Steam Deck, Valve’s unique portable console, comes with a Linux-based operating system called SteamOS that is also capable of running Windows games using an emulator. Those who have already been impressed by the console report that this is not a bad solution that does not significantly hurt performance, but for those who do not want to use the emulator – or want to play games that intentionally do not support SteamOS – Valve now offers the option to directly install Windows 10 on The console.
To install the Microsoft operating system, Valve provides software devices (drivers) for the CPU and graphics card (GPU), as well as for WiFi and Bluetooth connections. The drivers for the sound card work partially: they do not support the speakers built into the console, but headphones can be connected via Bluetooth or the USB input. In the future, this problem is also expected to be resolved.
It should be emphasized that at this point, the solution works for Windows 10 only, and not for the newer Windows 11. Also, there is currently no built-in option to install the two operating systems side by side (Dual Boot). You can just delete SteamOS and install Windows 10 in its place, though there is of course a way to restore the console to factory settings.
Video: Steam Deck runs Windows 10
The Steam Deck is not yet available for purchase in many countries (including Israel), and even in those since the launch stock has long since run out and you can only order it in advance and wait many months for delivery. The console comes with an AMD chipset, 16GB of working memory and a 7-inch built-in screen. Price starts at $ 399.