A recent update to Valve’s SteamOS Gamescope compositor caught the attention of gaming enthusiasts when a script enhancing display configuration for the Asus ROG Ally and ROG Ally X was added to its master branch on GitHub. This update now allows Gamescope to fully utilize the 48-120 Hz Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) spectrum available on Asus’ top-tier gaming handhelds. This development isn’t just an exciting hint of SteamOS expanding to more PCs in the near future—a move Valve has indicated is a major priority—but it also highlights one of the key features of the ROG Ally devices.
For those unfamiliar with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) technology, the terms G-Sync for Nvidia or FreeSync for AMD might ring a bell. Essentially, VRR tech allows a display’s refresh rate to automatically sync with the frame rate of a game or application, cutting down on visual tearing and promoting a smoother overall experience within the supported VRR range. Many displays offer a VRR range that starts dropping off at around 40 Hz, so having the flexibility to go up to 120 Hz, especially on a handheld device like the Asus ROG Ally, is quite impressive.
This isn’t the first hint towards Valve prepping SteamOS for the ROG Ally. Back in August, an update to the input layer for SteamOS introduced compatibility with the button layouts of the Asus ROG Ally and ROG Ally X. This update came about eight months after Valve’s initial statement regarding their handheld-first strategy for a wider SteamOS release. While the elusive pace of Valve’s development—often referred to as Valve Time—means it’s hard to pinpoint exactly when we’ll see the complete rollout, existing community-driven projects like Bazzite and HoloISO suggest there’s no rush.
Interestingly, this update also sheds light on a notable gap in Valve’s own Steam Deck lineup, including the Steam Deck OLED. These devices, despite supporting HDR at levels up to 1000 nits, currently do not feature VRR. With Gamescope’s VRR capabilities for both external and competitive internal displays, gamers are hopeful that Valve might finally integrate VRR in any future iteration like the potential Steam Deck 2. Only time will tell.
