# SteamOS 145 Hacker News commenters recommended SteamOS and 40 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 11 of 13 months; owners who said how long report a median of 0.5 years (7 owners). It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule. **Verdict:** A free Arch-based Linux OS from Valve that runs most Windows games with little tinkering and gives a console-like experience; it works best on hardware Valve supports. ## Why people recommend it - Runs Windows games without Windows (5 comments): "Now with proton/steamos, the only games that need windows are multiplayer games with kernel-level anticheat mechanisms" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46529228)) "windows isn't even needed anymore for games because SteamOS is sufficiently there for the games we play" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46749841)) "I've done no tinkering and definitely no patching and have been able to play several modern games" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45916089)) - Advances Linux gaming for everyone (5 comments): "The large and mostly successful push by Valve to make Linux be the platform for gaming has cleared many Linux issues and hurdles." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47462205)) "From SteamVR to Mesa to Proton to SteamOS to FEX, Valve's easily one of the most important Linux contributors these days." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49848879)) "Proton and SteamOS were huge, they were extremely well-timed, and they've been a boon for everyone involved" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46320883)) - Console-like, controller-friendly experience (4 comments): "Valves SteamOS which already runs on the Steam Deck gives you all the QoL that you expect out of a console." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45914965)) "SteamOS is a super controller-friendly desktop that would be right at home in a living room" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45920518)) "Full compatibility with SteamOS. You won't have to fiddle with drivers/hardware/whatever to get it working" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48635224)) - Open, hackable Arch-based system (4 comments): "Deck upgrades are a breeze and the machine and software itself is open enough for a Linux hacker like me to be very comfortable on it" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45903799)) "Steam OS is essentially a customised Arch Linux and you can install stuff as you would on other Linux distros" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45908637)) "You are not being locked in an ecosystem like you do with the consoles Steam Machine aims to compete with." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45947063)) ## What people warn about - Built for specific Valve hardware (4 comments): "SteamOS is not bad, but it uses an older kernel+graphics stack which doesn't make it very ideal for running on recent hardware." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46140390)) "the image is built for the very specific hardware Valve installs it on so there's often wake from sleep and fan control issues" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45909357)) "It is only designed to run on the specific supported hardware devices that it comes preinstalled on." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48587549)) - Updates wipe or break installed software (2 comments): "SteamOS wipes all non system application (except flatpaks) on updates unless you disable read only mode." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48581925)) "Immutable distros have limitations and my distrobox images failed to work after a SteamOS update." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45906392)) - Locked down, may need terminal (2 comments): "SteamOS is locked by default. you must run a series of scripts found on various forums to unlock it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46020758)) "a user who doesn't want to use the terminal is more likely to run into a brick wall at some point" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45986634)) - Handheld UI awkward on desktops (2 comments): "Gaming mode is great and gets you more power but it also removes the ability to easily access things" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48671303)) "Mainly SteamOS UI is made for Handhelds and as such has some bad defaults for more powerful desktops" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47754256)) ## Alternatives hackers recommend - [Bazzite](https://hackerapproved.com/p/bazzite.md): 267 recommend - [Jovian-NixOS](https://hackerapproved.com/p/jovian-nixos.md): 6 recommend - [Batocera](https://hackerapproved.com/p/batocera.md): 5 recommend ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "SteamOS", https://hackerapproved.com/p/steamos/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).