Is SteamOS Linux?

For years, Steam has been the go-to platform for PC gaming, but with the rise of the Steam Deck, another question has come to the forefront: is SteamOS Linux? The short answer is yes, but there’s more nuance behind that. SteamOS is Valve’s custom operating system, and while it is built on Linux, it is designed and packaged in a way that feels very different from what most people imagine when they think of a traditional Linux distribution.

Is SteamOS really a Linux distro?

Yes, SteamOS is a Linux distribution, but it is customized and optimized specifically for gaming.

SteamOS is indeed a Linux distribution, but it is not a general-purpose one like Ubuntu, Fedora, or Arch. Earlier iterations were based on Debian and later versions have leaned on Arch for more flexibility, but everything about it is designed with gaming as the main focus. This means the desktop environment, the drivers, and the underlying system tools have been chosen to prioritize performance and compatibility for running games.

Most Linux distributions are created with broad use cases in mind, from servers to desktops to development environments. SteamOS narrows that focus and optimizes for gaming. It still has Linux under the hood, and advanced users can access a more traditional desktop mode, but for the majority of players it feels more like a console experience than a typical Linux desktop. In this sense, SteamOS stretches the limit of what a Linux distro can be, turning it into something both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

Why did Steam decide to use Linux?

Steam chose Linux to avoid reliance on Windows and to create an open, flexible platform for gaming.

Valve’s choice to use Linux was not accidental. For years, the PC gaming world was dominated by Windows, with most major titles built only for Microsoft’s platform. This reliance on Windows meant Valve’s future was tied closely to Microsoft’s decisions, from licensing rules to technical requirements. By moving to Linux, Valve created an independent foundation that gave them more control over the platform their games would run on.

Linux also offered flexibility that proprietary systems could not. Valve could modify the kernel, integrate new features, and fine-tune drivers to meet the needs of modern games and hardware without waiting for another company to approve changes. Beyond that, the rise of Proton – Valve’s compatibility layer based on Wine – allowed Windows games to run on Linux with surprising ease. This was the breakthrough that made Linux a viable option for a mainstream gaming system, since it meant players were not limited to a small set of native Linux titles but could access much of their existing Steam library.

SteamOS devices versus Windows devices

SteamOS devices are built around Linux, while Windows devices rely on Microsoft’s ecosystem. The Lenovo Legion Go S makes this distinction clear by offering two paths on the exact same hardware.

The SteamOS version is designed for seamless integration with Steam’s library and the growing catalog of Linux-compatible titles. It benefits from Proton, Valve’s compatibility layer, which allows many Windows games to run smoothly without needing a copy of Windows. This makes the SteamOS edition a strong choice for players who primarily use Steam and want an experience that feels tailored for gaming from the start without the overly excessive resource usage of the Windows OS.