Slow integration
Valve's Steam Deck now allows Windows installation
In addition to SteamOS, which arrives as the preconfigured OS with the delivery of each device, Steam Deck will allow other operating systems to be installed.
Valve has made official the drivers required to install Windows on Steam Deck. Valve's new device, a computer in the form of a portable console, will arrive preconfigured with SteamOS. However, apart from this optimized operating system, it will also be possible to install other third-party operating systems. Windows was one of the main requests and no obstacles will be put in place to achieve the best possible performance.
Steam Deck features dual boot to choose an operating system
The dual boot nature has existed for years in many portable devices, giving the device versatility for different uses or preferences. In this case, Steam Deck has not been released with this feature, but the dual boot will arrive later on.
“For now you can only perform a full Windows install. While Steam Deck is fully capable of dual-boot, the SteamOS installer that provides a dual-boot wizard isn't ready yet,” mentions Valve.
Steam Deck welcomes Windows slowly: step by step
The community will be the one to lighten these steps and, as recently announced, it is already possible to install Windows 10. Looking ahead, installing Windows 11 would require a new fTPM-compatible BIOS, which will take some time. Valve and AMD are already working on this possibility.
It should also be noted that the sound driver is not ready at the moment. This means that, if we install Windows on Steam Deck, the speakers and audio output via 3.5mm jack will not provide any sound. The only alternative is to resort to the Bluetooth or USB-C protocol until the appropriate driver is released.
Steam Deck's integration with Windows will not be completed overnight. It is a device whose community will grow and evolve over time, although Valve is providing all the necessary tools to facilitate this horizon of possibilities.
Want to know if you games are compatible with Steam Deck? Follow this guide.
Source | Valve