Steam Deck is still a quite new console. Some people think that it's the best alternative to a PC when you think of an on-the-go handheld other than the Nintendo Switch.
Just recently, Valve rolled out the newest update for the console's operating system. With the launch of SteamOS 3.4, players can expect to see fewer bugs and smoother gameplay ahead of Christmas.
What SteamOS 3.4 Update Brings to the Table
Previously, Valve introduced some minor updates for Steam Deck yet the users thought that they weren't enough to address the annoying issue of glitches and stability.
According to a report by XDA Developers, the video game developer has finally launched a major update for the handheld console with the arrival of the SteamOS 3.4 patch.
Valve assures that players can now grasp the performance and security improvements in the game. The company also tackles the stability fixes in the latest update.
Full List of Improvements For SteamOS 3.4 Patch
According to the official website of Steam, the update includes performance setting changes, desktop updates, performance profiles, and more.
General
- Fixed a performance issue that could cause 100ms hitches during gameplay if the adaptive backlight was enabled
- Fixed issue with opening file managers if the gamescope session has been restarted
- Fixed issues with sleep / wake for a number of titles
- Fixed GPU clock settings sometimes not sticking if set manually (thanks to user xperia64 for the amdgpu kernel patch backport)
- Fixed an issue with fan controller excessive sensor polling causing sporadic fan behavior and higher SSD temps on some NVME drives
- New firmware for Docking Station
- Fixes an issue where HDMI 2.0 displays are not detected during wake or boot up
- Known Issue: Chinese Pinyin and Zhuyin input for the on-screen keyboard are not currently functioning correctly - we are aware of the issues and will address them in an upcoming update.
Performance profiles
- New option to allow Screen Tearing
- Changed performance HUD level 2 to use a horizontal layout. It fits in the letterbox space for games running in a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Aside from that, Valve also re-activates TRIM for the internal drive. This also covers external storage devices. There's also a new button that is added in Settings. The eject option is now accessible in Settings.
Check these changes as well:
Input
- Disabled built-in DualShock 4 and DualSense trackpad → mouse emulation when Steam is running
- Changed the timing of virtual keypresses to improve game compatibility with an on-screen keyboard
- Fixes input issues with apps such as Street Fighter V, EA app
- Fixed Steam Input's action set switching based on cursor visibility in Game mode
- Re-enabled the built-in gamepad driver when Steam is not running in desktop mode
Audio
- Fixed a case where the default audio device would display "echo-cancel-sink" and audio controls would cease to work correctly
- Fixed a case where some applications would output audio to the wrong device
- Fixed an issue with HDMI/DisplayPort audio going to sleep after being idle on external displays
Related Article: How to Add Non-Steam Games to your Steam Deck Library [2022]
Is Steam Deck Still Worth it This Year?
According to PCMag, it's still worth getting the Steam Deck if you're looking for a convenient handheld console for your PC games.
Aside from the fact that it's dockable, it's powerful and huge for a more immersive gaming experience. However, since it's a big console, some people find it uncomfortable to use. Additionally, the single USB-C port is a limiting factor when it comes to connectivity.
