Lenovo isn’t done with Valve just yet – leaked Legion Go 2 images suggest SteamOS could be offered as a Windows 11 alternative

• Leaked images of the Lenovo Legion Go 2 indicate the new handheld will have SteamOS variants
• The new device will be showcased at IFA 2025 in Berlin
• It comes amid Microsoft’s upcoming ‘full-screen experience’ for the ROG Xbox Ally X

IFA 2025 is about to kick off in Berlin, Germany, and recent leaks^[1] have indicated that the brand new Lenovo^[2] Legion Go 2 will be unveiled. Fortunately, it has given us more insight into what to expect.

As reported by Notebookcheck^[3], one of the leaked images from Evan Blass (evleaks^[4] on X) showcases the Lenovo Legion Go 2 using Valve’s SteamOS, which suggests that the device will at least have a SteamOS variant. This would follow in the same footsteps as its Lenovo Legion Go S^[5] counterpart, which has both AMD^[6] Ryzen Z2 Go and Ryzen Z1 Extreme SteamOS^[7] models.

It may not come as a huge surprise since Valve’s SteamOS is consistently growing in popularity, particularly for handhelds with access to Bazzite (a SteamOS clone). And Lenovo appears to be confident with the operating system^[8] with the Legion Go 2.

While the Legion Go 2 was announced and revealed earlier this January at CES 2025^[9], it was only a prototype, and it still hasn’t left that phase. However, the prototype seems to be identical to the model we can see in the leaked renders (available below), in terms of ergonomics, and it will still use AMD’s new Ryzen Z2 Extreme.

Lenovo will likely be sticking with Microsoft^[10]‘s Windows 11^[11] as the main operating system (for one or more of its models) as expected. After all though, Lenovo is the only mainstream manufacturer that has some of its handheld devices (obviously outside of Valve’s Steam Deck^[12]) officially licensed by SteamOS, and the Linux-based OS coming to yet another Lenovo handheld is a great sign that Valve may be stepping up efforts to bring SteamOS to other handhelds.

It’s also worth noting that the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally X^[13] from Asus and Microsoft will launch with a new ‘full-screen experience’ on Windows 11, which essentially uses the Xbox PC app to provide a handheld friendly user experience, almost replicating Valve’s SteamOS. Once this rolls out to other handhelds next year, it will be interesting how will fare against Valve’s magnum opus.

Analysis: this is great for other handhelds if Lenovo and Valve keep this up

I’ll be honest, the further away I can get from Microsoft’s Windows 11, especially on handheld gaming PCs, the better, and I’m loving what Lenovo and Valve are doing with the Legion Go handhelds.

This paves way for other mainstream manufacturers like Asus or MSI^[14] to eventually bring SteamOS to their devices, and I can tell you that my experience with the MSI Claw 8 AI+ makes me want that more than anything else. I’m sure the new Xbox full-screen experience will be great on Windows 11^[15], but I feel it’s too late to win me over as I’ve said before.

Again, there’s no official confirmation that SteamOS is coming to the Lenovo Legion Go 2, but I’m almost certain it will, as it would be odd for it to be in a render for the upcoming device, and also, the same has already been done with the Legion Go S.

I won’t be getting the Legion Go 2, especially if its going to be priced at what it’s speculated to be, but it’s certainly pleasing to see Valve looking beyond its Steam Deck in efforts to improve portable gaming experiences.

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