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Valve Confirms Collaboration With Nvidia to Build SteamOS Nvidia Drivers

The work aims to let SteamOS run on Nvidia-equipped PCs, a change that could expand Linux gaming beyond the Steam Deck.

Overview

  • Valve told reporters this week that its engineers are working directly with Nvidia to develop GPU drivers that will run on SteamOS, a move meant to fix long-standing compatibility gaps for Nvidia cards.
  • The company is also building an easier SteamOS installer and exploring future dual-boot partitioning so users can install SteamOS alongside or instead of other operating systems.
  • Valve shipped SteamOS 3.8.10 with targeted compatibility updates for Intel and AMD platforms, including support aimed at upcoming Intel-powered handhelds.
  • Valve and coverage caution that Nvidia support is a multi-party engineering task and an initial SteamOS Nvidia driver is not expected soon and may not arrive by the end of 2026.
  • Nvidia’s historically proprietary Linux drivers have complicated cross-distribution support, though recent Nvidia hires and Linux-facing moves such as GeForce Now support could help long-term adoption and give PC gamers more freedom to choose SteamOS over Windows.