Valve has released a new update for SteamOS on the Steam Frame, bringing several improvements including significant power efficiency gains and new accessibility features. The update offers power efficiency improvements that can extend battery life by up to 12% during both streaming and local gameplay, though actual results will vary based on framerate and the content being played.
Beyond battery enhancements, the update introduces an accessibility option for users who wish to limit eye tracking to a single eye. This can be found under VR Settings > General > Track Dominant Eye Only, requiring advanced settings to be enabled. Valve has also addressed an issue that prevented controller bindings from loading correctly for specific games, such as Google Earth VR and Thumper. Furthermore, focus behavior when interacting with grab and resize handles has been improved.
VR streaming reliability has seen further boosts, with additional fixes for "Error 17." To minimize these connection issues on the PC side, users must opt into SteamVR version 2.18.2 or later, which is currently available on the SteamVR beta branch. The update also resolves wireless adapter connectivity issues that affected some users in certain countries.
The battery life improvements are a notable gain, potentially adding around 15 minutes of playtime for a device that typically lasts about two hours when streaming. This follows a recent improvement to the Steam Frame's charging capabilities, allowing for fast charging even when the headset is powered off, which has been shown to dramatically decrease charging times.
SteamOS for the Steam Frame represents a new venture for Valve, utilizing its Arch-based Linux distribution adapted for virtual reality and Arm-based processors. This includes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 found in the Frame and lays groundwork for potential future Arm-powered projects. The company's prior use of SteamOS can be seen in the Steam Machine and Steam Deck hardware.