“We’re trying to make it easier”: Valve confirm the Steam Frame is just the start of plans to get Steam games working on compatibility-challenged ARM PCs
Valve has confirmed plans to expand its gaming compatibility technology beyond the Steam Frame VR headset. The Steam Frame is unique among VR headsets for its ability to run Steam games entirely on its own internal hardware—functioning as a self-contained SteamOS PC, though it currently faces RAM shortage constraints.
However, Valve sees this compatibility technology as having far broader applications. According to Valve staff speaking with Rock Paper Shotgun, the company plans to bring the technology to a wider range of PCs and laptops, with the goal of making previously “compatibility-challenged” devices—particularly ARM-based computers—into viable gaming platforms.
The compatibility tech underlying these efforts is based on FEX. While the article excerpt doesn’t provide extensive details about implementation timelines or specific technical approaches, Valve’s confirmation of these broader plans suggests this is an active initiative extending beyond the Steam Frame itself. The potential impact could be significant: devices previously unsuitable for gaming might become fully functional gaming systems through this compatibility technology.