Google and Valve to Cease Steam for Chromebooks Experiment by 2026

Google and Valve have announced the termination of their “Steam for Chromebooks” experiment, ending support on January 1, 2026. This move marks the conclusion of an ambitious effort to bring popular gaming experiences to ChromeOS devices.

Initially launched in 2022, Steam on Chromebooks began as an alpha version for newer models equipped with Intel chips. Later in 2022, the beta version expanded support, including AMD CPUs and GPUs, which significantly broadened the accessibility of gaming on these devices.

Despite these advancements, the Steam for ChromeOS project faced hurdles, primarily related to hardware limitations. Many Chromebooks relied on older processors and integrated graphics, which impacted the performance of more demanding games, even those supported by the Proton compatibility layer that allows Windows games to run on Chromebooks.

The limited library of compatible games, totaling just 99 titles, mostly consisted of older or less resource-intensive games. While more demanding titles could technically run thanks to Proton, they were largely unplayable due to the hardware constraints traditionally associated with Chromebooks.

At one point, Google tested Chromebooks with Nvidia GPUs to improve game performance. However, these plans did not materialize, as boards for such models were discreetly shelved during their development phase.

The decision to discontinue the Steam experiment might stem from low usage statistics or a strategic move to streamline ChromeOS projects. Speculation suggests that Google is preparing to merge Android and ChromeOS, potentially prioritizing cloud-based gaming solutions in the future.

As gaming on Chromebooks continues to rely heavily on cloud services, the end of the Steam experiment will likely push users towards platforms like GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming, which remain optimized for ChromeOS.