Valve has released SteamOS version 3.8.14, introducing a fix aimed at improving WiFi download speeds for devices utilizing a WiFi antenna. This update addresses a specific problem where WiFi performance was being capped due to routers incorrectly advertising their Modulation Coding Scheme, or MCS, requirements.
MCS is a protocol that allows routers and devices with WiFi antennas to negotiate and communicate their capabilities, such as signal strength and optimal speed. When this information is misrepresented by a router, devices may default to lower performance settings. The latest SteamOS update corrects this by resolving the incompatibility that led to reduced download speeds.
This iteration of SteamOS is available for all users who have the operating system installed on non-Valve hardware. While personalized updates for Valve's own hardware, such as the Steam Deck, typically follow shortly after the general release, a beta version, 3.8.22, is already accessible for Steam Deck owners. This beta can be downloaded via the Steam Deck's Beta and Preview channels, with Valve indicating that the public release is imminent.
It remains unclear if or when this specific update will be deployed for the Steam Machine. The integration of the Steam Deck into the SteamOS update cycle adds another layer of consideration for tracking system updates, as this device now receives its own tailored versions of the operating system.