SteamOS 3.8 Now Installs on Any AMD GPU PC

What did Valve announce with SteamOS 3.8?

Valve released SteamOS 3.8 on June 22, 2026, and officially opened it up for installation on standard gaming PCs. The catch: your system must have an AMD GPU. Nvidia GPUs are not supported at this time, according to The Sixth Axis.

Valve made the announcement the same day it revealed Steam Machine pricing and opened pre-order reservations. The company published a support page walking users through the custom install process.

Valve's own statement reads:

"With the newly-released SteamOS 3.8, you can run the same code and operating system as Steam Machine on your own living-room PC using whatever PC parts you want. Right now, only AMD GPUs are supported, but we're working on expanding support for the future."

Is the SteamOS custom install official or still in beta?

Custom installs are still marked as beta on Valve's support page. Only three devices carry official "Powered by SteamOS" status: the Steam Deck, the Steam Machine, and the Lenovo Legion Go S.

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Devices with beta support include the ASUS ROG Ally, the ASUS ROG Ally X, the original Lenovo Legion Go, and other AMD-powered handhelds. New to the beta list with SteamOS 3.8 is support for AMD discrete GPUs in standard desktop PCs.

Which AMD GPUs work best with SteamOS?

The Sixth Axis notes that AMD GPUs have strong Linux support overall. The best results with SteamOS are likely with RX 6000-series cards, which share RDNA 2 architecture with the Steam Deck, and RX 7000-series cards, which share RDNA 3 with the Steam Machine.

There are also setup requirements to keep in mind. Users need to deactivate Secure Boot, a firmware feature that validates Windows startup. This requirement is also part of why SteamOS cannot support kernel-level anti-cheat systems used by publishers like EA and Activision.

What is the Meta PCs Steamroller?

The Meta PCs Steamroller is a pre-built desktop PC that ships with SteamOS as its default operating system — and it launched before Valve's own Steam Machine reached customers, as XDA Developers reports.

Here are the Steamroller's confirmed specs and features from Meta PCs' own listing:

• GPU: AMD Radeon RX 7600
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
• Target resolution: 1080p
• Confirmed compatible titles: CS2, Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate 3
• Design goal: Upgradable alternative to the Steam Machine using standard desktop parts

The listing describes it as built so buyers can "swap the GPU, add RAM, or expand storage whenever you want." It is priced slightly above the base-level Steam Machine, which starts at $1,049.

How does the Steamroller compare to the Steam Machine?

Why does a Windows-free PC save about $100?

XDA Developers points out that if SteamOS becomes a common default OS for pre-built gaming PCs, manufacturers no longer need to pay for a Windows 11 license. That license cost is roughly $100, which builders could pass on to buyers as savings.

We've seen this pattern play out already in the handheld space, where some devices ship with a cheaper SteamOS option alongside a Windows version. The Steamroller is the first known example of a standard desktop pre-built following the same model.

What are the known limitations of SteamOS on custom hardware?

SteamOS on non-official hardware is likely to stay in beta for a long time. The wide variety of possible system configurations means compatibility is not guaranteed across the board. Unusual ethernet or Wi-Fi chipsets, sound cards, and other components can cause unexpected issues, per The Sixth Axis.

For Linux gamers who want broader hardware support today, alternatives like Bazzite already exist. Bazzite is a Linux distribution that connects to Steam's gaming mode features and includes deeper documentation, along with some support for Nvidia GPUs.

Here's what we know so far: Valve has not committed to a timeline for Nvidia GPU support on SteamOS. The company only confirmed it is "working on expanding support for the future."

The Steam Machine itself is scheduled to ship starting June 29, 2026, according to Geeky Gadgets. That date is the next confirmed milestone in the Steam Machine rollout.