Steam’s New Handheld Will Run Android Games
▼ Summary
– Valve unveiled Steam Frame, a VR headset that can handle both VR and non-VR games and bring Android games directly to Steam users.
– Valve will support developers in bringing Android apps to Steam by releasing a developer kit for those using Android APKs.
– The goal is a seamless user experience where Android games on Steam download and play without additional steps.
– Steam Frame uses an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon chip to run Android apps directly, enabling easy access on the device.
– Valve also announced a Steam Machine for playing PC games in living rooms and a Steam Controller, with competitive pricing expected for the Steam Machine.
Valve has pulled back the curtain on its upcoming gaming hardware, offering a first glimpse of devices designed to expand the Steam ecosystem, including a new virtual reality headset named Steam Frame. This headset is engineered to handle both traditional VR and standard gaming experiences. Notably, the company plans to leverage this hardware to bridge a significant gap, bringing the vast library of Android games directly to the Steam platform for the first time.
Reports confirm that Valve is actively supporting and encouraging developers to port their Android applications over to Steam. To facilitate this process, the company will provide a specialized Steam Frame developer kit. This kit is aimed particularly at developers who are already experienced with creating Android APKs, including those who design for mobile VR headsets.
A Valve engineer explained the user-centric philosophy behind the move. The ideal experience, from the player’s viewpoint, is one of complete simplicity. They should simply see the titles available on Steam, download them, and launch the game without any additional steps. This initiative is especially appealing for VR developers who wish to publish their existing mobile VR content on Steam. Since they are already proficient in building APKs, the process of bringing those games to the new platform is straightforward, and the titles will function natively on the device.
This frictionless integration from the Android environment to Steam is made feasible by the hardware powering Steam Frame. The device utilizes an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, which possesses the inherent capability to run Android applications directly. This architectural choice eliminates the need for complex emulation, allowing Android games and VR apps to be easily accessible and perform well on the headset.
Alongside the Steam Frame, Valve also announced a refreshed Steam Machine, a compact PC designed to bring a full library of PC games to the living room in a console-like form factor. A new version of the Steam Controller was also revealed. While the company has not yet announced specific pricing for any of this new hardware, a Valve hardware engineer suggested that the Steam Machine will be positioned as a cost-effective alternative to traditional consoles. He indicated that for a PC offering comparable features and performance, the Steam Machine is expected to hit a very competitive price point, delivering strong value to consumers.
(Source: Gamespot)
