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| SteamOS Latest Version |
SteamOS has been on everyone's lips long before the introduction of the new Steam Machine. The gaming distribution is also a real alternative to Windows 11 on gaming PCs, and we'll show you how to always get the latest version
Not only since the presentation of the new Steam Machine, SteamOS, which is also used on the Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED, has been on everyone's lips. The gaming operating system, which is completely optimized for the use of Steam, is also a real alternative to Windows 11 for gaming PCs and we will show you how you can easily install it on your system. SteamOS basically runs absolutely smoothly on any PC that has a CPU and GPU from AMD.
The extensive optimizations of Proton to the Mesa graphics stack and its Vulkan graphics driver are decisive for the fact that the choice should at best fall on an AMD Ryzen with Zen 4 ("Persephone") or Zen 5 ("Nirvana") and a Radeon RX with RDNA 3 ("GFX11") or RDNA 4 ("GFX12"). But the system image officially provided by Valve, the so-called "image" of SteamOS, which is required for the installation, is basically quite outdated and currently dates to version 3.7.7. This can lead to quite unpleasant problems, especially on the latest hardware components.
As mentioned at the beginning, the official system image of SteamOS 3.7 is currently available in version 3.7.7, which is dated May 21, 2025. As a result, unlike the latest stable version 3.7.17 of November 6, 2025 or the developer version 3.9.0 of November 12, there is no support for the latest hardware such as Radeon graphics cards based on the RDNA-4 architecture. In order to avoid this circumstance and not to have to deal with lengthy updates later, players should resort to a new build.
How to install SteamOS in the latest version
While the system image is referred to on the official support website as the "Repair Image" for SteamOS installation and repair and is not up-to-date, Valve also offers the latest stable version 3.7.17 and the latest developer version 3.9.0 for download. The editors of PCGH will provide you with regular links to the latest versions in the future. The current versions and builds of SteamOS 3.x are the following:
| Version | Release Date | Release Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteamOS | 3.7.17 | November 6, 2025 | Link |
| SteamOS Beta | 3.7.19 | November 25, 2025 | Link |
| SteamOS Developer | 3.9.0 | December 5, 2025 | -* |
Valve does not provide release notes on Steam for developer versions.
But how do gamers get the latest version of SteamOS with support for RDNA-4 graphics cards on their gaming PC? Quite simply, with the latest system image, which has been optimized for the OOBE ("out-of-box experience") and, in addition to Linux 6.16, is also delivered with Mesa 25.2 and thus supports RDNA 4 as well as all new hardware "out-of-the-box" after installation.
| Version | Release Date | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteamOS OOBE* | 3.8.0 | October 27, 2025 | Download |
compatible with RDNA 4 thanks to Linux 6.16 and Mesa 25.2.
Unlike SteamOS 3.7.x, which still relies on Linux 6.11 and therefore does not support RDNA 4, the Radeon RX 9000 from SteamOS 3.8.0 can be used without any problems. The basis for this is Linux 6.16-valve2-1-nbeptune.
How to install SteamOS on the gaming PC
- The latest OOBE system image from SteamOS must be downloaded.
- The system image must be written to a USB storage medium with at least 8 Gibytes.
- Under Windows, the use of a free system tool such as Rufus, Balena Etcher or Ventoy is recommended for this purpose.
- The gaming PC must be restarted and booted into the BIOS/UEFI. In the BIOS/UEFI, the USB storage medium on which the SteamOS system image was written must be selected as the first boot option.
- The "Secure Boot" feature must also be deactivated in the BIOS/UEFI.
- The settings in the BIOS/UEFI must be saved and the gaming PC restarted again.
- Now the system image of SteamOS can be booted from the USB storage medium.
- The gaming PC will then automatically boot into the SteamOS desktop environment.
- To finally install SteamOS on the gaming PC, the "Re-Image Device" option must be selected.
- Now SteamOS will be installed on the primary SSD and all existing data will be overwritten.
After successful installation, the USB storage medium can be removed and the gaming PC can be restarted one last time.
The gaming PC automatically boots into the full screen mode ("Big Picture Mode") of SteamOS and the gaming operating system is ready for use after a successful login via the Steam account.
After the successful initial installation of SteamOS 3.8.0, players should switch to the developer channel Main via Settings ➜ System ➜ OS Update Channel, which in turn is only possible if the Show Advanced Update Channels option has been activated under Settings ➜ Developer beforehand. Now the way to an absolutely up-to-date SteamOS is almost done. But one last step is missing.
Update SteamOS to version 3.9.0
If all settings have been made as intended, an update to SteamOS 3.9.0 will be made during the next update and the system is now up to date. The author tried this procedure both on a gaming PC with Radeon RX 9070 XT and on an Asus ROG Xbox Ally X.
As soon as SteamOS 3.9.0 has been released as an OOEB system image, the editors of PCGH will point it out accordingly. Currently, SteamOS 3.8.0 is the starting point and must be updated to version 3.9.0. SteamOS 3.7, on the other hand, is not compatible with RDNA 4.
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