This week saw the release of a preliminary version of the SteamOS 3.5 operating system for the Valve Steam Deck portable gaming console. In the new version of the software, the developers have implemented a number of changes and improvements aimed at optimizing the operation of the device.
Image source: Valve
The most notable new addition to SteamOS 3.5 is the introduction of Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and High Dynamic Range (HDR) support for compatible external displays that connect to the console via USB Type-C. The developers have also changed the default Steam Deck color rendering to “simulate the sRGB color gamut”, resulting in warmer and brighter colors. If necessary, users will be able to independently adjust the brightness and color temperature of the display.
Regarding other changes, it is worth noting the presence of graphics drivers in the update with numerous performance and functionality improvements. In particular, we are talking about optimizing performance in the recently released Starfield game from Bethesda. After the update, the console will also switch from standby to running faster. Among other things, we note the update of Arch Linux, the emergence of support for the new KDE Plasma environment, etc. “Voltage offset settings” have appeared in the BIOS, which are expected to make it easier to improve the performance of the console.
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