GameNative: Bringing Steam Games to Android
System emulation Windows on Android has made some progress recently, but it’s nowhere near as user-friendly as most retro game emulators. A new app called GameNative aims to change that by letting you play games from your Steam library with minimal adjustments and modifications.
GameNative is an open source application based on the Pluvia platform, which creates a front-end for Steam games and uses the Winlator app as the backend for emulation. You simply log in to your Steam account, select the games you want to install locally on your Android device, and tap the Play button to start emulation.
GameNative is adding several new features to the Pluvia platform, including support for titles with DRM protection. This in itself significantly expands the library of playable games, although performance will also depend on your device’s specs. There are also several other improvements, including those in the areas of performance and graphics. There is also an on-screen keyboard and a controller overlay for comfortable playing on mobile devices. However, the app is still in development, so expect bugs and crashes.
Saving to is also supported, although online features are currently not working. Games that require an external launcher (like GTA V) are also incompatible. For these games, you will need to use streaming apps like Steam Link or Moonlight. You can download the app here.
