differences before buying any of the products.
