Steam Deck Software in 2026: Checking In With The Developers Behind The Ecosystem

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The Steam Deck has been around for a few years now. In handheld terms, that's long enough for the ecosystem to settle, communities form, projects to grow up, and for the people building software around a platform to figure out what works, what doesn't and where things might be heading next.<br>Despite a flood of 'competing' handheld PCs arriving in the years since launch, and even Android devices increasingly pushing into PC gaming territory, the Steam Deck still feels like the center of the handheld PC gaming world as we move through 2026. Most of the software people use on it every day didn't even exist when the Deck first launched. Projects have grown alongside it, evolving from small utilities into essential parts of the experience.<br>So, approaching the middle of 2026, I thought it might be interesting to check in with a handful of developers building software for the Steam Deck scene. Most are friends I have spoken to before here on the 'Review, and one new face as well, to see how things are going, how their projects are evolving, and what the state of Steam Deck software looks like today.<br>You'll hear from RetroDECK, Junk Store, Heroic Games Launcher, Decky Loader, Lutris and Unifideck. This is my mini State of Steam Deck Software (2026 edition)!<br>RetroDECK:<br>Lazorne and Xargon are repsenting the RetroDECK team, sharing their statements with me<br>RetroDECK<br>RetroDECK is a polished, beginner-friendly retro gaming platform for Linux systems, available with just one click from Flathub.

How do you view the Steam Deck ecosystem in 2026?<br>Laz: Valve’s progress in Linux gaming has been remarkable. With Linux gamers now representing nearly 5% of the Steam user base, the ecosystem is thriving. This momentum has also inspired a range of spinoff projects, such as Bazzite and Nobara, while encouraging greater standardization efforts across multiple Linux distribution communities. These groups are increasingly able to share technology and collaborate through initiatives like the Open Games Collective.<br>It had been a long time coming since the first Steam Machines and Valve’s initial investment in Linux during the Windows Vista era.<br>The Steam Deck is more than just a handheld device, it represents the culmination of Valve’s decades-long commitment to Linux gaming.<br>Thus the ecosystem is great!

Has the community or software landscape changed in ways that surprised you?<br>Laz: Yes, I think the growth has been even greater than I initially expected. More developers have become passionate about supporting Linux and FOSS, driven in part by the poor reception of Windows 11 and a growing awareness of the software people run on their hardware, alongside the major improvements in game compatibility on Linux.<br>The Unity ”Fee Controversy” also pushed many game development studios to reconsider their tools, leading some to move toward Godot as a free and more ethical alternative. That shift has further strengthened the broader open-source ecosystem.<br>Linux and software freedom are no longer just niche topics discussed by computer enthusiasts. Increasingly, even non-technical users are beginning to appreciate the benefits they offer from greater control and transparency to privacy, customization and long-term control of their devices.

Is what you make still as relevant now as it was the day it was released?<br>Laz: One of the biggest reasons I bought the Steam Deck was Valve’s long-standing track record of supporting its hardware. I did not know whether it would become such a major success, but I remembered the Steam Link. Valve released the hardware back in 2015 and discontinued it in 2018, yet even eight years after its discontinuation, it is still receiving updates. The latest build, version 918, was released on February 25, 2026.<br>The device still works flawlessly, allowing me to stream games from my gaming PC to my old TV without any issues.<br>The Steam Deck has been a far greater success than the Steam Link ever was and Valve continues to add new features and improvements on a regular basis. Very few companies in the industry support their hardware with such a long-term strategy, and for me, that alone makes Valve’s devices stand out above the competition. A device may have more raw performance or better battery life, but if its firmware and software eventually become obsolete, the burden falls on the community to keep it alive.<br>What makes Valve different is that they embraced openness from the beginning, giving enthusiasts and tinkerers the freedom to modify, repair, and extend the lifespan of their devices instead of locking them down.

RetroDECK is something many Steam Deck users interact with every single day. Maybe not every owner, but certainly a large portion of the community. How...