Valve has released a new Steam Deck update, bringing it up to SteamOS 3.4.
While the Steam Deck doesn’t get as much press as it usually does, the portable console has been rocking, receiving updates and improvements along the way. While there have been a few minor updates over the past few months, today we are receiving a new update in the form of SteamOS 3.4.
The update has been in beta for just over a month and is now finally available on the stable channel for all users. As you might expect, with the latest update, you’ll get stability, security, and performance fixes. But one of the most noticeable changes in the update that you may never see is the change to KDE Plasma, for Steam Deck desktop mode. As for the other details, they are listed below, taken verbatim from the Steam update page.
general
- Fixed sleep issues affecting a small number of titles, where certain games would freeze or exhibit erratic behavior after waking up
- Fixed a performance issue that could cause freezes of up to 100ms during gameplay if adaptive backlighting was enabled
- Fixed a graphics driver crash when interacting with the map in DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR’S CUT
- Fixed an issue where file managers would open if the gamescope session was restarted
- Fixed GPU clock settings sometimes not getting fixed if set manually (thanks xperia64 user for the amdgpu kernel debug back port)
- Fixed an issue where excessive polling of the fan controller was causing choppy fan behavior and higher hard drive temperatures on some NVME drives
- New docking station firmware
- Fixes an issue where HDMI 2.0 displays were not detected during activation or boot
performance profiles
- New option to allow screen tearing: at the expense of displaying partial frames sometimes, allows for lower average latency when VSync is disabled and the frame limiter is turned off,
- Changed Performance HUD Level 2 to use a landscape layout. Fits into the letterbox space of games running in a 16:9 aspect ratio.
storage
- TRIM has been re-enabled for the internal drive as well as supported external storage devices, improving write performance
- This includes a workaround that ensures TRIM operations are safe for SD cards that advertise but do not support Ignore
- Steam will periodically TRIM storage devices as needed
- New button in Settings → System → Advanced to turn on widgets right away
- Added an eject option for removable drives in Settings → Storage
- This unmounts the removable drive, it doesn’t actually eject it
- External drives formatted as ext4 are now automatically mounted and available for use in Steam
Enter
- Disable DualShock 4 kernel and DualSense trackpad → mouse emulation when running Steam
- The timing of the default keystrokes has been changed to improve the game’s compatibility with the on-screen keyboard
- Fixes input issues with apps like Street Fighter V and the EA app
- Fixed steam input workgroup switching is set based on cursor visibility in game mode
- Re-enable the hid-steam kernel’s built-in gamepad driver when Steam isn’t running in desktop mode, and add massive support
- Added support for the 8BitDo Ultimate Wireless Controller
- Fixed a USB crash when using certain controllers such as the Hori Fighting Stick α
My voice
- Fixed a case where the default audio device would display “echo-can -cell-sink” and the audio controls would stop working correctly
- Fixed a case where some apps were outputting audio to the wrong device
- Fixed a bug in the audio driver that could cause the on-board audio to crackle in some situations
As you can probably tell by reading the list, there are a lot of improvements made that should make a difference while having fun and playing games. This is great news considering that people may be getting the console over the holidays. Of course, Valve will continue to work on the software, making adjustments and improvements as it progresses. Perhaps this is what makes the Steam Deck so special when compared to other portable game consoles available.
If you want to get the update, just head to the system settings menu, and there should be an indicator showing that an update is available. If you don’t see anything, make sure you’re on the stable release channel and try checking for updates manually. If you haven’t yet purchased a Steam Deck, you can now do so without a reservation in most regions. If you’re in Asia, you’ll need to get your pre-order in, as the console recently started shipping out the order to consumers.
Source: valve (Steam News Hub)
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