protonscr

Official support for SteamOS (and Arch Linux!)

steamopen
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#10875 · opened 2024-05-10 by yetanotherqubick · updated 2026-07-16 · 1 comments · github
Yyetanotherqubick 2024-05-10 github

Your system information

  • Steam client version (build number or date): 1.0.0.79
  • Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Arch Linux

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

2 years ago Valve released Steam Deck along with SteamOS 3.0 (which is itself an Arch-based distribution). However, as of May 2024 SteamOS page states:

The base system draws from Debian 8, code named Debian Jessie. Our work builds on top of the solid Debian core and optimizes it for a living room experience.

The only supported GNU/Linux distribution (as stated in the Hardware and Software Requirements) for the Steam client is:

[the] Latest Ubuntu or Ubuntu LTS with a 64-bit (x86_64, AMD64) Linux kernel

The Steam support page also states that:

Currently, Steam for Linux is only supported on the most recent version of Ubuntu LTS with the Unity, Gnome, or KDE desktops.

Although I personally understand that Valve Corporation is actually a small indie company... it's still a little confusing. Could you please add support for at least SteamOS (and perhaps for Arch Linux as a result)? It looks somewhat logical... You're accepting issues from 12 GNU/Linux distribution-families and even BSD OSs anyway.

Another solution is to make the Steam client FOSS as suggested... almost 12 years ago. Then Valve won't have to care about OSs support and packaging at all! :)

Steps for reproducing this issue:

  1. Open Hardware and Software Requirements.
Ddopreo 2026-05-25 github

I do find it funny that Steam Decks (and Steam Frame, and Steam Machine) all use SteamOS based on Arch Linux, but Valve only seems to officially distribute a Linux Steam client package for Ubuntu systems, not for Arch ones.
I'd understand if they were really worried about packaging for Arch, given... Arch.

SteamOS is not 'Arch-based' as other distros like EndeavourOS and CachyOS are, mind. It's built atop the core of Arch, but it is most certainly NOT a rolling-release distro, from what I can see.