SteamOS 3.7.0 Preview: Pi Day - Root Server Hosting

Note: This update is for the Steam Deck Preview channel, and includes new features that are still being tested. You can opt into this in Settings > System > System Update Channel.

General

Updated to a newer Arch Linux base
Updated the Linux kernel to 6.11
Updated the Mesa graphics driver base
Desktop mode now ships with Plasma 6.2.5
Beginnings of support for non-Steam Deck handhelds

Controllers and Input

Add support for the Proteus Byowave controller
Fixed an issue where Switch Pro Controller gyros might not work on first connection
Fixed an issue with stuck/hanging controller inputs when exiting Steam

Bluetooth

Fixed Bluetooth devices still being able to wake the Steam Deck from suspend, even when Bluetooth was disabled from Desktop mode
Enable HFP/HSP profiles, to allow using the integrated microphone from headsets and earbuds
- Currently only available to select in Desktop mode
Added battery level display for supported Bluetooth devices
Include a bugfix for the Airpods when using the AAC codec
Bluetooth controllers can now wake LCD units from sleep, previously only available on OLED models
- Known issue: Bluetooth LE based controllers are not currently compatible with bluetooth wake on LCD models

Steam Deck Dock

Made compatibility improvements for certain displays including TCL FireTV models and Dell VRR capable monitors

Graphics and Performance

Enabled AMD P-State CPU frequency control
Fixed a performance regression for No Rest for the Wicked

Desktop

Updated to Plasma 6.2.5 (previously 5.27.10) – see the big changes in Plasma 6 here
Surround sound now works correctly
- Enabling the setting is currently only available via Desktop mode
KDE Filelight is now installed by default for disk usage visualization and low disk space notifications
Speed and robustness improvements when switching between desktop and game mode
- Fixed a common cause of hangs when switching to desktop mode
- Fixed some cases where Steam could take up to ninety seconds to exit on shutdown or switch to desktop
Added ‘gocryptfs’ support to desktop session to enable use of the Plasma Vaults feature

Misc

Fixed some cases where “filter-chain” or other virtual sound devices would erroneously appear in the UI
Fixed cases where applying system updates could fail if certain configuration files were corrupted or malformed
Various enhancements to System Report functionality for support and troubleshooting
Fixed compatibility issue with certain DNS servers causing very slow domain lookups
Improved responsiveness of system when running into out-of-memory crash situations
Enabled IPv6 Privacy Extensions by default

Known Issues

Creative Zen Air Pro earbuds display an unexpected all-zeros entry under the “Show all devices” section when pairing
Super NES controllers can erroneously show up as connected when they are not
DualShock 3 controllers are currently not able to be paired or used

Developer

Updated to a 6.11 based kernel
Added debuginfod URLs for SteamOS
Added systemd .socket units to the default list of /etc files preserved across updates
When running in a VM, system will now default to the desktop session
Swap file setup now uses standard ‘mkswap’ functionality instead of shipping an ad-hoc ‘mkswapfile’ script
The steamos-readonly command now warns that the status might not be accurate when sysexts are loaded
Fixed a case that could introduce duplicate boot entries for devices manually setup to dual-boot
The pacman cache is now cleaned after applying a SteamOS update
- Fixes stale cache errors working with pacman after switching branches