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Emulating PC games on Android is easier than ever, and you can thank Valve
BetaBeacon
December 4, 2025

Emulating PC games on Android is easier than ever, and you can thank Valve

Valve is contributing to Windows emulation on Android by sponsoring the development of key emulation tools such as the Pex emulator and the Proton compatibility layer. These tools allow Windows games designed for traditional x86 PC hardware to run on Arm architecture, enabling PC emulation on devices like Android phones and tablets.
Valve has been funding Windows on ARM emulation "since the beginning" as it aims to "expand PC gaming"
AppWizard
December 4, 2025

Valve has been funding Windows on ARM emulation “since the beginning” as it aims to “expand PC gaming”

Valve has been funding the open-source emulator FEX since its inception, which enables Windows games to run on ARM Linux devices. FEX recently celebrated its seventh anniversary and acknowledged Valve's crucial support. Pierre-Loup Griffais, a software engineer at Valve, stated that all core FEX developers have been funded by Valve, highlighting the project's significance for the gaming ecosystem and SteamOS. Griffais expressed optimism about the future of FEX, anticipating nearly a decade of development before it becomes reliable for widespread use. He emphasized the goal of providing a consistent gaming experience across different architectures without users needing to worry about compatibility. Valve's tools, including Proton, Lepton, and FEX, are expected to enhance the gaming experience, with a focus on living room, handheld, and desktop devices.
Steam Deck lead reveals Valve is funding ARM compatibility of Windows games “to expand PC gaming” and release “ultraportables” in the future
AppWizard
December 3, 2025

Steam Deck lead reveals Valve is funding ARM compatibility of Windows games “to expand PC gaming” and release “ultraportables” in the future

Valve has been supporting Fex, an open-source initiative for enabling Windows games to run on ARM architecture, for nearly ten years. The Fex compatibility layer was developed to ensure reliability for gamers. Valve aims to expand PC gaming options by allowing Windows games to operate on ARM devices, which could include low-power laptops, tablets, and smartphones. The company is developing an ARM version of SteamOS that will maintain the same core components as its x86 version, with a tailored version of Proton that includes the Fex emulator. While there are challenges with compatibility, particularly with modern multiplayer titles and anti-cheat mechanisms, Valve is working to address these issues. The demand for alternatives to Windows in the gaming market is increasing, particularly with the success of SteamOS on the Steam Deck.
Windows 10’s demise fuels Linux hype again — but will Bazzite finally break the “forever up‑and‑comer” curse? There's a chance.
Winsage
December 3, 2025

Windows 10’s demise fuels Linux hype again — but will Bazzite finally break the “forever up‑and‑comer” curse? There’s a chance.

Microsoft has discontinued support for Windows 10, leading to around 500 million PCs being eligible for an upgrade to Windows 11, though many users remain on the unsupported platform. Zorin OS has gained approximately 780,000 users migrating from Windows within a month of this decision. Bazzite, a Linux-based gaming distribution, surpassed one petabyte of ISO downloads in a month, serving around 150,000 ISOs and attracting 730,000 visitors. Bazzite offers better hardware compatibility and pre-installed drivers for NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, making it a strong alternative to SteamOS. The improved compatibility of Windows games on Linux, aided by Valve's Proton, is contributing to the trend of users exploring alternatives to Windows.
New testing finds SteamOS easily dominates Windows for gaming
Winsage
December 1, 2025

New testing finds SteamOS easily dominates Windows for gaming

Ars Technica conducted a comparison between SteamOS and Windows 11 using the Lenovo Legion Go S handheld. The testing revealed that SteamOS 3.7 generally outperformed Windows 11 in recent games, achieving higher average frames per second (fps) without hardware changes. Specifically, SteamOS showed a significant advantage in three out of five tested games, with Cyberpunk 2077 improving from 44.6 fps to 52.4 fps. The only game favoring Windows was Borderlands 3, with a slight advantage of about 1%. SteamOS operates through a Proton translation layer for Windows games, allowing it to outperform Windows 11. Additionally, SteamOS has a more efficient system architecture, resulting in reduced overhead compared to Windows 11. Microsoft is working on optimizations for Windows to address these performance issues.
Why people keep flocking to Linux in 2025 (and it's not just to escape Windows)
Winsage
November 28, 2025

Why people keep flocking to Linux in 2025 (and it’s not just to escape Windows)

The Linux desktop has seen a rise in popularity, attributed to user distrust in Microsoft Windows, particularly as Windows 10 nears the end of its support life. Zorin OS 18 achieved 1 million downloads in its first month, with 78% from Windows users. Linux desktop market share increased from 1.5% in 2020 to over 4% in 2024, with a peak of over 5% in the US by 2025. The current US figure shows Linux at 3.49%, while the "unknown" category accounts for 4.21%, suggesting many could be running Linux. ChromeOS, a Linux variant, has a market share of 3.67%, bringing the total Linux desktop market share to approximately 11.37%. When including Android, Linux's presence rises to 41.71% in the US and 72.55% globally. The Digital Analytics Program reports a 5.8% market share for Linux desktops, up from 0.67% a decade ago, with a total of 23.3% when including Chrome OS and Android for government site access. Windows 10 holds a 16.9% market share, while Windows 11 is at 13.5%. Factors driving Linux adoption include Microsoft's shift to cloud services, improved gaming capabilities, better usability, hardware compatibility, and concerns about privacy. Approximately 25% of Windows 10 PCs cannot upgrade to Windows 11, with 26% of users planning to continue using Windows 10 post-support. Digital sovereignty is becoming important for users outside the US, with European governments seeking alternatives to Microsoft, leading to increased exploration of Linux solutions.
SteamOS is so close to greatness — but can Valve finally crack anti‑cheat and remove the biggest barrier holding PC gamers back?
AppWizard
November 27, 2025

SteamOS is so close to greatness — but can Valve finally crack anti‑cheat and remove the biggest barrier holding PC gamers back?

SteamOS is a Linux-based operating system developed by Valve, designed for the Steam Deck and other compatible devices, offering features like cloud saves and cross-device connectivity. However, it faces challenges with compatibility for games that use kernel-level anti-cheat systems and require Trusted Platform Module 2.0 support. Notably, games like Rust and Apex Legends have dropped support for SteamOS and Linux due to concerns over cheating and low user bases. Valve is working on anti-cheat solutions for SteamOS, but the lack of support from developers remains a significant barrier. Valve's hardware roadmap includes the Steam Machine and Steam Deck, but the Steam Machine will not receive financial subsidies like the Steam Deck. The success of SteamOS may depend on its ability to attract a substantial user base and persuade developers to collaborate on integrating anti-cheat systems.
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