We have just shipped an updated Steam Deck Client to the Preview/Beta channel.

Steam Controller Firmware

• Controller FW update to address potential charging issue

Steam Input

• Revert changes to trackpad momentum tracking that caused a deadzone around the edges of the Steam Controller trackpad

• Fixed an issue displaying the paired device serial on the Steam Controller Puck info page

Note: This update is for the Steam Deck Beta and Preview channels, and includes new features that are still being tested. You can opt into this in Settings > System > System Update Channel.

These notes contain all changes since the current stable SteamOS 3.7 release, with the new changes since the previous 3.8.5 Beta noted below

New in 3.8.6

• Fixed an issue where "Allow Tearing" wouldn't have the intended effect in certain configurations

• Added preliminary support for HDMI VRR for devices with native HDMI output

• Fixed an issue where video output could become frozen while using Remote Play

• Fixed a possible session crash when using Game Recording with certain "Maximum video height" settings

• Fixed a regression with previous 3.8 builds where the "New!" badge would be incorrectly placed in Desktop Mode launcher entries

• Fixed an issue on certain TCL TVs where the display may remain blank using the Steam Deck Dock

• Add controller support for MSI Claw devices (A1M, 7 AI+ A2VM, 8 AI+ A2VM, A8 BZ2EM)

• Add controller support for OneXPlayer APEX and X1 series.

• Improved gyro response for devices that use AccelGyro3D (Legion Go 1, Claw A1M)

• Fixed a system crash on international Asus ROG Xbox Ally models

General

• Fixed a case where WiFi performance could become degraded until the device was put to sleep or manually reconnected

• Fixed excessive trackpad sensitivity on certain early Steam Deck LCD models

• Fixed a bug on Steam Deck OLED where rebooting would occasionally cause a loss of speaker output until rebooted again

• Initial support for upcoming Steam Machine hardware

• Added support for waking from sleep via connected Steam Controller

• Updated Arch system base

• Updated graphics driver with performance and stability fixes

• Fixed a case where per-app performance settings would intermittently fail to apply when launching a game

• Substantially improved speed of future OS updates on high-speed connections

• Improved support for the screencasts in Game Mode (e.g. OBS/Discord)

• Fixed dropdown menus not appearing in some games

• Improved VRR frame pacing

• Fixed FSR badge remaining off in the performance overlay, even if it was actually active

• Improved support for games that attempt to open PDF files in external viewers

• Added missing graphics features needed for titles such as "Crimson Desert"

• Fixed an issue affecting certain titles (such as "SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide") where the game window could have an incorrect position

• Fixed closing certain titles (such as "STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor™") and Starfield resulting in a session crash

• Improved support for certain USB racing wheels and USB devices that boot in a non-standard mode

  • Frequently these are devices that appear as USB storage devices with a driver installer, and must be switched to their normal mode by the OS

• Steam Deck controller firmware updates now display update progress on the splash screen

• Fixes issue on specific Steam Deck revisions where firmware updates could render the left controller inoperative for that session

• Fixes for experimental nested desktop mode

• Numerous stability and security updates

Bluetooth

• Re-re-enable Bluetooth Wake for Steam Deck LCD

  • Fix for more spurious wake issues that were present in earlier attempts

Audio

• Detect HDMI channel count and expose surround configuration if available

• Add a setting to allow using Bluetooth headset mics (Bluetooth playback quality will be worse while capture is active)

• Restore internal audio device on reboot if set to "Off" in desktop mode

• Increase suspend timeout for HDMI devices so initial audio isn't cut off after a few seconds of inactivity

• Fixed a bug with switching input devices when a wired headset is plugged in

• Fixed an issue where audio underruns could be experienced after sleep/resume

Accessibility

• Added an option to force mono audio output

Desktop Mode

• KDE Plasma updated to version 6.4.3 from 6.2.5, and now uses wayland by default

  • Fixes several cases of reduced performance in Desktop Mode compared to Game Mode

  • Improved support for rotated displays

  • Better scale factor out of the box on TVs

  • Adds support for external HDR displays

  • Adds support for VRR displays

  • Adds support per-display scale factor

  • For more information, see Plasma release announcements

    • https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.3.0/

    • https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.4.0/

• Keyboard layout and language are now obeying Game Mode settings

• Improved windowing behavior for games running in Proton

• Fixed a bug in Desktop Mode causing previously open applications to not be remembered when using the 'Return to Gaming Mode' shortcut to logout

System Firmware

• Includes Steam Deck LCD BIOS v133

  • Security updates

  • Added "Memory Power Down" setup option

  • Preliminary support for hibernation

• Includes Steam Deck OLED BIOS v114

  • Security updates

  • Charging LED now changes color when charge limit is reached, rather than only at 100%

Non-Deck

• Improved compatibility with recent Intel and AMD platforms

• Greatly improved video memory management on discrete GPU platforms

• Fixed a compatibility issue with the SteamOS chainloader that could cause a boot failure on some desktop systems with recent UEFI firmware

• Power button short and long presses now supported across a wide variety of devices

• Improved controller support for OneXPlayer F1 series, GPD Win 5, GPD Win Mini, Anbernic Win600, OrangePi NEO, and Lenovo Legion Go

• Added controller support for OneXPlayer X1 series and Lenovo Legion Go 2

• Added system and controller firmware update support for the Lenovo Legion Go 2

• Added preliminary charge limiting support for Legion Go, Legion Go S, and Legion Go 2 - currently only accessible in Desktop Mode

• Added controller RGB LED color settings for the Lenovo Legion Go 2

• Added controller, TDP control, and speaker audio support for the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally series

• Reduced handheld controller input latency from 5-8ms to 100-500us

• Night mode, color vibrance, and color temperature sliders in Steam now work on Z2E and later AMD APUs

• Seamless boot fixes for Z2E and later AMD APUs

• Automatically handle internally rotated display for some third-party handhelds

• Improved motion control support for handhelds with BMI260 IMUs

• SD card reliability improvements for some third-party handhelds, including ASUS ROG Xbox Ally, Legion Go 1, Legion Go S, Legion Go 2, and MSI Claw

• Fixed washed out colors for Zotac and OneXPlayer handhelds with OLED

• Fixed some GPU hangs on Phoenix APU devices (Tales of Arise, Octopath Traveler II)

• Fixed ASUS ROG Ally power consumption from fingerprint reader while shut down

• Fixed trackpad losing functionality after sleep/resume on the Legion Go

• Fixed spurious wake-ups when using a Logitech Bolt receiver

Developer

• Desktop Mode now uses Wayland by default

  • X11 support may still be selected via Steam developer settings, or via `steamosctl`

• Updated Linux kernel to 6.16

• Steam now uses steamos-manager to query available desktop sessions and trigger desktop session switching

• Added support for setting the desktop password in developer settings

• Initial support for running as a Virtual Machine guest (virtio guest drivers)

• Added support for third-party devices to trigger the SteamOS boot menu via EFI variable

• Added `custom-update` verb to `atomupd-manager` for easier testing of specific builds

• System reports now include more audio debug information

• Initial support for LAVD CPU scheduler via `steamosctl set-cpu-scheduler lavd`

We have just shipped an updated Steam Deck Client to the Preview/Beta channel.

General

• Improved the layout of the pair controller screen on Steam Deck

• Fixed an issue with joystick LEDs not working correctly on Legion Go in some cases

Steam Controller Firmware

• Added support for dimming the LED via settings in Steam

• Reduced internal deadzoning on the lower-range of the triggers

Steam Input

• Added support for dimming the Steam Controller's LED

• Fixed some cases where returning to the "Edit Layout" screen from changing a binding or navigating from the "Preview" layout view could focus the wrong input

• Ship a potential workaround for an issue on Linux where gamepad emulation would break for Steam Controllers

Remote Play

• Fixed doubled input when the Steam Controller is connected via a puck

We have just shipped an updated Steam Deck Client to the Stable channel.

General

• The 'Legacy Steam Runtime' compatibility tool is now an optional standalone download instead of being bundled with the Steam client.

• Fixed an issue where the Steam Workshop would download an older version of an item if there were multiple versions of the item that were marked valid for game beta branch the user opted into.

• Fixed a rare case where the Steam Controller welcome dialog could appear while updating the controller's firmware.

• Fixed a crash related to the Steam Controller.

• Fixed streamable non-Steam games showing in Library when Remote Play is turned off.

• Fixed the "View friends list" link in the Big Picture home page opening the older non-QAM version of the friends list.

• Fixed some startup movies failing to play.

• Fixed option to clear custom backgrounds and logos not showing in library.

Library

• Improved EULA scrolling behavior when using a controller.

Settings

• Updated the layout and styles for client settings across desktop, Big Picture and controller configuration to improve readability and organization.

• Notification settings has been updated to allow changing e-mail, client, and mobile notification preferences in one place.

• Directly navigating to a specific settings page (i.e by activating the network icon in the header) will now focus the first setting in that section instead of the settings navigation menu.

Friends & Chat

• Friend status will now update much more quickly after waking your device from sleep or toggling network connectivity.

Steam Input

• Steam Controller: Minor improvement to gyro micro stutter (ignore clone packets).

• You can turn off "Track Pad locking" - by default each trackpad is disabled while the corresponding joystick is either deflected or the joystick's capacitive sensor has been activated. This is to avoid accidental track pad touches when using a joystick. Find the setting in: Settings->Controller->Details->Calibration & Advanced->Trackpad Lockout.

• Gyro to Joystick Camera: Defaulted Gyro Deadzone Speed and Gyro Precision Speed to 0 to aide tuning the correct Minimum Joystick Output - these settings would swallow the micro movements needed to check the minimum response to gyro movements. Also: added Minimum Joystick Output slider on the Configurator Quick Settings list.

• Added an extra option to Gyro to Joystick Camera - Angle Catchup can be active while gyro ratcheting.

• Fixed Gyro to Joystick Camera timing issue - should appear smoother across all controllers.

• Removed several configuration options from incompatible inputs. Digital Buttons can no longer be set Press types that require Analog input and Gyro can no longer be set to incompatible Radial Menu or Hotbar. These options will still be available for all compatible inputs.

• Fixed detecting the Steam Controller when it is charging on the puck at Steam startup.

• Fixed an issue with doubled input when the Steam Controller is charging on the puck.

• Fixed FlyDigi Vader 5 Pro in enhanced mode on Linux and macOS.

• Fixed "Reset Camera To Horizon" action operating inconsistently in different engines - turn commands chunked into 2 to improve consistency.

• Fixed quick settings Left Trackpad to point to correct settings, instead of toward Gyro.

• Fixed not being able to use Grip Sense to activate Touch Menus.

• Fixed Grip Sense sensor page Grip Range slider, and adjusted explanations.

• Added Grip Sense rumble effect to Grip Sense calibration screen.

• Fixed an issue where Steam Controller grip thresholds were loaded incorrectly in the device calibration screen.

• Fixed an issue preventing the Steam button chord configuration from being edited for the Steam Controller.

Steam Controller Firmware

• Fixes for trackpad 'dead zone' issues experienced by some Steam Controllers.

• Fixed an issue with occasional stutter on the gyro polling rate.

• Fixed IMU failures when using extended rumble.

• Fixed an issue where continuous rumble would sometimes break Gyro input.

Remote Play

• Added an advanced client option to enable microphone streaming.

• Fixed the client disconnecting after a short period of time when doing non-local streaming.

• Fixed the Steam Link app not showing the computer as online after pairing in some cases.

Desktop Mode

• Fixed a case where dropdown windows and profile hover windows could get stuck on screen.

We have just shipped an updated Steam Deck Client to the Preview/Beta channel.

Desktop Mode

• Fixed the size of virtual menus to match Big Picture Mode.

• Fixed regression in FPS counter for a small number of games in this beta.