Lenovo’s upcoming handheld console seems to be around the corner, as tech insiderEvan Blassjust shared images of what could be the Legion Go S. As per the images from the now-deleted X post, the console will come with a streamlined design and the option of black and white color variants.
What’s interesting though is if you look closely at the black variant, there is a dedicated Steam button near the left joystick. This suggests that Lenovo could be one of the first third-party manufacturers to launch a handheld gaming console based on SteamOS.
If that is the case, it would make Lenovo’s debut into the world of Linux-based handheld gaming, potentially opening doors to gaming solutions that cater to enthusiasts looking for a straightforward, portable experience. If you remember, back in AugustValve had explicitly saidthat it was working on bringing SteamOS to other devices, including theAsus ROG Ally.
According toThe Verge,Lenovo’s potential launch of a SteamOS-powered handheld comes right after Valve updated its branding guidelines in adocumentto include “Powered by SteamOS” hardware. This update strongly indicates that Valve is expanding collaborations with third-party manufacturers beyond Asus, potentially certifying a wider range of devices for SteamOS compatibility.
Launching a handheld console with SteamOS makes a lot of sense too, as it is optimized for the Steam gaming platform, offering access to thousands of games in a handheld-friendly interface. SteamOS also supports Proton, a compatibility layer that allows many Windows-based games to run on Linux.
Unlike theLegion Go, which debuted with detachable controllers, the Legion Go S features a more traditional design similar to the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally. From what we can gather, the handheld comes with a standard D-pad, two joysticks with RGB LED lighting, XYAB buttons, and front-firing speakers.
The white variant is particularly interesting as it looks identical to the previously leaked images of anunfinished chassisthat we saw a few months ago. Notably, the Steam key is not available on the white variant, which seems odd.
It is a possibility that Lenovo wants to give a secondary option to consumers by launching a Windows variant of the Legion Go S.
The Verge alsoreportsthat the Legion Go S will not be the only handheld that Lenovo plans to launch in the upcoming days. Blass has shared images of a new Legion Go (possibly a refresh) featuring the same detachable gamepads and a kickstand as the original. While there isn’t a lot of information on this device either, it will effectively come with an 8.8-inch OLED panel and most likely an upgrade to the new upcoming AMD Z2 Extreme chipset.
With CES 2025 only a few weeks away, we may not have to wait long to see what Lenovo and Valve have worked up.
