Lenovo's Legion Go S: The First Third-Party SteamOS Handheld
Lenovo has unveiled the Legion Go S, a groundbreaking handheld gaming PC, marking the first third-party device to ship with Valve's SteamOS. This collaboration expands SteamOS beyond its original home on the Steam Deck.
The Legion Go S, launching in May 2025 for $499, offers a compelling alternative to Windows-based handhelds. Unlike competitors like the Asus ROG Ally X and MSI Claw 8 AI+, which utilize Windows, the Legion Go S leverages SteamOS's optimized Linux-based system for a smoother, console-like experience. This has been a key advantage for the Steam Deck, and now extends to a wider audience.
Initially rumored, the Legion Go S's SteamOS version was officially confirmed at CES 2025. Lenovo also announced the Legion Go 2, a higher-end model, but it will not initially launch with SteamOS. The Legion Go S will be available in a single configuration: 16GB RAM / 512GB storage.
A Windows 11 version of the Legion Go S will also be available, starting at $599 (16GB RAM/1TB storage) in January 2025, with a higher-end option at $729 (32GB RAM/1TB storage).
Valve has confirmed full feature parity between the Steam Deck and the Legion Go S, ensuring identical software updates (excluding hardware-specific adjustments). This signifies a significant step towards wider SteamOS adoption.
While Lenovo currently holds exclusivity for licensed SteamOS devices, Valve's announcement of a public SteamOS beta for other handhelds in the coming months suggests broader accessibility is on the horizon. The success of the SteamOS-powered Legion Go S could potentially influence future partnerships and SteamOS adoption across the handheld gaming market.
