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SteamOS

A new SteamOS Beta Update has been released a couple of hours ago, and while it fixes some really great bugs, it also marks the beginning of SteamOS 3.6 coming to the stable branch on Steam Deck! For the bugs, we have some display regressions fixed, like where frame limit wouldn't apply properly, and some issues that could cause filesystem corruption on the 64GB Steam Deck and an inserted SD card wouldn't be detected on cold boot.

But the biggest news is easily that this update marks the beginning of the move to SteamOS 3.6 coming to the stable branch! In a post on Twitter/X, Pierre-Loup Griffais announced the update, and mentions that this is the first release candidate to bring 3.6 to stable:

While this doesn't mean it will be coming immediately, it marks the start of the move and that we will be seeing it happening sooner rather than later. This is great, and it means we could be seeing the updated graphics driver, support for HDMI CEC features, overclocking controls, Mura Compensation, and more all added in soon.

You can try out this SteamOS beta update by swapping to the Beta or Preview branch of your Steam Deck Update Channel in System Settings.

SteamOS 3.6.12 Beta Update Changelog:

General

  • Fixed a rare 3.6 issue that could cause filesystem corruption on Steam Deck 64GB
  • Fixed a 3.6 regression where an already-inserted SD card would not always be detected on cold boot and would require re-insertion
  • Fixed an issue where updates would could sometimes be applied incorrectly if the unit was powered off abruptly near the end of an OS update
  • Fixed an issue with copy-pasting UTF-8 text across applications

Display

  • Improved frame pacing with VRR on external displays
  • Fixed an issue where internal display could be abnormally limited to a lower frame rate after disconnecting an external display with VRR enabled
  • Fixed a 3.6 regression where the screen would be blank during part of the boot sequence
  • Fixed a 3.6 regression where the frame limit would not apply properly in specific conditions

Developer

  • Split package reinstallation step out of `steamos-devmode` command and into new `steamos-unminimize` command. `steamos-devmode` now simply enters read-write mode and initializes the pacman keyring for use, and is much quicker.

If you enjoyed this article, check out the rest of the content on SteamDeckHQ! We have a wide variety of game reviews and news that will help your gaming experience. Whether you're looking for news, tips and tutorials, game settings and reviews, or just want to stay up-to-date on the latest trends, we've got you covered!

Noah Kupetsky
A lover of gaming since 4, Noah has grown up with a love and passion for the industry. From there, he started to travel a lot and develop a joy for handheld and PC gaming. When the Steam Deck released, it just all clicked.
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