Valve made clear SteamOS was coming to more devices when it started taking Steam Machine orders, and now it's clear just how broad that support will be. The company has confirmed discussions with Intel and Nvidia to expand support for its Linux-based platform beyond AMD hardware.
The companies haven't said how far along they are in statements to The Verge. However, the newly released SteamOS 3.8 adds "initial firmware for upcoming Intel handhelds" as well as controller support for Intel-powered MSI Claw systems. Users have already had success using SteamOS with an Intel Arc B580 GPU, but only with major workarounds.
In its current form, 3.8 allows installations on non-Valve hardware only when AMD CPUs and GPUs are involved. While that makes it possible to custom-build a SteamOS PC, it limits choices and rules out handhelds.
Formal support for Intel and Nvidia components would effectively allow anyone to build a Steam Machine alternative. It's also necessary if there are to be any SteamOS gaming handhelds using Intel's new Arc G3 chips. The first wave of G3 handhelds, such as the MSI Claw EX AI+ and Acer Predator Atlas 8, are running Windows.
When can I build my own SteamOS PC with Intel and Nvidia parts?
It will take a while before the software is truly ready
If you're waiting on an official, reliably supported way to install SteamOS using Intel and Nvidia hardware, you might have to wait some time. While you can certainly run Linux distros like Bazzite today, companies will still need firmware, drivers, and compatibility checks to make sure their components work well with Valve software.
The focus on Intel handheld support in SteamOS 3.8 suggests that full do-it-yourself support isn't imminent. That's not surprising — it's easier to support a narrow set of hardware like the Arc G3 line than a wide range of processors and graphics cards.
Even so, the talks with Intel and Nvidia are promising if you can't justify paying at least $1,049 for a Steam Machine. Ideally, it will be straightforward to repurpose an existing PC or build a custom SteamOS computer that fits your budget.