Lenovo has officially announced the Legion Go S, a handheld gaming PC that runs on Valve's SteamOS, making it the first authorized third-party device to do so. This move marks a significant milestone in the gaming industry, as it provides gamers with a new option that rivals the Steam Deck. The Legion Go S is set to launch in May, priced at $499, with a Windows version also available, starting at $729.99.

The Legion Go S boasts a 1.6-pound design, featuring a sculpted grip and a 120Hz variable refresh rate screen, which is a highly desirable feature for smooth gameplay. The device is powered by a new AMD Ryzen Z2 Go chip, a Lenovo-exclusive processor that targets 20-watt performance, with configurable options up to 40 watts. This could potentially offer higher performance than the Steam Deck's chip, but at the cost of lower battery life, estimated to be between two and 2.5 hours in demanding games.

Valve has been working closely with Lenovo to ensure a seamless integration of SteamOS on the Legion Go S. Although the integration is not yet complete, Valve has confirmed that it will provide the same updates to the Legion Go S as it does to the Steam Deck, minus hardware-specific tweaks. This means that users can expect a consistent SteamOS experience across both devices.

Interestingly, Lenovo is not abandoning its Windows-based offerings, with the Windows version of the Legion Go S launching this month. This move is seen as a hedge against the uncertainty of the SteamOS market, as well as a way to cater to customers who prefer the Windows ecosystem. The Windows model will come with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, priced at $729.99.

Valve has confirmed that it is not keeping key Steam Deck features, such as precompiled shaders, exclusive to itself, and will make them available to other SteamOS devices. The company is also working on a new beta of SteamOS, which could potentially support other handheld devices in the future. This opens up possibilities for more SteamOS-powered devices to enter the market, further expanding the gaming ecosystem.

Lenovo is also exploring other gaming options, including a larger Legion Go 2 prototype with detachable controllers and an 8.8-inch OLED screen. Although there are no plans to put SteamOS on this device, the company is open to considering it based on customer feedback and momentum.

Valve has reiterated its commitment to building its own Steam Deck, despite partnering with companies like Lenovo. However, AMD's Z2 Go chip is not seen as a significant leap forward, and there are no plans to release a Z2-powered Steam Deck. The future of SteamOS and handheld gaming PCs looks promising, with Lenovo's Legion Go S marking a significant step forward in this space.