Steam Frame kernel updated with external CD-ROM drive compatibility just one day after a user asked Valve for it
Even with the importance of physical media ownership in the current era of digital product ephemera, it's often unlikely your PC will actually be able to play the CDs, DVDs or Blu-Rays you have around the house. Internal disc drives aren't common amongst desktops or even laptops anymore, so your only recourse is often an external drive. One Steam Frame user was hoping to connect his own…
When a Steam Frame owner inquired about the headset's compatibility with a detachable disc drive, Valve developer gaberow stated they were investigating the issue. The request was submitted by AiodensGhost on October 18, and developer gaberow responded on October 19, committing the feature to the Steam Frame kernel within ten minutes.
This unexpected addition proved beneficial for AiodensGhost, who intended to use the Steam Frame to watch a movie on the go using their computer's CD drive. However, the headset's inability to power the player and lack of drivers to read discs rendered this solution impractical. The mention of Need for Speed Carbon suggests users might opt to play older games from CD-ROMs instead of streaming them from digital libraries - an option rendered necessary as games like Carbon are no longer officially available on Steam.
While the Steam Frame is primarily designed for VR games, its comfortable design and screen make it an appealing device for 2D games and movies, suggesting CD-ROM support could enhance its versatility. However, it's important to note that kernel-level support doesn't guarantee all Steam Frame units will receive this feature officially.
Valve could implement the change in a future update if they choose to, but this hasn't been confirmed. For those interested in adding this support themselves, the kernel can be installed via the Deckard Linux no oopsies repo, bypassing the need for an official update. It's highly likely that few users will require disc drive support, given the limited demand.
Written by urgent.news from PC Gamer's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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