Since Valve announced the launch of its first handheld console, Steam bridge, the news about him has not stopped arriving. And, since Microsoft recently announced the launch of its next operating system, Windows 11, guessing a combination of this hardware and software was inevitable. It looks like it will be a reality since Valve is actively working with AMD, and the idea is that when Steam Deck is released later this year, users will already be able to install Windows 11 on the console.
Steam Deck is the next generation portable console, equipped with the latest Zen 2 APU and AMD RDNA 2 graphics card code name Van Gogh. The first consoles are expected to start shipping to customers later this year, and Steam’s focus on open source platforms means Steam Deck won’t just support its operating system. SteamOS, which is based on Arch Linux, but also on Windows 10. With the recent announcement of its successor, Windows 11, it is natural that gamers and the media are curious to know if Valve’s console will also be compatible with this operating system.
Steam Deck should already be compatible with Windows 11 when it launches
The push Microsoft has taken with the new version of its operating system to provide a more secure platform means that only devices with Secure boot / RPM 2.0 they will be able to run Windows 11 without “gimmicks”. This includes AMD’s Ryzen 3000 series of desktop processors based on the Zen 2 architecture, as well as the Van Gogh APUs that will power the Steam Deck console. However, TPM support also requires BIOS support, and that’s something Valve and AMD are currently evaluating.
“There is a lot of work to be done right now around TPM. We’ve been so focused on Windows 10 so far that we haven’t thought about it until then, but our expectation is that we can meet the requirements seamlessly. ” Greg Coomer, designer of steam bridges.
“It’s also a conversation we have with AMD to make sure that at the BIOS level we can adapt. At this time, nothing tells us that there will be a Windows 11 implementation issue on the Steam Deck. ” Coomer said.
If the Steam Deck were officially TPM compatible, it would become a console in which we could truly install multiple operating systems, possibly even with multiboot functionality. This, plus a wide range of game launchers and emulators available for each platform, can create one of the most interesting gaming handhelds ever made, as that would mean the Steam Deck wouldn’t be limited to only Steam games, but we could install Epic Games or Origin for example.
As we have already said, Valve is aiming at the end of this year to send the first Steam Deck units to users who have already reserved the console, so it only remains to be seen if by the time the console launches on the market it will already be compatible with Windows 11 or if, on the contrary, this faculty will come in the form of a later update. Everything points to the former, but if they do end up having difficulty, things might be delayed.
