SteamOS now supports Intel graphics out of the box, AMD support coming

Valve's Linux-based operating system, SteamOS, now supports Intel graphics hardware out of the box, according to an update on the Steam Community by Valve employee Pierre-Loup A. Griffais, adding that support for AMD hardware is still being worked on.

Griffais' post outlines various updates made to the SteamOS beta, with a few fixes relating to Intel graphics. Valve made the Debian 7-based operating system available for download last month, rolling it out alongside the launch of the Steam Machine hardware beta where hardware prototypes were sent to 300 testers.

When Valve revealed the specs of the first wave of Steam Machine prototypes in October, all machines featured a Nvidia graphic cards. Doug Lombardi, the Vice President of marketing for Valve, reaffirmed several days later that the SteamOS-operated Steam Machines will not be Nvidia exclusive and will roll-out this year with AMD, Nvidia and Intel graphics hardware.

"Although the graphics hardware that we've selected for the first wave of prototypes is a variety of Nvidia cards, that is not an indication that Steam Machines are Nvidia-only," Lombardi stated at the time. "Valve has worked closely together with all three of these companies on optimizing their hardware for SteamOS, and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future."

During its press conference at CES 2014 today, Valve showcased more than a dozen third-party Steam Machines from its hardware partners. Custom PC builders and manufacturers signed on to produce third-party Steam Machines include Alienware, Alternate and Origin PC. The initial hardware specifications and pricing of machines that run SteamOS operating system were revealed during the event.