Bringing some big changes down from Preview, SteamOS 3.7.5 for Steam Deck now in Beta as Valve work towards getting it in the stable release for all Steam Deck players and then eventually the public SteamOS release for more hardware. This is still only supported on Steam Deck for now.
The initial Preview release came March 14th, and this rolls up the major changes there and the few point releases after into one release for the Beta. There's lots of really good stuff here from a major bump in the Linux kernel, to graphics driver updates, a big upgrade to the KDE Plasma Desktop Mode, support for the LCD Steam Deck to wake from Bluetooth controllers, lots of bug fixes and so on.
Since this is in Beta, you need to still opt into it. To do so go into Settings (STEAM button) -> System and select Beta from the System Update Channel.
Here's all the changes:
General
- Updated to a newer Arch Linux base
- Updated the Linux kernel to 6.11
- Updated the Mesa graphics driver base
- Desktop mode now ships with Plasma 6.2.5
- Beginnings of support for non-Steam Deck handhelds
- Added support for frame limiting with VRR displays (internal and external)
- Fixed a crash when no displays are connected
- Added support for the power button on Asus and Lenovo handhelds
- Improved input support for Asus and Lenovo handhelds
Controllers and Input
- Add support for the Proteus Byowave controller.
- Fixed an issue where Switch Pro Controller gyros might not work on first connection.
- Fixed an issue with stuck/hanging controller inputs when exiting Steam.
Bluetooth
- Fixed Bluetooth devices still being able to wake the Steam Deck from suspend, even when Bluetooth was disabled from Desktop mode.
- Enable HFP/HSP profiles, to allow using the integrated microphone from headsets and earbuds.
- Currently only available to select in Desktop mode.
- Added battery level display for supported Bluetooth devices.
- Include a bugfix for the Airpods when using the AAC codec.
- Bluetooth controllers can now wake LCD units from sleep, previously only available on OLED models.
- Known issue: Bluetooth LE based controllers are not currently compatible with bluetooth wake on LCD models.
Steam Deck Dock
- Made compatibility improvements for certain displays including TCL FireTV models and Dell VRR capable monitors.
Graphics and Performance
- Enabled AMD P-State CPU frequency control.
- Fixed a performance regression for No Rest for the Wicked.
Desktop
- Updated to Plasma 6.2.5 (previously 5.27.10) - see the big changes in Plasma 6 here.
- Surround sound now works correctly.
- Enabling the setting is currently only available via Desktop mode.
- KDE Filelight is now installed by default for disk usage visualization and low disk space notifications.
- Speed and robustness improvements when switching between desktop and game mode.
- Fixed a common cause of hangs when switching to desktop mode.
- Fixed some cases where Steam could take up to ninety seconds to exit on shutdown or switch to desktop.
- Added 'gocryptfs' support to desktop session to enable use of the Plasma Vaults feature.
Misc
- Fixed some cases where "filter-chain" or other virtual sound devices would erroneously appear in the UI.
- Fixed cases where applying system updates could fail if certain configuration files were corrupted or malformed.
- Various enhancements to System Report functionality for support and troubleshooting.
- Fixed compatibility issue with certain DNS servers causing very slow domain lookups.
- Improved responsiveness of system when running into out-of-memory crash situations.
- Enabled IPv6 Privacy Extensions by default.
- Fixed a bootloader crash on certain non-Steam Deck devices, including qemu-based virtual machines.
Known Issues
- Super NES controllers can erroneously show up as connected when they are not.
Developer
- Updated to a 6.11 based kernel.
- Added debuginfod URLs for SteamOS.
- Added systemd .socket units to the default list of /etc files preserved across updates.
- When running in a VM, system will now default to the desktop session.
- Swap file setup now uses standard 'mkswap' functionality instead of shipping an ad-hoc 'mkswapfile' script.
- The steamos-readonly command now warns that the status might not be accurate when sysexts are loaded.
- Fixed a case that could introduce duplicate boot entries for devices manually setup to dual-boot.
- The pacman cache is now cleaned after applying a SteamOS update.
- Fixes stale cache errors working with pacman after switching branches.
Source: Valve
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
You can also find comments for this article on social media: Mastodon
All posts need to follow our rules. For users logged in: please hit the Report Flag icon on any post that breaks the rules or contains illegal / harmful content. Guest readers can email us for any issues.
Zlopez 14 hours ago
I'm especially interested in this
As I'm using my Steam Deck as console connected to TV, it would be more convenient for me to be able to wake it up by Gamepad.
Bluetooth controllers can now wake LCD units from sleep, previously only available on OLED models.
As I'm using my Steam Deck as console connected to TV, it would be more convenient for me to be able to wake it up by Gamepad.
0 Likes
Liam Dawe 14 hours ago
It's a shame we can't do that with the 2.4Ghz controllers like 8bitdo, now that would be freaking sweet.
3 Likes
Pyretic 13 hours ago
I feel like making this work with 2.4GHz controllers shouldn't be too difficult, now that Bluetooth controllers can do it too, right?
0 Likes
Oh man, I almost can't believe we are finally getting "wake over Bluetooth" on the LCD models. I was resigned to never getting that on this hardware iteration. I primarily use my Steam Deck plugged into the TV.
I still say the revolution we need is to move consoles (and set-top boxes and Blu-Ray players and whatever else) to the couch. It's so silly that any interaction with a console requires me to get up from the couch. Put the gear where it's convenient to use forever, and solve the problem of connecting it all to the TV once.
I still say the revolution we need is to move consoles (and set-top boxes and Blu-Ray players and whatever else) to the couch. It's so silly that any interaction with a console requires me to get up from the couch. Put the gear where it's convenient to use forever, and solve the problem of connecting it all to the TV once.
1 Likes
Patreon
PayPal
How to set, change and reset your SteamOS / Steam Deck desktop sudo password
How to set up Decky Loader on Steam Deck / SteamOS for easy plugins
See more from me