Small but important update out for both stable and preview branches on the Deck. SteamOS 3.4.4 (stable) fixes an update loop that could occur when doing a factory reset. 3.4.5 (preview) – in addition to adding the update loop fix – also fixes a focus issue with Forza Horizon 5.

Something that slipped through the cracks regarding yesterday’s SteamOS update is the fact that the update also includes KDE Connect. Basically, KDE Connect allows the user to interact between their smartphone/tablet and the computer. Files can be sent and received between each device. Media can be controlled remotely by the computer and vice versa, and SMS text messages can be sent with the computer. It’s a pretty neat and convenient app that allows you to do work on your computer (in this case, on the Deck) while being able to send tasks to your phone, without even touching it.

Holy crap. And here I thought Valve was never going to update the Arch base. Turns out I was wrong. You might recall back in the summer I wrote about the outdated packages on SteamOS and the security risk that brought. Well, I guess you can finally use Desktop Mode with more peace of mind, now that most everything has been updated. Per Steam’s post, this update “pulls in the latest performance, security and stability fixes for the underlying packages that are the foundation for SteamOS.

SteamOS and the Steam Deck client have both been updated on the Stable branch. SteamOS 3.3.2 adds external display output resolution and refresh rate selection options in the Display Settings, as well as tons of bug fixes, ranging from the crash in Red Dead Redemption 2, in-game camera control issues when using a mouse, and SD card formatting failing erratically. As for the Steam Deck client, well, there’s just way too much to list here.

A new Steam Deck client update has been pushed to the stable branch, with the simultaneous release of a new SteamOS beta update. To start, let’s go over the changes for the client. The page that make up the patch notes is quite big. Slider controls are more precise when it comes to large ranges. Fixes have been added for scrolling on the home recommended screen and the What’s New section not properly being populated.

A little over a week ago Valve pushed an update to the Preview branch that reverted a VRAM workaround for Red Dead Redemption 2 and fixed some issues regarding random stutter and performance drops if the performance HUD was enabled. Well, that update is now available in the Stable branch, starting today. There’s also improved performance for Forza Horizon 5 from a beta update that shipped a couple of days later.

Some Deck users were apparently experiencing stuttering issues with the SteamOS 3.3 update. Though I never had such a problem myself, at least it’s good to know Valve is addressing the feedback. I haven’t tested Red Dead Redemption 2 on Deck but it seems that game had a VRAM issue too. Here is what’s new with today’s SteamOS beta update: Temporarily reverted RDR2 VRAM workaround to pre-3.3 behavior Fixed an issue causing random 0.

Looks like all the changes from the SteamOS 3.3 beta have now been pulled in and put into a stable release. It seems the SteamOS update has been pushed alongside a new stable Deck client update as well, as the patch notes are combined. Among some of the many changes in this update include the removal of Firefox as part of the SteamOS image; it’s now replaced with the latest Flatpak from Flathub.