The recently unveiled Steam Frame is being heralded as a significant leap for Valve, marking its entry into the mobile gaming landscape. This innovative device can be likened to a wireless VR headset tailored for PC gaming, or perhaps a Steam Deck designed for immersive experiences. However, its implications extend far beyond mere gaming; it signals Valve’s commitment to integrating Android applications into its ecosystem.
Equipped with an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, the Steam Frame is not just a platform for Windows games. Valve is actively encouraging developers to adapt their Android applications for Steam, aiming to create a seamless experience for users. As Valve engineer Jeremy Selan explained, the goal is for users to effortlessly access their favorite titles: “From the user’s perspective, our preference is that they don’t even have to think about it, they just have their titles on Steam, they download them and hit play.”
To facilitate this transition, Valve is launching a developer kit program specifically for the Steam Frame, allowing developers to bring their existing Android APKs to the platform. This initiative appears to target VR developers, particularly those familiar with creating mobile VR content for devices like the Meta Quest. Selan noted, “They are now free to bring those to Steam, and they’ll just work on this device.” The performance is expected to be robust, as the code will run natively on the Arm processor, eliminating the need for translation.
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When inquiries arose regarding the potential for Android applications beyond gaming—such as integrating Discord for voice chat—Valve’s response was measured. Lawrence Yang from Valve acknowledged the company’s primary focus on gaming but did not rule out the possibility of broader software integration. “We’ve never disinvited people from doing that,” he stated, emphasizing that tools and software like Blender could find a place within the Steam ecosystem.
Selan added that while they are still developing features, there are plans for rich browser integration, allowing users to multitask and access various web applications seamlessly. “We expect that will bridge a lot of that gap,” he remarked, hinting at future capabilities that could enhance the user experience.
Looking ahead, Valve’s ambitions for the Steam Frame may extend well beyond its initial offerings. With potential changes in Android’s app store policies on the horizon, Valve could explore new avenues for distributing games on mobile devices, similar to strategies employed by competitors like Epic Games. Additionally, reports indicate that users will have the option to sideload Android APKs onto the Steam Frame, further expanding its versatility.
Moreover, Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais hinted at the possibility of adapting SteamOS for a broader range of Arm-based devices in the future. He expressed optimism about the Steam Frame’s role in paving the way for SteamOS to function on various handhelds and laptops, suggesting that this is merely the beginning of a much larger vision.
