For decades, Windows has reigned supreme as the go-to operating system for PC gaming. Its vast support for hardware and software, coupled with decades of development, made it a natural choice for gamers worldwide. However, recent independent benchmarks and reviews have started turning this long-held assumption on its head. The release of Valve’s SteamOS on devices like the Lenovo Legion Go S has exposed Windows’ limitations, particularly in the portable gaming category. The results? SteamOS is not only keeping pace with Windows—it is surpassing it in multiple significant gaming titles.
SteamOS vs. Windows: The New Benchmark Battle
Traditionally, benchmarking gaming performance across operating systems has suffered from a lack of directly comparable hardware. Valve’s Legion Go S, equipped with official drivers and dual support for both Windows and SteamOS, has provided a rare opportunity to engage in a truly apples-to-apples comparison. According to Ars Technica’s detailed tests on demanding titles such as Returnal, Borderlands 3, Cyberpunk 2077, Homeworld 3, and Doom: The Dark Ages, SteamOS consistently delivered equal or better frame rates at various resolutions and settings.
Notably, SteamOS achieved a remarkable nine-frame lead in Returnal at 1200p over Windows, indicating tangible advantages that go beyond marginal tweaks. YouTuber Dave2D’s tests further reinforce these findings, showing SteamOS outperforming Windows in Cyberpunk, Doom Eternal, Helldivers 2, and The Witcher 3, with only negligible losses recorded in a handful of titles. This tally of ten wins, zero losses, and two ties from these independent assessments signals an unmistakable shift in gaming OS dynamics.
Technical and User Experience Advantages of SteamOS
The deeper story isn’t just about raw performance numbers. SteamOS, rooted in Linux, is inherently leaner than Windows. Windows continues to struggle with “bloat,” from background processes to intrusive UI elements, like the frustrating inclusion of web search within the native search bar—a feature more annoying than helpful to power users. Such elements, combined with Windows’ extensive pre-loaded services and updates, tend to sap performance, especially on constrained hardware like handheld gaming PCs.
SteamOS, by contrast, provides a more streamlined and gamer-focused environment. The absence of excessive background applications means resources are allocated more efficiently, translating into smoother gameplay. The positive reception from respected hardware reviewer Jacob Fox, who awarded the SteamOS Legion Go S an Editor’s Pick at 91%, highlights how this OS delivers not only in performance but in overall usability and integration with Steam’s ecosystem.
Challenges Still Facing SteamOS Adoption
Despite its impressive strides, SteamOS is far from perfect. Its primary obstacles stem from limited hardware compatibility and game support. Unlike Windows, which virtually supports every mainstream PC game and peripheral, SteamOS remains restricted in the number of devices and games it can seamlessly handle out of the box. Certain titles remain unplayable due to problematic anticheat systems that haven’t yet been adapted for Linux environments. This remains a sore point for hardcore competitive gaming communities.
While Valve is actively improving this situation—expanding SteamOS compatibility beyond the Steam Deck and continually updating its library of supported games—the ecosystem has yet to mature to the same level as Windows. For users seeking immediate, hassle-free gaming experiences across a broad catalog, Windows remains the safer bet, if only by default. However, if Valve’s current trajectory continues, the gap will narrow rapidly.
The Bigger Picture: A Viable Contender Emerges
What makes these developments so exciting is the prospect of revitalizing competition in the desktop OS market for gamers. Windows’ dominance has stagnated innovation, and many PC enthusiasts have grown weary of its increasing resource demands and complex background behaviors. Microsoft’s recent promises to streamline Windows for gaming on handheld devices sound encouraging but lack proven follow-through.
SteamOS’ emergence challenges the entrenched idea that Windows is the sole, best route for PC gaming performance. This is especially true for portable form factors where hardware constraints amplify inefficiencies in bloated operating systems. If Valve can continue expanding SteamOS’ support and addressing compatibility hurdles, it could finally introduce a compelling alternative that pushes Microsoft to refocus on gaming enhancements beyond superficial marketing promises.
My Take: Why the Future May Belong to Linux-Based Gaming
As someone long frustrated with Windows’ creeping complexity and intrusive features, the results from the Legion Go S tests resonate deeply. The idea of being a “Linux Guy” has shifted from a mere insult hurled in frustration to a realistic and attractive future pathway. SteamOS demonstrates that Linux-based operating systems can deliver not just parity but tangible advantages in gaming performance and user experience.
Valve’s approach—building a gaming-centric OS from the ground up—embodies a renewed vision for how PC gaming can evolve. Instead of bending a general-purpose OS to fit gaming, they have crafted a focused ecosystem where software and hardware optimizations work hand-in-hand. While challenges remain, I am convinced this momentum will shape the next generation of gaming devices and disrupt the long-standing Windows monopoly.
To me, Valve’s success with SteamOS is not just a technical victory; it feels like a refreshing statement about the kind of innovation still possible in PC gaming. The future looks brighter for gamers who demand performance, simplicity, and openness—and for that, SteamOS rightfully deserves attention and respect.