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SteamOS 3.7.0

Valve just released the next huge update for SteamOS into the preview branch for testing before heading to the Beta and Stable branches for everyone! SteamOS 3.7.0 is a massive one, and updates a lot of the operating system's core components, new controller support, and the beginnings of support for non-Steam Deck handhelds.

The biggest parts of the update are right at the top, with a new Arch Linux base, updated Linux Kernel, and updates to the graphics driver. The graphics driver update is especially great to see because that can include some nice performance enhancements and fixes for some of the newest games. There's only so much it can do, due to the Deck's limited hardware capabilities, but it's still awesome.

SteamOS370

The biggest visible change will most likely be everything Desktop related. KDE Plasma has been updated to 6.2.5, which includes some big changes to the Desktop mode. There are new Overview effects, The Cube Effect has returned, partial HDR support, new wallpapers, overhauled looks for some default programs, reorganized settings, Plasma Search is faster and you can customize how search results are ordered, and much more. We also get KDE Filelight installed by default, which can be used to find out what is taking up so much space on your Deck, and swapping between Desktop and Game mode is faster.

But that's not all! Surround Sound is now working perfectly, but it is restricted to Desktop Mode. Bluetooth controllers can now wake up Steam Deck LCD units from sleep, the battery level display for Bluetooth device is now supported, there is support for the Proteus Byowave controller, and we have AMD P-State CPU Frequency control. And yes, with this SteamOS update, we officially have the beginning of support for handhelds outside of the Steam Deck, most likely starting with the Lenovo Legion Go S.

You can download the update yourself in the System Settings on the Steam Deck. Make sure your update channel is set to Preview. With this coming, we will most likely see SteamOS 3.7.0 rolled out into stable within a month, which is extremely exciting!

SteamOS 3.7.0 Preview Update Changelog:

General

  • Updated to a newer Arch Linux base
  • Updated the Linux kernel to 6.11
  • Updated the Mesa graphics driver base
  • Desktop mode now ships with Plasma 6.2.5
  • Beginnings of support for non-Steam Deck handhelds

Controllers and Input

  • Add support for the Proteus Byowave controller
  • Fixed an issue where Switch Pro Controller gyros might not work on first connection
  • Fixed an issue with stuck/hanging controller inputs when exiting Steam

Bluetooth

  • Fixed Bluetooth devices still being able to wake the Steam Deck from suspend, even when Bluetooth was disabled from Desktop mode
  • Enable HFP/HSP profiles, to allow using the integrated microphone from headsets and earbuds
    • Currently only available to select in Desktop mode
  • Added battery level display for supported Bluetooth devices
  • Include a bugfix for the Airpods when using the AAC codec
  • Bluetooth controllers can now wake LCD units from sleep, previously only available on OLED models
    • Known issue: Bluetooth LE based controllers are not currently compatible with bluetooth wake on LCD models

Steam Deck Dock

  • Made compatibility improvements for certain displays including TCL FireTV models and Dell VRR capable monitors

Graphics and Performance

  • Enabled AMD P-State CPU frequency control
  • Fixed a performance regression for No Rest for the Wicked

Desktop

  • Updated to Plasma 6.2.5 (previously 5.27.10) - see the big changes in Plasma 6 here
  • Surround sound now works correctly
    • Enabling the setting is currently only available via Desktop mode
  • KDE Filelight is now installed by default for disk usage visualization and low disk space notifications
  • Speed and robustness improvements when switching between desktop and game mode
    • Fixed a common cause of hangs when switching to desktop mode
    • Fixed some cases where Steam could take up to ninety seconds to exit on shutdown or switch to desktop
  • Added 'gocryptfs' support to desktop session to enable use of the Plasma Vaults feature

Misc

  • Fixed some cases where "filter-chain" or other virtual sound devices would erroneously appear in the UI
  • Fixed cases where applying system updates could fail if certain configuration files were corrupted or malformed
  • Various enhancements to System Report functionality for support and troubleshooting
  • Fixed compatibility issue with certain DNS servers causing very slow domain lookups
  • Improved responsiveness of system when running into out-of-memory crash situations
  • Enabled IPv6 Privacy Extensions by default

Known Issues

  • Creative Zen Air Pro earbuds display an unexpected all-zeros entry under the "Show all devices" section when pairing
  • Super NES controllers can erroneously show up as connected when they are not
  • DualShock 3 controllers are currently not able to be paired or used

Developer

  • Updated to a 6.11 based kernel
  • Added debuginfod URLs for SteamOS
  • Added systemd .socket units to the default list of /etc files preserved across updates
  • When running in a VM, system will now default to the desktop session
  • Swap file setup now uses standard 'mkswap' functionality instead of shipping an ad-hoc 'mkswapfile' script
  • The steamos-readonly command now warns that the status might not be accurate when sysexts are loaded
  • Fixed a case that could introduce duplicate boot entries for devices manually setup to dual-boot
  • The pacman cache is now cleaned after applying a SteamOS update
    • Fixes stale cache errors working with pacman after switching branches

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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