[Bug] 6GHz Wi-Fi drops and fails to recover consistently during Remote Play loading screens / traffic transitions

Your system information

• Steam Deck OLED
• SteamOS version: 3.8.16
• OS Build: 20260716.1
• Opted into Steam client beta?: [No]
• Opted into SteamOS beta?: [No]
• Have you checked for updates in Settings > System?: [Yes]
• Steam controller connected via USB to Dock w/puck
• Steam deck in Dock with HDMI to TV
• Router: ASUS AXE11000 tri band router, model ET12

Note: have troubleshooted with capping remote play frame rate, low latency networking is enabled, and using legacy wpa_supplicant to try and alleviate sudden dropouts. None help. Issue is 100% reproducible. There seems to be a genuine kernel/device trigger with the network driver buffer being overwhelmed by a traffic burst or wifi power management kicking on.

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

Describe what you expected should happen and what did happen.

When connected to a 6GHz (Wi-Fi 6E) network, the Steam Deck's wireless connection consistently drops during game loading screens while using Steam Remote Play. The issue appears to be triggered by the abrupt shift in network traffic patterns (from high-bitrate streaming to near-zero traffic, followed by an immediate state reload). Once dropped, the adapter fails to automatically reconnect or requires re-authentication.

Specifically in this case, Palworld. Any time a Palworld loading screen is triggered, the Steam Deck's adapter drops the 6GHz connection and requires a restart.

Steps for reproducing this issue:

Steps to Reproduce:
​1. Connect Steam Deck to a dedicated 6GHz Wi-Fi network.
​2. Initiate a Steam Remote Play session from a host PC.
​3. Trigger an in-game action that initiates a heavy loading screen or zone transition. (Like fast travel in Palworld)
​4. Observe the network drop (red connection icon followed by a complete Wi-Fi disconnection).
5. Restart Wi-Fi interface
6. Reconnect to 6Ghz
7. Can reconnect to remote play session

Start by reproducing the issue on a Steam Deck OLED with SteamOS 3.8.16, a dedicated 6GHz network, and Steam Remote Play, following the Palworld loading-screen steps. Observe whether the Wi-Fi connection drops and requires an interface restart and re-authentication; done means the transition no longer causes the connection to fail or prevents recovery.