The Steam Deck's Linux kernel has been updated to support external CD-ROM drives, a change that arrived just one day after a user specifically requested the functionality on the Steam community forums. This swift response addresses a limitation that prevented users from accessing physical media, such as CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays, on the portable gaming device.
Internal disc drives are no longer common in modern PCs and laptops, making external drives the primary method for many to access physical media. One Steam Deck user, Aiodensghost, highlighted this issue in a forum post, explaining their desire to use an external drive to install older games and watch movies. Specifically, the user lamented their inability to install "Need For Speed Carbon," an abandonware title no longer available for purchase, due to the lack of optical drive support.
A Valve employee, posting under the username gaberowe, acknowledged the request, stating, "we will look into this thanks for alerting us." Shortly thereafter, a commit was made to the "deckard-linux-no-oopsies" GitHub repository, which contains the Linux kernel sources for the Steam Deck. This commit effectively enabled CD-ROM support by activating an existing feature within the Linux kernel.
While users with sufficient technical knowledge could hypothetically install the updated kernel themselves, it is expected that this improved compatibility will be included in a future official software update for the Steam Deck. This incident highlights Valve's responsiveness to user feedback, providing a positive note amidst ongoing industry developments.