Lenovo has recently announced that its upcoming Legion Go S gaming handheld will be the first third-party device to ship with Valve's SteamOS operating system. This marks a significant expansion for SteamOS, which was previously exclusive to Valve's own Steam Deck. The Lenovo Legion Go S, set to launch in May 2025 at a price of $499, will offer gamers a new option in the handheld gaming PC market with its 16GB RAM and 512GB storage configuration.
The Steam Deck has been a strong contender in the handheld gaming market, largely due to its unique advantage of running on SteamOS. Unlike other gaming handhelds that use Windows, which can be less optimized for portable use, SteamOS provides a smoother, more console-like experience. Valve's efforts to extend SteamOS to other manufacturers have now come to fruition with the Lenovo Legion Go S.
At CES 2025, Lenovo unveiled two new Legion Go models: the Legion Go 2, a successor to the original Legion Go, and the Legion Go S, which offers similar performance in a more compact design. The Legion Go S stands out with its option to come pre-installed with either SteamOS or Windows 11, catering to different user preferences. The Windows version of the Legion Go S will be available earlier, in January 2025, with options starting at $599 for 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, and $729 for 32GB RAM and 1TB storage.
Valve has assured that the SteamOS version of the Lenovo Legion Go S will receive the same software updates as the Steam Deck, ensuring feature parity and a consistent user experience. While there are no current plans for the Legion Go 2 to ship with SteamOS, strong demand for the SteamOS-powered Legion Go S could influence future decisions.
Currently, Lenovo is the only manufacturer partnering with Valve for a licensed SteamOS device. However, Valve has announced that a public beta of SteamOS will soon be available for other gaming handhelds, broadening the accessibility of the operating system across the market.
