SteamOS is so close to greatness — but can Valve finally crack anti‑cheat and remove the biggest barrier holding PC gamers back?

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SteamOS is Valve’s operating system built on Linux. It’s designed to give you a console-like experience, primarily on the Steam Deck, but you can also install it on other devices. It creates a seamless experience across all your devices, and many think it’s successfully done what Microsoft is trying to achieve with the Xbox ecosystem. Steam already lets you save your progress in the cloud and connect across Windows, Linux, and Mac computers.

SteamOS does have some drawbacks, and it faces a significant challenge. Increasingly, games are using advanced anti-cheat software and requiring newer computers with Trusted Platform Module 2.0, which could limit SteamOS compatibility.

Developer concerns and Valve’s response to anti-cheat limitations

Valve recently introduced the Steam Machine, a compact PC that can also function like a gaming console and connect to your TV. Following this announcement, Alistair McFarlane, the COO of Facepunch Studios, explained why their popular multiplayer survival game, Rust, won’t be compatible with SteamOS or Linux. Rust challenges players to build bases and survive long-term against each other.

McFarlane shared on Reddit that the team does not plan to support Proton or Linux, saying:

We don’t intend to add support for Proton or Linux. These platforms are often exploited by cheaters, and with so few legitimate users on them, it would be difficult for us and Easy Anti-Cheat to keep them secure. After we removed Linux support previously, we actually saw more cheaters using it than genuine players.

Alistair McFarlane

Rust isn’t alone in limiting platform support. In 2024, Apex Legends stopped working on Linux, and several other popular games – including Call of Duty, Battlefield 6, Valorant, League of Legends, and Fortnite – don’t work on Linux either. This lack of support is a dealbreaker for many gamers considering the operating system.

Things aren’t perfect, but there’s reason to be optimistic, as Valve is aware of the problem and taking steps to fix it. Pierre-Loup Griffais, a Valve engineer, confirmed the company is currently developing anti-cheat measures for SteamOS, saying:

We’re collaborating with several developers who specialize in advanced anti-cheat technology for games. Our goal is to ensure everyone is working together to create a sustainable and effective solution.

Pierre-Loup Griffais

Valve’s biggest remaining challenge

Valve has exciting plans for new hardware, including the Steam Machine and Steam Deck. While the Steam Deck was offered at a lower price thanks to Valve covering some of the cost, they’ve stated they won’t do the same for the Steam Machine, meaning price will be a key consideration for potential buyers.

It’s good to see Valve continuing to address these challenges. The biggest obstacle right now is that anti-cheat software, which operates at a deep system level, often prevents major multiplayer games from running correctly. Whether things improve will depend on how well Valve can persuade game developers to support SteamOS, and if enough people start using SteamOS that developers can’t afford to ignore it. If that happens, game studios will likely need to work with Valve to make these anti-cheat systems compatible with Linux.

Even though Valve is leading the way with handheld gaming devices, a key issue could limit the growth of SteamOS. Many popular games require anti-cheat software, which works easily on Windows-based handhelds like the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, but isn’t yet fully supported on SteamOS.

Currently, these devices don’t feel fully polished due to a less-than-ideal user experience. But once that’s fixed, I think most people will choose the handheld that has the most popular games available for portable play.

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2025-11-26 23:10