Steam doesn’t need to be explained. After all, Steam is the most popular PC game library. But even the best Chromebooks ever were inaccessible outside of Steam Link or sideloading. Google finally decided to bring this platform to ChromeOS, but it’s still in alpha and needs some work to get access. Here’s everything you need to know about how to play Steam games on ChromeOS, including which Chromebooks you can access it from.
Check if your Chromebook can be supported
I’d like to know which Chromebooks support Steam games, but unfortunately not many. Google has very specific criteria for Chromebooks with processing power to support Steam OS, listed below.
- 11th generation Core i5 or i7 processor
- 12th generation Core i3 or newer
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 3 or higher
- Requires at least 8 GB of RAM
Chromebooks running older Intel CPUs or with less RAM will not be able to handle Steam. At this time it is unknown if AMD Ryzen Chromebooks with enough RAM will be supported.
Chromium Steam Support Page (opens in new tab)Google specifically states:
So if your Chromebook isn’t on the list below, it’s unlikely to get support. You can buy one of these models or wait for a new Chromebook with similar high-end specs.
How to play Steam games on ChromeOS
If you have the right Chromebook, you can follow the steps below to play Steam games on Chromebook and ChromeOS. Start by switching your Chromebook to the Beta channel.
1. click time icon It’s in the lower right corner of the display.
2. click setting gear.
3. select About ChromeOS It’s in the lower left corner of the window.
Four. click Further details.
Five. Tap change channel and choose beta.
Your computer will download the updates and restart. Once you’ve enabled the Dev Channel, you can enable your computer for Steam by following these steps:
6. Open chromium pasting chrome://flags in the address bar.
7. scroll down to find #Borealis support. Switch this to valid. The computer will restart.
Once your Chromebook has restarted, you can launch Steam by simply searching for it in the app launcher. Unlike when Steam on ChromeOS was in alpha, you no longer need to open up a Crosh terminal and enter a specific prompt. Instead, make sure you’re on the Beta channel and enable the appropriate flags.
What games are supported?
In the aforementioned Chromium help page (opens in new tab), the developer listed a set of games that ran successfully on Steam for ChromeOS. Some games work without warning, but more demanding games like Fallout 4 and The Witcher 3 recommend lower graphics settings or work better on i7 devices than i5 devices. .
So far, about 50 games are semi-officially supported as of early June. However, with new versions of ChromeOS rolling out all the time, Google encourages users to try out Steam games that aren’t on the list. If you find a game that works but isn’t included, you can send us feedback so we can add your favorite game to the list.
Google also warns that “games that require more than 6GB of RAM” can cause problems even on Chromebooks with 8GB. .
Similarly, Chromebooks with “display resolution greater than 1080p” may also experience issues. For example, a device like the Spin 713 with a 2K display can have issues.
When will Steam for ChromeOS be officially available?
Ultimately, Google should make Steam available as a traditional app. No need to access it in such a complicated way. However, when asked when it will reach the beta or stable channel, the Google developer said, “We don’t have a specific date to commit to. We will expand availability once we feel the product is ready.” I will.”
Steam for ChromeOS is (kind of) here
If the above steps are too difficult or your Chromebook is not compatible, you can always use the Steam Link with the official Chrome app. As long as you have another Steam compatible device, you can stream to any Chromebook, regardless of RAM or processor. Until the official app arrives or Google expands the program, this will not solve the problem.
Otherwise, we recommend purchasing one of the supported Chromebooks listed above. This could be the first one to get official access.Among that list, the Spin 713 is the second best Chromebook available. It has a great display, long-lasting battery, and the best performance you can expect from any Chromebook.
I also reviewed the Acer Chromebook 516 GE and was very impressed. This Chromebook beast features a huge 16-inch display with QHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, perfect for gaming. But Acer includes up to HDMI 2.1, so you can connect to your favorite gaming monitor and play on the big screen.
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Robust ChromeOS performance
Acer has made the Spin 713 ready for any Android game. Now that excess power is useful for Steam games. The unique 3:2 2K display gives you more vertical space for both browsing and gaming.
Fast, Responsive, Superior
Acer’s Chromebook 516 GE features a 16-inch QHD display with a refresh rate of 120Hz and a customizable RGB keyboard. It may be marketed for cloud gaming, but the 516 GE is also powerful enough to handle your favorite Steam games.
