SteamOS 3.8.25 Beta is now rolling out to the Beta and Preview update channels, giving Steam Deck owners and SteamOS desktop users early access to features still under test. The update, posted by Valve on Steam News, continues the company’s rapid system-update cadence, with changes that haven’t yet reached the stable branch.
To get the update, open Settings > System > System Update Channel on your Steam Deck or SteamOS device and confirm you’re enrolled in Beta or Preview. Once selected, SteamOS will download and install 3.8.25 like any other system update. The channel system exists so Valve can validate graphics fixes, input changes, and system-level behavior without forcing experimental code on everyone.
This beta ships with a known issue: degraded performance can appear when composition is required, particularly when FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) is enabled. Composition is the process where the compositor arranges windows, overlays, and game frames into the final image sent to the display, and any hiccup there makes games feel stuttery even when raw frame rates are high. Valve notes this issue is already resolved in the latest SteamOS stable release, 3.8.16, and recommends that affected users switch back to the stable channel while the fix is ported forward.
The practical takeaway depends on your tolerance for instability. If you want to test the newest SteamOS features and don’t rely heavily on FSR, installing 3.8.25 Beta is low-risk. If FSR upscaling is central to your setup—especially on a Steam Deck LCD where performance headroom is limited—stay on stable 3.8.16 until Valve ships the fix to Beta. The company hasn’t published an expected arrival date for that patch, so monitor the official Steam News post for announcements. You can also track user reports and edge-case discoveries in the Steam Community discussions.
For broader context on recent SteamOS updates, see Steam Deck June Updates: Client Fixes + SteamOS 3.8.9 Beta on zBrandco.
