Did Valve lie about the Steam Deck?

Is Valve misleading Steam Deck users? This video takes a deep dive into Valve's promises regarding Windows support on the Steam Deck. We examine the timeline of events since the device's announcement in July 2021, analyze Valve's statements, and discuss the current state of Windows compatibility - including the ongoing issues with the OLED model.

We explore:

Valve's initial promises and subsequent communication
The release and limitations of Windows drivers
The unfulfilled dual-boot wizard feature
Concerns about Valve's incentives and transparency
The community's divided response to these issues

Whether you're a Steam Deck owner frustrated by lack of Windows support or just interested in how tech companies handle product promises, this video offers an in-depth look at a controversial topic in the handheld gaming PC space.
#SteamDeck #ValveCorporation #GamingPC #TechPromise

Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
01:35 - What is the problem? Why should you care?
02:15 - July 2021 - Steam Deck Announced
02:35 - February 2022 - Steam Deck Released
02:55 - LCD Drivers in March and May 2022
03:23 - Valve's official stance on Windows
04:20 - When is SteamOS 3 "complete"?
06:04 - November 2023 - OLED Steam Deck Released
06:46 - August 2024 - 9 months later more drivers
07:03 - Where we are today
07:58 - The Steam Deck community and Windows
08:26 - Valve did actually talk about Windows
08:53 - Valve's incentive to not do this
09:51 - I want to use the Steam Deck how I was told I could use it
11:21 - Thank you and I want to hear your thoughts

[beyondtheringgaming]

Update: On September 4 2024 it appears (I have not tested this yet, but people on reddit are saying this) that we have finally received the last Audio driver for the OLED Steam Deck for the Speakers. Which is great, but it needs to be stressed that this was 10 months after the release of the OLED version. The LCD version had all of its drivers after 3 months.

While I am happy we finally have the drivers. The amount of time it took really should have been communicated before buying it.

Still little communication or news regarding the dual boot utility.

[admiralkaede]

why would u want windows on it is the real question

[myria]

Steam Deck was made to ensure Valve are not dependent on Microsoft for their continued success.
Windows is not, and was never, their supported OS. Linux is. Just be happy they are doing anything at all for Windows.
The intended use case is SteamOS, anything else is an advanced use case "at your own risk."
You have the option to install Windows, they are not required to do the work for you, or do it in a timely manner.
You buy Steam Deck for Steam OS, any other reason is your own mistake.

(Coming from someone who has not yet bought a Steam Deck)

[philm]

2:49 you can't find it, because they never did. You've likely seen someone's clickbait article "VALVE PROMISES WINDOWS SUPPORT CONFIRMED!" and run with it as your own truth. Valve has never said they officially support windows, never gave a timeline to help with any issues for people doing it any way, or anything of the sort.

In the PCGamer article you link, the section written "If you want, you can even kick SteamOS off of the device and install Windows, or something else" is not in quotes, as it is not a quote from Valve. That's PCG editorializing.

All Valve did do, is the other link you post; they just announced Windows drivers when they were ready.

The fact they bothered to do this at all should be celebrated as its not the OS the system ships with or supports .. who else does that?

So to answer your video title: No

[giancarlolugo]

Linux was the main reason I purchased my Steam Deck. Would I have purchased a different handheld if Steam OS was available to other devices? Maybe. However, I do not regret getting the Steam Deck.

[MEDiumInc]

Don't buy hardware based on promised software. This goes for any device from any company. Lenovo is guilty with the Legion go too.

[rhiethreal]

No, that's on you. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER buy a product based on "what-ifs, " EVER. Just don't do it, period. Buy it on what it can do now, and anything added later is just icing on the cake.

[kilejak]

I got the SteamDeck because of my frustration of Windows. Bloatware, apps running in the background, and annoying pushes for me to use/buy more Microsoft products. The only thing that stopped me from switching to Linux was the lack of game support, but then they released proton and it was kinda iffy if it would run your games. With the SteamDeck Proton has been getting more updates and all of my games run flawlessly! Duel booting would be nice if you REALLY wanted to play a game with Anti-Cheat that doesn't support Linux, but I rather not deal with the hell that is setting up a fresh Windows install and uninstalling bloat apps and disabling a million things in Privacy settings just to play Fortnite.

[WhitWolfXArcadia]

Steam os runs pretty well compared to windows less bugs and bloat better battery life and better optimization?

[Dandraghas]

They never promised it, the only thing they said is "not ready",
if you read article a little bit more they even said that windows support is "provided as is" and is "unable to offer 'Windows on Deck'"
the "promises" you are talking about here is your own lies

Also why would you think valve required to make drivers for third parties? Steam Deck is designed for SteamOS,
they promised open platform but never they promised that they support these platforms

[brutalness]

Would you like a little cheese with that wine?

[ThePyramidBox]

I mean — you can't ask a company to support third party OS when they are working on other OS, they've said that will offer support — but you can't expect them to do it right now or even in a few years still, because there are a lot more problems to solve, the fact that they've shipped some new drivers to Windows is a miracle, including how Valve is structured — it just seems no one's interested to work for Windows support, and that's okay, I think all of the companies should do what they want to and by company — I mean workers — because what is a company without a workers?

[Aethelbeorn]

I bought my Steam Deck LCD for what it was. Not what was promised. Trusting a promise from a company, any company, is pretty foolhardy.
I was so impressed with my Steam Deck that I bought the LE OLED the moment orders were available.
My son and I are having a blast playing coop games together and there hasn't been any complaints from him.

The only reason I'd want Windows is to use Lossless Scaling which would smooth out a couple games in my library. If SteamOS had Lossless Scaling built in or a similar function, I'd never want to leave.

[tomchesser]

My interpretation of calling something open hardware, is that the device or software doesn't actively try to stop you from installing any OS you want on it. This doesn't however ensure that it will run well on said device, i.e. that they have to provide you with sufficient drivers for it to work well on different platforms. The fact that you can install windows on it means that you are allowed to install what you want on it. Same thing with the OLED model. But maybe I am the one thats wrong.

In regards to the SteamOS installer providing a dual boot wizard to ship alongside 3.0 once its complete. While I agree the wording could be better, we are technically still in OS release version 3.0, and its not "ready" yet. Language often is ambiguous regardless of if you think it malicious or not. Same with 'High' on the list. Something can remain high on the list but not be touched, because it high relative to the total number of items, but low in terms of high priority items. Also new high priority tickets may be coming in superseding the dual boot functionality. But I could see why it may be frustrating if this is a feature that you want.

I recognise that a level of bias can be introduced from my level of apathy towards this particular feature from myself. But from what I have seen, which admittedly I have not looked at in depth, no overt promises seem to be broken. The Boot loader is borderline, but by generously interpreting the statement its not overtly wrong.

Hope whoever reads this has a fantastic day/night!

[CFWhitman]

Valve always said that Windows would not be supported on the Steam Deck. They did say they would release drivers for Windows at least for the LCD Deck, but also that you shouldn't mistake that for support. I never saw a timetable for when drivers would be released. When they talked about when dual boot would be released, they said it would be available when Steam OS became available for general use on any hardware. That hasn't happened yet. They again did not give a timetable. They didn't make the promises that you imply. There has been nothing about these things that has surprised me in the least.

I didn't buy a Steam Deck to use Windows on it, because I heard it when Valve said that Windows was not supported and never would be. If I wanted to run Windows on a handheld I would have bought a Windows handheld. Of course, I am capable of running Windows on the Steam Deck if I wanted, but full support was never promised.

Also, the Steam Deck is open. That just means that there is no locked bootloader, and you can experiment with whatever software you like. That's not a promise that they will support anything other than their own OS. If you want real support for Windows, BSD, Android, MacOS, etc., then you have to provide it yourself.

[halornek-yt]

So, take this with a grain of salt if you wish. I think this video is... misleading.

To start off with, this is going to be a bit... longer of a comment as I'm trying to be constructive and not just try to make witty "ragebait" comments.

Before continuing, I do want to say that yes, it is a good idea to be upset about broken promises from corporations. Valve is not our friend and no one should be defending them.

This appears to be made on the premise of broken promises, but you even state yourself when covering the first LCD drivers that you can not find any confirmation with a timestamp you are comfortable basing this on. I'm sorry, but how is this a promise? The only thing I can locate from Valve was their original statement when the drivers were released stating "We are providing these resources as is and are unfortunately unable to offer 'Windows on Deck' support."

Regarding Valve's statements on "SteamOS 3", this I agree on. This is confusing terminology. From my understanding, the confusion here comes from "SteamOS 3 for the Steam Deck" (Tehcnically "SteamOS Holo") and "SteamOS 3", a general purpose OS. The general purpose OS has been promised since before the Steamdeck was announced and I think should be what Valve should be pressured on.

There is a lot more to talk on regarding what is going on with dual boot (Secure Boot keys via GRUB2, the bootloader most Linux distros use) and drivers (signature approval via Microsoft), both of which require Microsoft's approvals. Valve does claim this is an open platform, but to the best of my knowledge the only promise I have seen regarding Windows has been future dual boot support. Frankly, I a lot of the blame on the delay here does come down to Microsoft. They are historically archaic to work with regarding any kind of signature or code signing unless you are a major vendor (Intel, AMD, Nvidia, ARM, etc) and you are targeting off the shelf/OEM products.

All in all, I think this is ultimately misleading on the premise of a broken promise, and I think it would be more constructive to push Valve into finishing SteamOS 3 (For general purpose use), since that will likely fulfill the only documented outstanding promise Valve made regarding Windows.

[reminiDave]

Very poor timing for this video :) - the drivers (complete and working) are out the very same day this video is.

But let’s be real for a moment here : the word « Windows » doesn’t even appear on the Steam Deck page !
You bought something for a future feature that was casually mentioned (not on the product page) with no date or timeframe, and complains when it’s available only 10 months later ?
I can understand that someone can be frustrated by things taking too long but sometimes software development can take more time than expected, things need to be prioritized.

[dampintellect]

If we know anything about valve it is that coming soon means 10 years at the earliest. And they didn't actually promise anything in the way of windows support.

[tim]

Shipping alongside Steam OS 3 means it will come bundled with an Steam OS 3 update rather than a standalone app, update, or utility.
Verbiage for it releasing with OS 3 would be "Included when Steam OS 3 arrives later this year", "Arriving with Steam OS 3.0", etc.

Microsoft routinely ships updates to Office alongside Windows updates, meaning you download an update to Windows and it has a fix for an Office problem specific to a flaw in Windows.
This is opposed to a standalone Office update. In this case, *obviously* the software shipping alongside Windows 11 isn't coming with Windows 11, which is several years old.

This is part of the ITIL definition of software releases.

[GamerEnLinux]

so you are complaining because they dont support interesting...
do you understand the device was designed for linux? and the windows drivers was just a cherry on the top.