One thing to look ahead to: Valve confirmed plans to deliver its SteamOS Linux distro to units apart from the Steam Deck over a yr in the past, however precisely when that can occur stays unclear. A latest announcement from Lenovo helps latest leaks indicating that the corporate will quickly change into the primary OEM to again what has change into a powerful various to Home windows for PC gaming.
The Verge experiences that Lenovo is inviting CES attendees to a handheld gaming showcase in cooperation with Valve. The press launch has added gasoline to hypothesis that Lenovo will quickly reveal a successor to the Legion Go that includes the Steam Deck’s working system, signaling a possible transfer away from Home windows for handheld gaming PCs.
Lenovo will host a January 7 occasion referred to as “Lenovo Legion x AMD: The Way forward for Gaming Handhelds,” that includes Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais, a key determine within the growth of SteamOS and the Steam Deck. Lenovo is anticipated to unveil three rumored Legion Go revisions, one in every of which was not too long ago pictured that includes a button with a Steam emblem.
Whereas the button’s exact perform is unknown, the leak coincides with more and more frequent indicators that Valve will quickly define its plans to deliver SteamOS to units from different producers. Final yr, the corporate confirmed its purpose to make the Linux distro obtainable on numerous handheld gaming PCs earlier than progressing to common availability.
Latest branding information updates point out that Valve is getting ready to assist quite a few units working on SteamOS. Moreover, leakers not too long ago reported that the corporate may resume its makes an attempt to promote console-style PCs.
In distinction to Home windows, which most moveable PCs use, SteamOS permits customers to handle video games and system parameters with a comparatively easy console-like interface. Valve’s quality-of-life options additionally clear up widespread PC gaming annoyances like driver updates and shader compilation.
Jason Ronald, the VP of Xbox Gaming Units and Ecosystem, who Lenovo calls Microsoft’s “VP of Subsequent Technology,” may also attend Lenovo’s occasion. Microsoft’s presence is intriguing in mild of the corporate’s ongoing growth of a handheld; nonetheless, Microsoft admits that the gadget’s launch is years away.
Lenovo’s upcoming Legion Go variants are anticipated to characteristic AMD’s Ryzen Z2 APU platform, which features a Zen 4 CPU, a GenAI-capable NPU, and an RDNA 3.5 built-in GPU. The quickest member of the lineup, the Z2 Excessive, may present substantial efficiency boosts in comparison with not too long ago launched handheld PCs.
Picture credit score: Home windows Central, Evan Blass, by way of The Verge
