New SteamOS beta expands support to Intel-powered gaming handhelds

Valve just dropped the SteamOS 3.8.7 beta, and the big news is that it finally officially supports the MSI Claw 8 AI Plus. It’s a huge deal since SteamOS is moving beyond just AMD stuff and making room for Intel-powered handhelds. As the Youtuber ETA Prime showed off, this update makes controllers work better, gyro feels smoother, and the SD card is more reliable. While it’s awesome to see Valve branching out, there are still some bumps in the road - especially when it comes to performance and game compatibility compared to what you get on Windows.

The groundwork for this support began with SteamOS 3.7, which introduced broader compatibility for newer Intel and AMD platforms, preliminary firmware support for upcoming Intel handhelds, and controller integration for several devices, including the MSI Claw 8 AI+. This marks a notable shift for Valve, whose handheld gaming efforts have historically centered around AMD hardware through the Steam Deck.

During testing, ETA Prime reported that SteamOS ran smoothly on the Claw 8 AI+, aside from a minor issue where the handheld’s menu could not be opened using controller inputs. Performance remained playable across a range of power settings, including operation at just 15 watts. Games tested included Cyberpunk 2077, Spider-Man 2, Forza Horizon 6, Left 4 Dead 2, and The Witcher 3, with the MSI handheld generally outperforming the Steam Deck. The main exception was Cyberpunk 2077, which delivered lower performance under SteamOS than it did when running on Windows.

The timing of Valve’s Intel support is notable, arriving as manufacturers begin introducing handheld gaming PCs powered by Intel’s new Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme Panther Lake processors. One example is the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, which combines the Arc G3 Extreme chip with an 8-inch 120Hz VRR display. As more Intel-powered handhelds enter the market, official SteamOS variants are expected to become increasingly common.

Even with all these updates, Windows is still the way to go for gaming on Intel gear. Its Arc drivers are more polished and it just handles heavy games better, giving you a smoother and more stable experience. SteamOS is catching up fast, but it still needs a bit more work before it can really go toe-to-toe with Windows on these Intel handhelds.

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