SteamOS Archives

AppWizard

December 25, 2024

How to play Minecraft Bedrock on Steam Deck

Minecraft Bedrock Edition can be played on the Steam Deck using a third-party application called Prism Launcher, despite it not being natively supported. To play, users must switch the Steam Deck to Desktop Mode, install Prism Launcher from the Discover Software Center, and log in with their Microsoft account. After setting up the desired game version and optimizing settings, users can integrate Prism Launcher into Steam by adding it as a non-Steam game. Finally, they can switch back to Gaming Mode to launch Minecraft.

Winsage

December 20, 2024

Can Microsoft convince gamers to upgrade to Windows 11?

Microsoft is encouraging users to transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 before the end of support in October 2025. Key gaming features of Windows 11 include Auto HDR, DirectStorage, Game Bar Compact Mode, Dynamic Lighting, optimizations for windowed games, an HDR calibration app, advanced hybrid support, Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 support, color filters for colorblind players, automatic super resolution for Arm Copilot+ PCs, and the Xbox app on Windows PC. Windows 11 has a 52.48% market share among Steam users as of November 2024, surpassing Windows 10 in mid-2024. Currently, Windows 10 holds a 61.82% market share while Windows 11 is at 34.94%. Gamers are adopting Windows 11 faster than the general user base.

Winsage

December 13, 2024

Windows 10’s end is coming: here’s what you should do about it

Microsoft will cease support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Windows 10 was launched in July 2015 and replaced Windows 8. Users can upgrade to Windows 11 if their hardware meets the minimum specifications, which include a 1 GHz CPU, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of storage, along with a second-generation Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and UEFI BIOS capable of secure boot. Many older PCs may not qualify for the upgrade, requiring at least an 8th Gen Intel processor or a Zen+ AMD processor. Users can also consider installing Linux distributions like Ubuntu or ChromeOS on older PCs. Remaining on Windows 10 after support ends poses security risks and limits access to updates.

AppWizard

November 17, 2024

The best device for playing PC games is finally coming to Australia

Valve's Steam Deck is set to launch in Australia on November 19 and has already sold millions of units internationally. It is a handheld gaming device that functions as a Linux PC, offering extensive customization options. The Steam Deck measures nearly 30 centimeters wide and 12 centimeters tall, weighs 640 grams, and features a 7.4-inch HDR OLED display with a refresh rate of up to 90Hz and a native resolution of 1280x800. It supports a wide range of games, including high-profile titles and indie games, with battery life varying from two to eight hours depending on the game's demands. Control options include a d-pad, face buttons, analog sticks, touch-sensitive pads, and customizable settings. The Steam Deck runs on a customized Linux operating system, SteamOS, which facilitates the use of Windows games through an emulation layer called Proton. Valve rates games for performance and compatibility, with a starting price of 9 for the Steam Deck OLED and various models available at different price points.

Winsage

November 12, 2024

Steam drops Windows 7 and 8 support with the latest client — users told to ‘update to a more recent version of Windows’ to continue gaming

Valve has ended support for Windows 7 and 8 with the latest update to the Steam client, which will no longer function on these operating systems. Users must transition to Windows 10 or 11, or consider alternatives like Linux or macOS. Windows 7 reached its end-of-life in January 2020, and Windows 8 in January 2023. Steam will not provide automatic updates to users on these systems, and while they can still play by avoiding updates, this workaround's longevity is uncertain. Approximately 0.28% of Steam users are on Windows 7, translating to around 350,000 active users. The updated Steam Client is compatible with macOS 10.15 Catalina and later, and users can also install Linux on older Windows machines. Steam supports distributions based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or newer.

Winsage

November 5, 2024

Windows 11 is now the dominant OS among PC gamers

Windows 11 has become the leading operating system among PC gamers, with 51.97% of Steam users, surpassing Windows 10's 45.95% share. Windows 11's adoption among Steam users has risen, accounting for 96.61% of operating systems utilized by PC gamers. Windows 10's share has declined by 2.71% since September. The shift is attributed to Windows 11's superior integration of DirectX 12 technologies and advanced visual effects like ray tracing. Linux holds 2% of the gaming market, while MacOS has 1.39%. In terms of hardware, 46.75% of users have 16GB of RAM, and 31.61% have 32GB. Full HD displays are used by 57.32% of gamers, while 19.71% use 1440p displays.

AppWizard

October 30, 2024

We waited 14 years to get Red Dead Redemption on PC, and we’ll have to wait even longer to find out how well it plays on Steam Deck

Red Dead Redemption has been released on PC after 14 years, available on Steam, Epic Games Store, and Rockstar Store. The PC version features enhancements such as support for 144Hz refresh rates, ultrawide monitor compatibility, adjustable shadows, draw distances, AMD FSR, and NVIDIA DLSS 3.7. It includes the Undead Nightmare expansion. However, Rockstar has not tested the game on the Steam Deck, raising concerns about compatibility despite the use of Proton for running PC titles on the device.

Winsage

October 28, 2024

Windows handhelds should use SteamOS instead; this custom operating system is the next-best thing

PC Guide's team utilizes independent consumer research, testing, and market analysis to recommend products. Several gaming handhelds, including the ASUS ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw, compete with the Steam Deck, but Windows 11 is not optimized for gaming compared to SteamOS. Bazzite is a custom Linux alternative designed to replicate the SteamOS experience on Windows handhelds. It is built on a Fedora-based version of Linux and comes pre-installed with Steam. Bazzite aims to provide a user experience similar to the Steam Deck, despite some limitations in native game support. It also supports non-Steam games through Lutris and other platforms. A review by Digital Foundry indicates that Bazzite performs comparably to Windows while reducing shader compilation stutters and slightly improving battery life. Bazzite pre-calculates Vulkan shaders to minimize stutters, unlike Windows, which compiles them on the fly.

Winsage

October 28, 2024

Tinkerer converts ThinkCentre into compact Steam OS-powered gaming console

A Linux gaming PC has been created by Eta Prime, resembling the size of a Wii and featuring a console-like interface similar to the Steam Deck. It includes an Intel i7 processor and an AMD Radeon RX 6400 graphics card, fitted into a Lenovo ThinkCentre M920q chassis. The build incorporates 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 1TB M.2 SSD, and runs on the Bazzite distro operating system, which allows direct booting into Steam Gaming Mode. Performance tests showed the system running Left 4 Dead 2 at 1440p with 120fps, Street Fighter 6 at 1080p with 60fps, Elden Ring at 1080p low settings near 60fps, Doom Eternal exceeding 100fps at 1080p, and Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p low settings averaging around 56fps.

Winsage

October 27, 2024

Bazzite delivers the SteamOS experience Windows handhelds need

Bazzite is a Linux-based operating system designed for Windows gaming handhelds, offering a user experience similar to SteamOS. It is built on Fedora and features a console-centric design, allowing for smooth controller navigation and stable performance. Bazzite includes specific enhancements for the Asus ROG Ally, such as TDP modes and lighting options. The latest version has resolved initial issues with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support, allowing for low frame-rate compensation. Game performance on Bazzite is generally positive, with some titles experiencing a performance penalty compared to Windows. Bazzite mitigates shader compilation stutters better than Windows and offers slightly improved battery life. The installation process requires partitioning internal storage and is comparable in complexity to installing Windows on the Steam Deck. Users can dual-boot between Bazzite and Windows. Overall, Bazzite enhances the gaming experience on the ROG Ally, despite some trade-offs in performance and compatibility.