Why would Steam not provide audio drivers for the Linux kernel?

[VanDaGo]

They provide Windows drivers. But no drivers for the Linux kernel, so one can use other Linux distributions and get audio from the Stream deck speakers

[tfk]

If it is specialized hardware then it's probably already sent to the kernel mailing list. There is always a bit of time involved before they end up in a release. If it's an existing piece of hardware then chances are it's already there.

[WarnerCK]

https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-5.16-Sound-Improvements

While Linux 5.15 brought the audio co-processor driver (ACP) for AMD Van Gogh, with Linux 5.16 is more Van Gogh enablement work. The Van Gogh support with Linux 5.16 is a new machine driver. This machine driver is for use with the NAU8821 and CS35L41 codecs.

Van Gogh is the APU in the Steam Deck.

[psymin]

My deck loads the snd_hda_intel kernel module for audio.

[deaddoof]

Getting patches into the Linux upstream is rather slow. Right now, headphone jack works with 6.0-rc1 but mic and speakers have issues.

You also need a kernel which has CONFIG_AMD_SPI enabled in order to probe the speakers.