11. Nov. 2022
SteamOS 3.4 Preview - Updates to desktop, performance settings, storage and more
Note: This update is for the Steam Deck Preview channel, and includes new features that are still being tested. You can opt into this in Settings > System > Steam Update Channel.
Rebased SteamOS on the latest version of Arch Linux
- This update pulls in the latest performance, security and stability fixes for the underlying packages that are the foundation for SteamOS
- Most notably, this includes recent changes to KDE Plasma, Steam Deck's Desktop Mode. Full notes on these updates can be found on KDE's website here, here, and here. Here are a few of the highlights:
- New Overview view to see all open windows and virtual desktops
- Updates to KRunner, the built in assistant for searching and running tasks
- New touchscreen gestures
- New themes and wallpapers
- Updates to widgets
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.
Storage
- Re-enabled TRIM for the internal drive as well as supported external storage devices, improving write performance
- This includes a workaround ensuring that TRIM operations are safe for SD cards that advertise discard support but do not support it
- Steam will periodically TRIM storage devices as needed
- New button in Settings → System → Advanced to run trim immediately
- Added an eject option for removable drives in Settings → Storage
- This unmounts the removable drive, it does not physically eject it
- External drives formatted as ext4 are now automatically mounted and available for use in Steam
Input
- Disabled built-in DualShock 4 and DualSense trackpad → mouse emulation when Steam is running
- Changed timing of virtual keypresses to improve game compatibility with 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
General
- Fixed a performance issue that could cause 100ms hitches during gameplay if 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 in an upcoming update.
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