Valve has rolled out SteamOS 3.8.10, a substantial update for Steam Deck and other SteamOS-compatible devices. This release focuses on performance, stability, compatibility, and hardware support, bringing notable improvements for gamers. Key highlights include a new graphics driver, enhanced VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) capabilities, and reduced input latency. Additionally, the update addresses specific game issues, overhauls the system’s audio, and improves connectivity.
This comprehensive update also expands support for more gaming laptops and resolves several daily usability bugs across both Gaming Mode and Desktop Mode. With a total of 79 changes, Valve continues its tradition of extensive updates. Here are the most significant improvements:
SteamOS 3.8.10: Key Changes in Valve’s Latest OS Version
A major advancement is the introduction of a new graphics driver offering performance and stability enhancements. Valve has also fine-tuned VRR behavior with improved frame pacing, fixed issues with the Allow Tearing option, and introduced preliminary support for HDMI VRR on devices with native HDMI output.
Related to performance, the update corrects problems where FPS limits weren’t applied correctly when scaling from higher resolutions, and game-specific performance settings that sometimes failed to activate upon launching a title.
A significant focus is on game compatibility, crucial for portable consoles. SteamOS 3.8.10 includes fixes for titles such as STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor, Starfield, SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide, Forza Horizon 6, Tales of Arise, and Octopath Traveler II.
Furthermore, fixes have been implemented for dropdown menus that were not appearing in some games, and necessary graphical functions have been added for titles like Crimson Desert. Input latency for controllers has seen a dramatic improvement on compatible laptops, reducing it from 5-8 ms to a range of 100-500 μs.
System, Connectivity, and Audio Enhancements
For the Steam Deck LCD, Valve has implemented BIOS v133 with security updates, the Memory Power Down option, and preliminary hibernation support. The Steam Deck OLED receives BIOS v114, also with security updates and changes to the charging LED behavior. Both of these features were highly anticipated and are now officially available.
On the software front, SteamOS accelerates future system updates on fast connections, improves game capture and streaming in Gaming Mode with better OBS and Discord support, and resolves issues with Remote Play. The Desktop Mode has been updated to KDE Plasma 6.4.3. While not the absolute latest version, it defaults to Wayland and enhances support for external HDR, VRR displays, screen rotation, and independent scaling.
Connectivity and audio have also seen considerable improvements. Valve has fixed WiFi performance degradations, which will enhance streaming and online gameplay. Audio over HDMI is improved with better channel and surround sound detection, the option to use Bluetooth headset microphones has been added, audio problems after suspension and resume are reduced, and Bluetooth Wake has been restored on Steam Deck LCD.
The tenth key area of improvement is expanded support for gaming consoles beyond the Steam Deck. SteamOS 3.8.10 enhances compatibility with recent AMD and Intel platforms, expands functionality on devices like the Lenovo Legion Go 2, ASUS ROG Xbox Ally, MSI Claw, and various recently released OneXPlayer models. It also improves video memory management, SD card reliability, and controller/firmware support across multiple devices. An additional 69 improvements are detailed on the company’s official website, some of which are quite noteworthy.
