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You can finally install Windows on the Steam Machine, for reasons only you understand

Official Windows drivers are finally here, even though SteamOS still has a reputation for delivering better gaming performance.

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Steam Machine with its RGB light bar
Valve

For years, one of the biggest requests from Steam Machine owners has been official Windows support. Valve has finally delivered. The company has released a full set of Windows drivers for the Steam Machine, making it possible to install Windows 11 without relying on unofficial workarounds or missing hardware support. The update includes drivers for the device’s graphics, audio, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, SD card reader, and other key components, making Windows a much more viable option than before.

Windows on a Steam Machine is now officially supported

According to Valve, the new driver package is designed specifically for users who want to replace SteamOS with Windows. Once installed, the Steam Machine essentially behaves like a compact Windows PC capable of running Steam, Epic Games Store, Game Pass, and other PC gaming platforms without the compatibility quirks that previously came with unofficial drivers.

Steam Machine LED Progress Bar
Steam / Valve

For some users, that’s genuinely useful. While Valve has made enormous progress in getting Linux-compatible anti-cheat systems working through SteamOS and Proton, some major multiplayer games still rely on anti-cheat software that simply doesn’t support Linux. Titles protected by Riot’s Vanguard, such as VALORANT, and games like Call of Duty remain effectively Windows-only. Installing Windows also turns the Steam Machine into a capable little desktop for productivity, media streaming, and everyday computing.

SteamOS is still probably the better gaming OS

Here’s the funny thing: just because the Steam Machine can run Windows doesn’t necessarily mean it should. Over the past couple of years, multiple independent comparisons across handheld gaming PCs have consistently shown SteamOS outperforming Windows in many games. Valve’s operating system is lighter, better optimized for handheld hardware, and generally offers smoother battery life and gaming performance than Microsoft’s desktop-first operating system.

Steam
Unsplash

That’s what makes this announcement a little ironic. If the goal is getting the best gaming experience out of the Steam Machine, SteamOS is still likely the smarter choice. The only scenario where Windows really makes sense is if the Steam Machine is pulling double duty as a compact PC. Even then, it’s a niche use case. The market is already packed with affordable mini PCs that run Windows out of the box, often with more powerful hardware and fewer compromises.

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Still, more choice is rarely a bad thing. If nothing else, Valve is giving owners exactly what they’ve been asking for: the freedom to decide whether their Steam Machine should behave like a console, a handheld, or just another Windows PC.

Varun Mirchandani
Varun Mirchandani
Varun is an experienced technology journalist and editor with over eight years in consumer tech media. His work spans…
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