Valve Releases Steam Deck Audio Drivers for Windows
In a nutshell: Valve has finally released audio drivers for installing Windows on Steam Deck. Up to this point, the only way to get audio from a Windows console was to use USB-C or Bluetooth, since neither the speakers nor the 3.5mm audio jack worked.
Valve released an initial set of Windows drivers for the Steam Deck portable device in early March. However, these drivers lacked support for the Trusted Platform Module (fTPM) firmware, which limited installation to Windows 10 only. Valve also waited for AMD to prepare audio drivers. Support for Windows 11 will arrive later in the month.
It is technically possible to dual boot SteamOS and Windows, but Valve has yet to release a dual boot wizard to enable this feature. For now, you’ll have to wipe your Steam deck to install Windows or maintain two separate drives (NVMe models) and swap them out as needed.
Hi all! We are happy to announce that audio drivers are now available for Windows 10 and Windows 11 on Steam Deck! For instructions and more information, please visit the following link: https://t.co/zjU2Ubr8l0
— Steam Deck (@OnDeck) May 13, 2022
Steam Deck is arguably the most sought after item in gaming. The handheld gaming system was announced last summer but was two months late with its scheduled December 2021 launch date.
Pricing starts at $399 for the 64GB eMMC storage model direct from Valve, but new order availability is currently October 2022 or later. Many have turned to third-party marketplaces like eBay to get a quicker appraisal of a system where you’ll pay a hefty premium over retail.
