Recently, a script bringing display configuration for the Asus ROG Ally and ROG Ally X found its way into the main branch of Valve’s SteamOS Gamescope compositor on GitHub. This update specifically enables Gamescope to handle the full 48-120 Hz Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) capabilities of Asus’ flagship gaming handhelds. This move not only hints at the broader release of SteamOS for more PCs soon—after all, Valve has previously mentioned that expanding to other handhelds is a priority—but it also emphasizes the significance of the VRR feature in the ROG Ally devices.
If you’re not already familiar with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) technology, you might recognize it under the names G-Sync, which is Nvidia’s version, or FreeSync, by AMD. VRR tech synchronizes the display’s refresh rate with the frame rate of games or 3D applications in real-time. This prevents visual tearing and ensures the smoothest possible display within the VRR range. Although most displays cap their VRR around 40 Hz, the ability of the Asus ROG Ally to flex up to 120 Hz is quite impressive, especially for a handheld device.
This is not the only update related to Steam that we’ve observed lately, which signals SteamOS’s potential arrival on ROG Ally. In August, a SteamOS input layer update included support for the buttons on the Asus ROG Ally and ROG Ally X, a noteworthy addition made eight months after Valve talked about its larger plans for SteamOS concerning handhelds. Given Valve’s reputation for unpredictable timing, it’s unclear when they’ll officially roll out this much-anticipated version. However, with existing community-driven SteamOS 3 ports like Bazzite and HoloISO already in the mix, Valve isn’t under intense pressure to hurry their own release.
The update brings to light an interesting point: Valve’s own Steam Deck handhelds, including the Steam Deck OLED with its HDR capability up to 1000 nits, currently lack VRR support. With VRR integrated into SteamOS’ Gamescope compositor for both external and competing internal displays, there’s hope that Valve might introduce VRR in the future Steam Deck 2, whenever it arrives.
