SteamOS Updates Improve Performance and Add HDMI 2.1 Support

The operating system, compatibility layer, and game support for SteamOS are all still getting changes. A preview of SteamOS 3.9, an update to SteamOS 3.8 beta, a new Proton GE release, and a big step forward in making Steam Deck and SteamOS games work together are all recent events.

The most recent changes focus on adding more games to Steam Deck, fixing bugs, and making the game playable with more controllers. The new SteamOS 3.9 preview brings hibernation support and HDMI 2.1 support.

The update includes an updated Arch Linux base and a desktop mode update, moving from Plasma 6.4.3 to Plasma 6.7.3. The bootloader has also been updated to improve compatibility with certain motherboards.

SteamOS 3.9 Preview Adds Hibernation and HDMI 2.1 Support

The desktop mode lock screen can now be explicitly enabled in settings. In developer mode, the update includes several other changes. The Wi-Fi backend has been switched to WPA, while WPA Supplicant has been enhanced to support faster Wi-Fi reconnects and resume from sleep. These features were previously only available in the backend.

Alongside the SteamOS 3.9 preview, SteamOS 3.8 has received another beta update. The update fixes an issue from previous beta builds that could cause degraded performance in some cases when composition was required, such as when FSR was enabled.

Firefox has also received a fix for an issue where it could sometimes freeze while running in fullscreen in desktop mode. The update also addresses an issue in which Unreal Engine 5 VR games could display a blank right eye. SteamOS 3.8 beta also includes additional fixes, giving Steam Deck and SteamOS users several changes to test as development continues.

A new Proton GE update, Proton GE 11-6, has also been released. The release includes fixes for various games and improvements related to PlayStation controllers. The update reworked the audio haptic routines for DualShock 4, DualSense, and DualSense Edge, along with endpoint identity, profile switching, and hot-plug lifecycle support.

Steam Deck and SteamOS pass 30,000 verified and playable games.

The update also improves Death Stranding and includes other fixes. If you use these controllers or affected games on a Steam Deck or Steam Machine, the new Proton GE version could address compatibility issues. We can check the full list of changes to see whether a particular game or accessory is included.

It's now official: more than 30,000 games are compatible with both the Steam Deck and SteamOS. This is a big step forward in their compatibility. The list comes from SteamDB and shows how the library continues to grow. There are currently 8,939 verified games, 21,67 playable games, and 6,846 unsupported games.

Continued growth in the verified and playable categories gives Steam Deck users a larger selection of games they can play on the platform. For anyone tracking compatibility, SteamDB helps you keep up with the latest verified and playable games for Steam Deck and SteamOS.