HoloISO is SteamOS 3 Without the Deck (2024)

HoloISO is SteamOS 3 Without the Deck (1)

Like the look of SteamOS 3 but don’t want to go to the expense of getting a Steam Deck just to use it? HoloISO has a solution, as reported by Gaming on Linux.

Valve’s failure to release a version of SteamOS 3 to the general public looks like a major oversight, especially as an earlier version - based on Debian 8, aka Jessie - is still hanging around with a warning it’s not compatible with Steam Deck. The available version is a hangover from Valve’s earlier flirtation with hardware, the Steam Machine, and even comes with instructions on how to build a DIY machine. Otherwise, all that’s available from Valve is a Steam Deck recovery image.

The version our Steam Deck-owning friends are using is no longer based on Debian (a version based on Debian 9 was canned last year), but instead uses Arch Linux as its foundations. It contains the Proton Windows compatibility layer, and goes by the codename Holo.

Hence the name of HoloISO, which can be found on GitHub as a repository from Adam Jafarov. “The code, and packages are straight from Valve with zero possible edits. [The] ISO is being built on [the] official Steam Deck recovery image running inside [a] QEMU instance,” the Readme file reads. There are a few caveats for anyone wanting to try it out: the ISO only boots if written to a flash drive with one of four apps (BalenaEtcher, RosaImageWriter, Fedora Media Writer or dd with 4MB block size). It doesn’t play well with Nvidia GPUs, requiring proprietary drivers, and Intel Arc or integrated GPUs aren’t looking great either, requiring a tweak to Gamescope and MESA.

What does work, assuming you have the compatible hardware, include the first-boot experience, Plasma desktop (including Valve’s Vapor skin), the Deck interface, and behind the scenes stuff like shader precaching, neofetch, and FPS limiting.

It might be worth waiting a little while to see how quickly the project solves its current problems, however, as the latest release, known as Hallway Pizza, is “probably” the final beta before a stable version is released.

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HoloISO is SteamOS 3 Without the Deck (6)

Ian Evenden

Freelance News Writer

Ian Evenden is a UK-based news writer for Tom’s Hardware US. He’ll write about anything, but stories about Raspberry Pi and DIY robots seem to find their way to him.

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1 CommentComment from the forums

  • -Fran-

    But it's not like you need SteamOS to take advantage of Proton. You can just make use of all the things they've added to it in any Linux distro. I know because I have SteamOS in a VM and have Proton working in it just fine playing stuff for experimentation.

    As for all the other things they've added to the OS. Well, they're specific to the Steam Deck and hardly "portable" to a regular PC build. They can't release all of that without first trying to make it non-tailor made, no? Or at least, that's what I'd say. Happy to be wrong there, though.

    Regards.

    Reply

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HoloISO is SteamOS 3 Without the Deck (2024)

FAQs

Is HoloISO the same as SteamOS? ›

HoloISO itself is designed to give you a close-enough version of SteamOS to use on other systems, and so the new immutable HoloISO should hopefully be more reliable.

How to set up HoloISO? ›

Installation:
  1. Flash the ISO from releases using BalenaEtcher, Rufus with DD mode, or by typing sudo dd if=SteamOS. ...
  2. Boot into ISO.
  3. Click on "Install SteamOS on this device"
  4. Follow on-screen instructions.
  5. Take your favourite hot beverage, and wait 'till it installs :3.
Feb 12, 2024

Is SteamOS the same as Steam Deck? ›

SteamOS is a Linux distribution developed by Valve. It incorporates Valve's popular namesake Steam video game storefront and is the primary operating system for the Steam Deck, Valve's portable gaming device, as well as Valve's earlier Steam Machines. SteamOS is open source with some closed source components.

Is SteamOS good for a desktop? ›

Most importantly, SteamOS only supports a certain set of hardware (you can read more in our FAQ). We will add support for newer hardware over time, but we have no plans to add more support for older hardware. Users should not consider SteamOS as a replacement for their desktop operating system.

What is SteamOS 3 based on? ›

Which Linux distribution is SteamOS based on? SteamOS is a Linux-based operating system, originally based on Debian 8. With Valve's Steam Deck handheld gaming device, SteamOS's latest version (SteamOS 3.0) uses Arch Linux as its base because of its rolling-release update schedule.

What is the recommended hardware for SteamOS? ›

  • Intel or AMD 64-bit capable processor.
  • 4GB or more memory.
  • 500GB or larger disk.
  • NVIDIA, AMD (RADEON 8500 and later), or Intel graphics card.
  • UEFI boot support.
  • USB port for installation.

How to install holoiso on VMware? ›

Upload the Holo-Console ISO File
  1. Using the vSphere Web UI, connect to the ESXi server.
  2. Select an appropriate datastore with enough spare capacity to host the Holo-Console custom ISO image.
  3. Open the Datastore Browser for the selected datastore.
  4. Select Upload.

How to install SteamOS 2024? ›

Automated Installation
  1. Download the SteamOS installation.
  2. Unzip the SteamOS.zip file to a blank, FAT32-formatted USB stick. ...
  3. Put the USB stick in your target machine. ...
  4. Make sure you select the UEFI entry, it may look something like "UEFI: Patriot Memory PMAP". ...
  5. Selected "Automated install (WILL ERASE DISK!)" from the menu.

How to turn a Chromebook into a Steam deck? ›

How to use Steam Link on a Chromebook:
  1. Open the Google Play Store and install Steam Link.
  2. Ensure your Chromebook is connected to the same network as your other computer.
  3. Open the Steam Link app.
  4. Hit Get Started.
  5. Pair a Steam-compatible controller if you have one.
Jun 4, 2024

Is anything better than Steam Deck? ›

The Logitech G Cloud is an awesome Steam Deck Alternative if you don't mind streaming most of your games. Much like the Razer Edge, the Logitech G Cloud is another Steam Deck alternative that runs on a mobile chipset.

What is the stable version of SteamOS? ›

The current SteamOS Stable version is 3.5. 19, and for most of the lifespan of SteamOS 3.5, the SteamOS "Main" beta branch had the upcoming 3.6 update.

Can SteamOS run all Steam games? ›

Technically speaking, the Steam Deck has the potential to run any Steam game you have in your library, but whether all games will run well, is another question. Valve has a list of games that have been optimized for use on the Steam Deck – listed as Steam Deck-verified games.

How much RAM does SteamOS use? ›

List of System Requirements
Memory4 GB (or more) RAM
Hard Drive200 GB or larger hard disk
Video CardNVIDIA graphics card
AMD graphics card (RADEON 8500 and later)
Intel graphics
4 more rows
Apr 24, 2024

Is Steam Deck a full PC? ›

That said, Steam Deck is a PC and you can easily get to the desktop and do even more. Here are answers to a few common questions we've received about using the desktop on Steam Deck. How do I get to the desktop? How do I get back to Deck UI from the desktop?

How to turn a Steam Deck into a PC? ›

Plug the keyboard and mouse into the USB ports.
  1. Now connect the power lead to the mains and ensure the Steam Deck is on.
  2. With the Steam Deck in Desktop Mode, users will get prompted to mirror the display or operate the machine on the TV/Monitor only like a docked Nintendo Switch.
Jun 11, 2024

What is the Steam Deck OS called? ›

On Steam Deck, your games run on a different operating system than the one on your desktop PC. It's called SteamOS, and it was built with Steam Deck in mind and optimized for a handheld gaming experience.

What Linux distro is SteamOS based on? ›

Last Update: 2024-02-02 02:44 UTC

SteamOS is a Debian-based Linux distribution designed to run Valve's Steam and Steam games. It also provides a desktop mode (GNOME) which can run regular Linux applications.

Is Steamworks the same as Steam? ›

Steamworks, an application programming interface (API) released in 2008, is used by developers to integrate Steam's functions, including digital rights management (DRM), into their game products. Many game publishers began distributing their products on Steam that year.

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