Valve has enabled optical drive support in the Steam Frame's Linux kernel, just one day after a user requested it on the Steam Community forums.
On October 18, user Aiodensghost posted that the Frame could not power their detachable disc drive or read discs, derailing plans to watch movies and install the 2006 game Need for Speed Carbon. Valve developer Gabe Rowe responded on October 19, and minutes later a commit landed in a public mirror of the Frame's kernel sources, adding CD drive support "for parity with steamdeck/machine."
Rowe enabled three existing kernel options as loadable modules: the generic CD-ROM layer, the SCSI CD-ROM driver for USB optical drives, and generic SCSI device access. These drivers have existed in Linux for decades, so no new code was required. However, the commit has not yet reached SteamOS builds, and Valve has not announced a release timeline.
Power delivery remains an issue, as a 60 W USB-C hub proved insufficient. Owners who paid $1,059 or more and need support now may have to build a custom kernel from the commit themselves.
Source: TechPowerUp News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing