Valve has introduced the beta version of SteamOS 3.5, the operating system for our beloved Steam Deck. Among some of the changes that users of the handheld will find are performance improvements, screen adjustments, and optimization for games like Starfield.
What improvements does SteamOS 3.5 bring?
To begin with, Steam Deck improves its screen. Through the console settings, you’ll find a new option to adjust the screen’s colors. Specifically, you can alter both color intensity and temperature. You can also choose from various color profiles: native, sRGB, and Enhanced.
If you were bothered by black bars in some Steam Deck games, thanks to this update, you can change it. SteamOS 3.5 will allow you to rescale games that don’t occupy the full screen, although it will slightly deform the image in exchange. You can also enable HDR and VRR, provided they are compatible with the external monitor and USB-C adapter you use.
SteamOS 3.5 promises to provide a much smoother gaming experience than we’ve seen before. Graphics drivers have been updated, which has made a noticeable improvement possible in titles like Starfield.
For those who like to tinker with their Steam Deck, this will be of interest. The Linux ARCH base has been updated, along with the Plasma desktop interface. Here, you’ll mainly find a revamped app store, widgets, and a window tiling mechanism focused on enhancing the user experience.
SteamOS 3.5 goes even deeper, and this can be seen through the Steam Deck’s BIOS settings. Users can now see a new voltage-focused adjustment, allowing us to fine-tune the power consumption and performance of the console. If you want to try out all these improvements for yourself, you just need to go to Settings > System > System Update Channel.
