Steam Machine hardware support appears in latest SteamOS build, along with loads of Steam deck tweaks

Valve has just released SteamOS 3.8.0 Preview: Second Clutch, the latest preview version of the operating system used on its Steam Decks and which will be running on the upcoming Steam Machine. Along with a host of new features and bug fixes for existing hardware, the new release also includes "Initial support for upcoming Steam Machine hardware."

We of course already know the Steam Machine specs, so the hardware reveal isn't a revelation, but it's yet another sign of how Valve remains committed to releasing its highly anticipated desktop gaming companion cube this year.

The new SteamOS build dropped last night, and Valve has detailed all the many features of the release on its website. The full list of updates is over 80 lines long, making it one of the more substantial updates we've yet seen for SteamOS. Most of the changes are relatively minor, but front and center is the announcement of that "Initial support for upcoming Steam Machine hardware."

Valve doesn't elaborate at all on what this means, whether it's just drivers for the Steam Machine hardware or if there are other software features, such as interface elements for controlling the Steam Machine hardware. It's also not clear if any of the support is accessible for developers to interact with, or if it's currently just being included as a test of it being deployed to other devices for Valve's own internal testing.

In terms of the Steam Machine release date, Valve has recently confirmed it remains committed to releasing the device in 2026, though it's running out of time to hit its initial "early this year" release window, with it looking more likely it will arrive in time for the onset of Fall/Winter.

It's a similar situation for the Steam Machine price, which remains a mystery. Expectations have varied from as low as around $500 all the way up to well beyond $1,000, but Valve hasn't confirmed anything yet.

Back to SteamOS 3.8.0 and its most notable additions include a new graphics driver "with performance and stability fixes," improved VRR frame pacing, fixing of an issue with some games (such as Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Starfield) resulting in a session crash, improved support for USB racing wheels, and re-re-enabling of Bluetooth Wake for Steam Deck LCD.

The new update is available now, but only if you use the Steam Deck Preview channel. You can access this by heading to Settings > System > System Update Channel and opting for the Preview build.