SteamOS beta runs on MSI Claw as Intel handheld support takes shape

SteamOS 3.8.7 beta appears to be the first build with real Intel processor support, and YouTuber ETA Prime has already tested it on an MSI Claw 8 AI+ running an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Lunar Lake chip. Until now, SteamOS officially supported only AMD-based handhelds — the Steam Deck, Legion Go S, and ROG Ally.

The 3.8.7 beta release notes mention improved compatibility with recent Intel and AMD platforms, plus explicit controller support for MSI Claw devices and SD card readability fixes for the same. ETA Prime's hands-on shows the OS boots and runs games, but there are rough edges: the left-side menu button doesn't work properly, forcing a switch to desktop/mouse mode, and TDP adjustment is broken without a third-party plugin. Cyberpunk 2077 also runs better on Windows for now, so game optimisation still has a way to go.

Valve's timing lines up with MSI's upcoming Claw 8 EX AI+, a Panther Lake-powered handheld that's already drawn attention. The beta notes even reference new initial firmware for upcoming Intel handhelds, suggesting Valve is actively building toward an official Intel release rather than just experimenting.

This is still a beta, and the current experience is clearly unfinished — but the direction is obvious. The bigger question mark hanging over the new Claw isn't software compatibility, it's price: early indications suggest it won't be cheap.