Archive · 3 Dec 2025
Valve Expands Steam Games to ARM Devices
Valve, the company behind the Steam gaming platform, is working on a way to run PC games on devices that use ARM chips, like many smartphones and tablets.
They already have a tool called Proton that helps run Windows games on Linux devices, like the Steam Deck.
Now, they're using another tool called FEX to make these games run smoothly on ARM chips.
This means you might be able to play your favorite PC games on more types of devices in the future.
Valve is supporting open-source projects to make this happen, and they're not building a new emulator for Android, but using existing tools to make it possible.
This could lead to better gaming experiences on ARM-based laptops, tablets, and handheld devices.
Valve is expanding Steam games to ARM devices using Proton and FEX technologies.
Proton converts Windows Direct3D calls to Vulkan, enabling PC games on Linux-based devices like the Steam Deck.
FEX is an emulator that translates x86 code to run efficiently on ARM chips, such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
Valve supports open-source projects to enable x86 Windows games on ARM smartphones and other devices.
This technology stack aims to eliminate barriers between Windows, Linux, x86, and ARM, expanding Steam's catalogue to non-Windows ARM ecosystems.
- Who
- Valve
- What
- Expanding Steam games to ARM devices using Proton and FEX
- When
- Ongoing, with future improvements expected
- Where
- ARM-based devices like smartphones, laptops, tablets, and handhelds
- Why
- To enable x86 Windows games on ARM architecture and expand Steam's reach
- Company
- Valve
- Technology
- Proton and FEX
- Architecture
- ARM
- Current Device
- Steam Deck
- Future Devices
- ARM smartphones, laptops, tablets, handhelds
- Example Chip
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Example Use Case
- Steam Frame VR headset