Steam deck relies on Steamos as operating system - but what is that?

With the Steam Deck, Valve has presented a gaming PC in handheld format. On the device, the Steams operating system is to be used. But what is that, and what brings me that as a gamer?

What is the Steam Deck? The steam deck is a gaming PC that looks like a Nintendo Switch. The deck was therefore often compared to the Nintendo console. Valve wants to offer a full-fledged gaming experience in mobile format. You are not bound to a limited pool of games on the steam deck, but you can install all the games on the steam deck on the switch.

Valve does not set to Windows for its Steam Deck, but on an operating system called Steams. That had taken care of after the announcement for discussions what you can even play on the device.

Mango explains what Steams is and what is behind it. In addition, in addition to Steams, there is also an alternative for your future Steam Deck.

On the Steam Deck comes a customized Linux as operating system for use

Which operating system uses the Steam Deck? On the Steam Deck comes with Steams an operating system based on Linux. So there is no adapted Windows version to wear. On each delivered device Steams is already installed, and you can get started directly with gaming.

However, there is a restriction: while Linux is square, the Steam client is protected software that offers you certain features such as the store and chat.

Steams had hitherto set to the Distribution Debian, with version 3.0 uses Valve at Steams now Arch Linux. Steams 3.0 is to appear with the release of Steam Deck in the spring of 2022.

Steams vs. Windows

Mango introduces you the advantages and disadvantages of Steams and explain what the two operating systems differ from each other. We will update the list for you as soon as there is more information about the Steam Deck.

What advantages do Steams offer?

Steams is free: Basically, first, Steams is available for free for everyone. You do not pay royalties for Windows when buying the Steam Deck and can download Steams at any time and free.

Steams is safer than Windows: Linux is much safer than Windows, as it gives much less malware (malware) for Linux than for the widespread Windows system. Here, however, however, as for each other operating system: the more third-party software installed you, the more potential attacks offers your system for potential opponents.

Data protection: Another point that speaks for Steams is that Linux is basically more data-friendly. While Windows constantly queries data and telemetry data from you, Linux lets you rest in most cases. Here, however, the more programs you installed, the more apps want to have your data.

Matching User Interface: Valve has developed the right User Interface (UI) for Steams. That means a pleasant experience for you, because about the menus have the appropriate size.

Low size : Steams just need 250 megabytes on your hard drive and is thus very slim compared to Windows 10.

Linux will be more interesting for developers : The more USER STEAMS, the more interesting the operating system and thus Linux for game developers. If the Steam Deck succeeds, Linux could develop as an alternative or at least as insider tip to Windows.

Which cons steams offers?

Not all games work: On Steams and generally on Linux, other stores either do not work or only very bad. Basically, you must therefore do without other stores like those of Ubisoft or the battle.net.

Valve itself calls that as verified for the steam deck and wants to check all games so that gamers can see what games work on the steam deck and which are not (via steamdeck.com).

Not every program works : This leads us to another drawback: some programs predicted certain, licensed (proprietary) components. These are about Windows runtime libraries that can not be easily installed on Linux. Here then proton is used. Proton wants to provide appropriate runtime libraries or supplies alternative libraries.

Because in principle, you can also use the Steam Deck as a proper PC and install everything, what you want. However, everything should not work because certain programs for the current time only work on Windows or offer no client for Linux. Discord can be easily installed on Linux.

What is Proton? Proton is a Valve's square software and is there to run Windows commands on Linux. Simply pressed Windows commands to Linux are translated. For DirectX, about the interface volcano is used.

Steep learning curve: Like each operating system, Steams needs time to get involved. Steams or Linux offer you many possibilities and options and takes little to your hand.

What about Performance? Anyone who has moved under Linux, who knows that the performance is often weaker than under Windows. Among other things, this is because Wine / Proton must translate Windows commands for Linux. That costs additional computing power. Although there are already first unofficial benchmarks to the Steam Deck, but they say little about the final performance of the Steam Deck.

Conclusion

Above all, Steams is an announcement to all users who value swelling software and feel of Windows. And that brings with all advantages and disadvantages that has a Linux operating system.

Because Linux is swelled, safe and offer you a lot of freedoms, but you have to live with that not all programs without restrictions. In addition, you have to theoretically have a slightly weaker performance than under Windows.

However, Steam had already explained that almost all games are to run on Steams, also thanks to the compatible layer proton, which Valve developed.

Windows as an alternative to Steams

Do I have to use Steams on the Steam Deck? No. Valve had already explained that you can do with your Steam Deck, what you want. And there is also the possibility to install Windows 11 on the Steam Deck. But you should note that there is no adapted Windows version for the Steam Deck.

Manufacturer AMD, which delivers the hardware for the Steam Deck, had already explained together with Valve that you want to provide the right drivers for a Windows installation.

Alternatives to the Steam Deck: You like the idea of ​​gambling games on the way? We from Mango introduce you a handful of alternatives to the Steam Deck, which you can already buy:

Steam Deck: These are the 4 most exciting alternatives 2021