⨯ Did you know we have a Forum? Come and say hi to the wider community!

SteamOS 0.3.0 for Steam Frame released

| Last updated: 18 Sep 2026 at 8:24 am UTC
By

Valve are now beginning to announce SteamOS updates for the Steam Frame, with the first public notification being SteamOS 0.3.0 for Steam Frame.

We're about to see a lot more updates for SteamOS, SteamVR and from game developers now the Steam Frame is about to begin shipping. Sadly, GamingOnLinux got hit with the waitlist, so no review from us any time soon. You can join our waitlist post in the forum. When I eventually get one, I'll hopefully get some interesting and useful guides up.

All the changes noted are below.

SteamOS 0.3.0 for Steam Frame

General

  • Substantially faster charging while unit is off / sleeping.
  • Improved controller tracking while haptics are active.
  • Improved system stability and reliability under high load.
  • Fixed "garbled audio" microphone bug.

UX

  • Fixed per-app Motion Smoothing -> "Force Always-On" setting (was getting ignored).
  • Improved motion smoothing behavior in Alyx.
  • Added VR Settings control for "Game dimming when dashboard is visible".
  • VR Settings -> Play Area no longer auto-shows bounds.

Developer

  • Change Playable performance criteria to allow any resolution (was: 1440p).
  • Vulkan layer fixes for increased game compatibility.
  • Multiple improvements to overall system / OS performance.
  • Multiple improvements to graphics performance (Mesa).

Valve also released a new Getting Started page for all Steam Hardware which has a number of videos bundled at the top for the Steam Frame.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
18 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
See more from me
All posts need to follow our rules. Please hit the Report Flag icon on any post that breaks the rules or contains illegal / harmful content. Readers can also email us for any issues or concerns.
26 comments
Page: 1/2
  Go to:
Racer 18 Sep 2026
I also got hit by the waitlist mail :(, I went for the 256GB version, which is probably the most popular version. Since it advocates to both the streamers and the standaloners on a budget.
The only good thing about not being first in line, is that I'm gonna get a more polished experince.

I would have loved for valve to make like a simple queue system and/or atleast a site showing anticipated delivery date.
Also I'm really curious on how many users was in the raffle and how many units they had ready for shipment across the regions.

Looks like a nice update, specially the charging, which I thought was a hardware limitation.

I do wonder why they didn't make two-three cheaper versions.

1)
One with 4GB ram and 32GB ssd for the streamers

2)
One with 16GB ram and 128GB ssd

3)
One with 16GB 32GB expandable with sdcard
tfk 18 Sep 2026
User Avatar
So the waiting list is different from the reservation queue?
Liam Squires-Hand 18 Sep 2026
Quoting: tfkSo the waiting list is different from the reservation queue?
Yes.

Reservation - a unit will be available to purchase.
Waitlist - you have to wait for one.
Corben 18 Sep 2026
Waitlist -.-
Lamp 18 Sep 2026
User Avatar
Something that I hope we will get from SteamOS nativly on arm architecture is people grabbing it and making new distros for many other popular arm based retro gaming devices, or even shoehorning steamos onto other arm powered standalone vr headsets.

Hopes and dreams.
tfk 18 Sep 2026
User Avatar
Quoting: Liam Squires-Hand
Quoting: tfkSo the waiting list is different from the reservation queue?
Yes.

Reservation - a unit will be available to purchase.
Waitlist - you have to wait for one.
Ow. I thought I was on a wait list.
Racer 18 Sep 2026
@tfk What region are you located in and which version did you sign up for?
you'll get an email in a couple of days with a purchase link and 72hours timelimit.

@lamp yeah one could hope, if one company is capable of doing that, then I would bet on Valve, I really hope that linux gets more mainstream, and I think we're ready for it, the biggest obstacle for me to get my friends convinced to ditch windows is anticheat for bf6, and in the case of my kids, it is them playing roblox and fortnite.
tfk 18 Sep 2026
User Avatar
Quoting: Racer@tfk What region are you located in and which version did you sign up for?
you'll get an email in a couple of days with a purchase link and 72hours timelimit.
@Racer I'm a Dutchy. I went for the 1TB kit. Both are expensive, I found the original expensive and too old. I see this as a one time purchase so I figured that going for the 1TB was the better option. Now waiting for my payday. If timing is a bit on my side, this may work.
Termy 18 Sep 2026
I actually got on the reservation list, but i almost wished it was the waitlist - i'm still not sure, if i'm willing to splodge out 1119€ (i mean, the accessory kit is basically mandatory...) on it though.

Are there any news regarding streaming from linux? Last i heard, that currently doesn´t work yet, but i never saw any timeline?
kon14 18 Sep 2026
User Avatar
Quoting: LampSomething that I hope we will get from SteamOS nativly on arm architecture is people grabbing it and making new distros for many other popular arm based retro gaming devices.
That's already been happening though.
Check out Armada (External Link: You need to be logged in to view this.).
There's been a bunch of YouTubers showcasing it recently too.
Racer 18 Sep 2026
Quoting: tfk
Quoting: Racer@tfk What region are you located in and which version did you sign up for?
you'll get an email in a couple of days with a purchase link and 72hours timelimit.
@Racer I'm a Dutchy. I went for the 1TB kit. Both are expensive, I found the original expensive and too old. I see this as a one time purchase so I figured that going for the 1TB was the better option. Now waiting for my payday. If timing is a bit on my side, this may work.
According to gemini, for the steam machine, the raffle ended june 25th and the purchase email was sent out june 29th and then people had 72hours to buy it.
So if the same time frame applies to the steam frame, I would guess that you would receive the email monday or tuesday, and that is probably a stretch if your payday is the 29th. but I'm corssing my fingers for you :) Please keep us posted if you do end up getting it :)
tfk 18 Sep 2026
User Avatar
Quoting: Racer
Quoting: tfk
Quoting: Racer@tfk What region are you located in and which version did you sign up for?
you'll get an email in a couple of days with a purchase link and 72hours timelimit.
@Racer I'm a Dutchy. I went for the 1TB kit. Both are expensive, I found the original expensive and too old. I see this as a one time purchase so I figured that going for the 1TB was the better option. Now waiting for my payday. If timing is a bit on my side, this may work.
According to gemini, for the steam machine, the raffle ended june 25th and the purchase email was sent out june 29th and then people had 72hours to buy it.
So if the same time frame applies to the steam frame, I would guess that you would receive the email monday or tuesday, and that is probably a stretch if your payday is the 29th. but I'm corssing my fingers for you :) Please keep us posted if you do end up getting it :)
Payday will be the 25th. Its going to be close...
scaine 18 Sep 2026
User Avatar
Quoting: TermyI actually got on the reservation list, but i almost wished it was the waitlist - i'm still not sure, if i'm willing to splodge out 1119€ (i mean, the accessory kit is basically mandatory...) on it though.

Are there any news regarding streaming from linux? Last i heard, that currently doesn´t work yet, but i never saw any timeline?
I asked the same question in the Steam Frame Waiting Room and Liam responded with what he knew.

https://www.gamingonlinux.com/forum/topic/6706/post_id=45560

TLDR: it's GameScope that interferes with streaming and since the Steam Machine uses that exclusively, that's why it can't stream. Desktop Linux users should be fine (unless they, too, are using GameScope).
scaine 18 Sep 2026
User Avatar
Quoting: RacerSo if the same time frame applies to the steam frame, I would guess that you would receive the email monday or tuesday, and that is probably a stretch if your payday is the 29th.
A time frame for the Stream Frame? That's a Frame time frame.

Sidenote: have you ever experienced that thing where you see or use a word so much it somehow loses meaning? That's what's happened to me for the word "frame". I keep having to check my spelling of it, because I can't... interpret it normally anymore.
drucifer 18 Sep 2026
User Avatar
Hopefully the price won't increase before we all get through the waitlist queue.
Racer 18 Sep 2026
Quoting: scaine
Quoting: RacerSo if the same time frame applies to the steam frame, I would guess that you would receive the email monday or tuesday, and that is probably a stretch if your payday is the 29th.
A time frame for the Stream Frame? That's a Frame time frame.

Sidenote: have you ever experienced that thing where you see or use a word so much it somehow loses meaning? That's what's happened to me for the word "frame". I keep having to check my spelling of it, because I can't... interpret it normally anymore.
I can't think of a situation where I have overused a word, but the pun was very indeed intended :)

For years I really wanted a Quest 3, I just didn't like to give up on my privacy and I would use it to stream from a pc, so when the Steam Frame was announced I was hyped, but time passed and I completely forgot about the Steam Frame for months. But then shortcircuit leaked that handson video, I knew I had to check it out, and even if Valve is a huge company with a lot of dough, I do really want to support them, since they helped our linux gaming community.

There used to be so little gaming we could do in linux, that we spent time on desktop effects like 3D cube :P
R3BiRtH 18 Sep 2026
User Avatar
Quoting: scaine
Quoting: TermyI actually got on the reservation list, but i almost wished it was the waitlist - i'm still not sure, if i'm willing to splodge out 1119€ (i mean, the accessory kit is basically mandatory...) on it though.

Are there any news regarding streaming from linux? Last i heard, that currently doesn´t work yet, but i never saw any timeline?
I asked the same question in the Steam Frame Waiting Room and Liam responded with what he knew.

https://www.gamingonlinux.com/forum/topic/6706/post_id=45560

TLDR: it's GameScope that interferes with streaming and since the Steam Machine uses that exclusively, that's why it can't stream. Desktop Linux users should be fine (unless they, too, are using GameScope).
On my system I end up using ENABLE_GAMESCOE_WSI=0 %command% in the game properties to enable streaming on discord from the gaming session. At the same time that's discord and not other stuff, haven't gotten around to seeing if it works for other things.
CookieShinx 18 Sep 2026
Quoting: TermyI actually got on the reservation list, but i almost wished it was the waitlist - ...
Same, got on the reservation list but don't have the money rn :(
Forge 18 Sep 2026
User Avatar
Quoting: Racer
Quoting: tfk
Quoting: Racer@tfk What region are you located in and which version did you sign up for?
you'll get an email in a couple of days with a purchase link and 72hours timelimit.
@Racer I'm a Dutchy. I went for the 1TB kit. Both are expensive, I found the original expensive and too old. I see this as a one time purchase so I figured that going for the 1TB was the better option. Now waiting for my payday. If timing is a bit on my side, this may work.
According to gemini, for the steam machine, the raffle ended june 25th and the purchase email was sent out june 29th and then people had 72hours to buy it.
So if the same time frame applies to the steam frame, I would guess that you would receive the email monday or tuesday, and that is probably a stretch if your payday is the 29th. but I'm corssing my fingers for you :) Please keep us posted if you do end up getting it :)
Your timeline is correct, but only for the first batch shipped. Steam Machine purchase notifications have been going out to the reservation list ever since, I believe they are still ongoing.

Being on the Frame reservation list means you *will* get the opportunity to buy a Frame. It does *not* mean you will be getting the opportunity next week, in September, or even in 2026. You get your three days when you get your email. That's all.
Racer 18 Sep 2026
I'm well aware, I only spoke of tks chances of getting the device on his payday :)

But since english isn't my native language, I would like to thank you, for taking your time to read through my post and clear up any of my chibberish :)
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon Logo Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal Logo PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
Login / Register