Slowly, but surely, SteamOS is making its way to gaming handhelds other than the Steam Deck. Specifically, it now plays nicer on Intel-based portables like the MSI Claw 8 AI+, and I'm hoping the progress gives the brand's original, highly critizised, OG handheld a second-wind amid Valve's price hikes.
As highlighted in a new ETA Prime YouTube video, Valve has finally added support for Intel chipsets to SteamOS. The beta 3.8.7 update specifically adds controller compatibility, reliability enhancements for SD cards, and a fix for Bluetooth, but also includes firmware patches for newcomers, like the Panther Lake G3-based MSI Claw 8 EX AI+.
ETA Prime's video specifically focusses on the existing Claw 8 AI+ with a Lunar Lake chipset, but there's also a Reddit thread by SaperPL that outlines the new SteamOS beta working on an Intel B580 graphics card. The jist across both right now is that performance isn't quite on par compared to Windows 11. Issues like the menu button not being mapped properly, and having to use an additional plugin to toggle between 15W, 17w, and 30W is a thing, but I'm holding out hope that the newfound official compatibility will benefit the OG Claw's.
As a Windows handheld, I wrote off the first MSI Claw (officially called the A1M), pretty early. Its original $799 MSRP completely missed the mark, considering its Core Ultra 7 155H chipset required higher wattages to even keep up with the Steam Deck OLED. Effectively, the fact that the LCD model was still a thing for around $400 at the time, and the original Asus ROG Ally was still in action, meant the portable had nothing to really offer the scene, but I'm now wondering if it can weirdly become a cheaper stand-in for Valve's device.
ROG Xbox Ally (Ryzen Z2) | $599.99 at Best Buy
Here's the thing: the MSI Claw was seemingly discontinued, but for whatever reason, the 1TB model is available for $749.99. That's way too much to pay for the handheld, both for the above reasons and since it's using the exact same screen as the cheaper white Xbox ROG Ally. It's slightly cheaper at Amazon since it's going for $719.99, but the fact that it still exists at all at retailers means upcoming Prime Day gaming deals could work their magic.
Handheld prices are bananas in general right now, so I'm not completely holding my breath for Amazon's sale. In an ideal world, though, the MSI Claw would drop back to around $400 like it did back in March and previous sale events, which would pair with new official SteamOS support to make it a sort of alternative to Valve's now-discontinued Steam Deck LCD.
When I get a spare moment, I'll be looking to fully try out SteamOS on the MSI Claw A1M to see if it actually holds up. If ETA Prime's current Claw 8 AI+ tests are anything to go by, it might not boost fps as high as when running Windows, but I can only imagine updates and optimizations will address that over time. Plus, it will save those of you looking for all the bells and whistles of Valve's operating system from splashing out $630 minimum on a 512GB Steam Deck OLED.
Yes, my ambitions come with quite a few ifs and buts attached, but our handheld options are limited in 2026. Therefore, I'm open to trying anything that'll get people tackling their Steam backlogs on the go for less, even if that means revisiting a previously shunned handheld in a bit to infuse it with SteamOS goodness.
Failing that, at least the now broader compatibility of SteamOS means that, if the Steam Machine ends up being $1,000, we'll have cheaper ways to make a makeshift console PC hybrid.
Sticking with the Steam Deck? Swing by the best Steam Deck docks and best Steam Deck accessories to enhance your hybrid setup.
