One of the most thrilling announcements to emerge from CES 2025 is Valve's plan to extend the capabilities of its superior SteamOS to third-party handheld gaming devices. This expansion marks a significant milestone for the gaming community, as it allows other manufacturers to harness the power of SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system specifically designed for handheld gaming.
The first third-party handheld to adopt SteamOS is the Legion Go S, which is now available for pre-order. However, it comes with a price tag that is $50 higher than what Lenovo initially announced. On Friday, Lenovo officially opened pre-orders for the Legion Go S at Best Buy, with an anticipated release date of May 25.
The pricing for the Legion Go S starts at $549.99 for the baseline model, which features an impressive 8-inch, 120Hz OLED display, 500GB of storage, 16GB of RAM, and is powered by the AMD Ryzen Z2 Go chip. For gamers looking for a more robust experience, there is an upgraded version available for $749, boasting 1TB of storage, 32GB of RAM, and the powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor found in the flagship Lenovo Legion Go.
Both models of the Legion Go S come pre-loaded with SteamOS, which many gamers argue outperforms Windows 11 in the handheld gaming arena. Windows 11, while popular for PCs, is not optimized for handheld devices, leading to difficulties with controller inputs and frustrating user interface navigation on smaller screens. In contrast, SteamOS is tailored for a seamless gaming experience, making it a superior choice for handheld gaming enthusiasts.
Despite the starting price of $549.99 being nearly $200 less than the existing Windows-powered Legion Go S model, some gamers may be disappointed. This is particularly true since Lenovo had previously announced in January that the SteamOS version would start at just $499. For the same price as the Legion Go S, gamers could opt for the Steam Deck OLED, which offers a more vibrant display, a lighter design, faster Wi-Fi, and enhanced cooling compared to its predecessor.
While the $50 price increase has raised some eyebrows, it is unlikely to deter gamers eager to experience one of the best Steam Deck alternatives. The excitement surrounding the Legion Go S reflects the growing interest in handheld gaming devices that utilize SteamOS, and this release represents a significant step forward for Valve's operating system.
Moreover, the Legion Go S is not the only third-party handheld set to feature SteamOS this year. Valve has confirmed that its operating system will also be available for the Asus ROG Ally. Pierre-Loup Griffais, a lead designer of SteamOS and the Steam Deck, shared with The Verge at CES 2025 that a beta version for the Asus ROG Ally will be released sometime after March, further expanding the reach and capabilities of SteamOS in the handheld gaming market.
As the landscape of handheld gaming continues to evolve, the integration of SteamOS into third-party devices like the Legion Go S and Asus ROG Ally promises to enhance the gaming experience for players around the world.
