Moving away from Windows is getting a little easier, as Linux will soon support more SteelSeries gaming headsets

The magnetic ear cap on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 — (Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson)

If you've got a SteelSeries headset and a Windows-powered gaming rig, it's likely you take your pair's compatibility for granted - I know I do. Yet anyone who's made the Linux leap over the years doesn't always have the same smooth sailing, as compatibility with the best gaming headsets isn't as straightforward.

Functionality can differ when using SteelSeries headsets on Linux-powered operating systems, from battery status reporting to wireless issues, but open-source developers like Sriman Achanta are on top of it. As brought to my attention by Phoronix, Achanta has developed a patch set to drop alongside the upcoming Linux 7.3 kernel merge window that provides improved driver support for a long list of 14 SteelSeries-branded headsets, including the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X and SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2.

The onboard controls on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 — (Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson)

Thinking of adding a SteelSeries headset to your setup?

If the continued open-source support for SteelSeries headsets has you considering grabbing a new headset today, you can pick up the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5X for $149.99 at Amazon or the PlayStation '5P' model for the same MSRP.

This isn't the first time Achanta has provided support for SteelSeries headsets. The developer dropped a patch for the then-mainline Linux kernel in December 2025 (the core program that powers different Linux-based operating systems, including SteamOS as found on the Steam Deck) that helped improve the existing HID-Steelseries driver.

At the time, the HID-Steelseries driver only supported battery monitoring for the Arctis Nova 1 and Arctis Nova 9 headsets, but Achanta's patch introduced support for over 25 different SteelSeries pairs. It didn't just help with battery monitoring but, according to Achanta, the patch brought "full feature control including sidetone, auto-sleep, microphone controls, volume limiting, and Bluetooth settings."

A black SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 with its mic extended — (Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson)

Some of SteelSeries headsets can be pretty pricey, with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite costing $599.99 / £599.99. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2, which is included as part of this new driver patch, is $199.99 at Amazon, so it's nice to know that owners of the pair can get their full money's worth and better compatibility when the latest patch drops.

If you are thinking of leaping to Linux, I recommend checking out the Hardware for Linux website. It's a collective put together by Linux users to help determine how equipped your tech is to make the change and help you get to the bottom of any errors your hardware might be dealing with.

View all SteelSeries gaming headsets at Amazon

If you're hunting for a new pair, I've rounded up the best PC headsets for gaming, the best PS5 headsets, and the best Xbox Series X headsets worth checking out.

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Ever since I first held a NES controller in my hand I've been obsessed with gaming, and the hardware it runs on. I could hook up a NES and SNES to a telly, without instructions, before I could walk. Even now, nothing is more exciting then taking a console, or handheld, out the box for the first time and setting it up. This obsession transformed into a love of games and game music, which lead to my music degree and dream of becoming the Scottish Nobuo Uematsu. After sharing my love of games through music, I began to share my love through words on sites like TechRadar and iMore. This lead to becoming a Hardware staff writer for PCGamesN, and later the Senior Tech Writer for Dexerto, covering all things Steam Deck, PlayStation and Nintendo. With that experience, I was able to level up as Hardware Editor for GamesRadar+, where I'm still just as Nintendo, PlayStation and gaming tech obsessed as ever.