The alpha version of Steam is finally available on Chrome OS, which is pretty exciting for Chromebook gamers worldwide. But before you try to start playing, you should know that there are a lot of requirements before you can try it out.
So, here's everything you need to know before you get all excited to check it out.
Steam Is Finally Available for Chromebooks—Sort of
After the announcement that Steam games were coming to Chrome OS, the first alpha version of Steam is now available for Chromebook users, but don't get your hopes up just yet.
In a Google community forum post, Chrome OS managers Alisha and Zach announced that the alpha version of Steam is now available on Chrome OS. However, it won't be available to every Chromebook user right now.
"One of the most important aspects of Chrome OS is our open development model. Being able to share our work-in-progress with the community allows us to adapt in real-time and consistently makes Chrome OS better. So I’m very excited to share that today we’re releasing an early, alpha-quality version of Steam on Chrome OS in the Dev channel for a small set of recent Chromebooks."
As you can see, Steam will only be available "for a small set of recent Chromebooks," which means that older models won't be able to try the alpha version yet. Likewise, even if you have a modern device, you'll still need the proper configuration.
What You Need to Run Steam on Chrome OS
Alongside the announcement, the Chrome OS managers also shared more details in a Chromium blog post, which covers everything you need to know before installing the alpha version of Steam on Chrome OS.
These are the supported devices that will be able to try Steam right now:
- Acer Chromebook 514 (CB514-1W)
- Acer Chromebook 515 (CB515-1W)
- Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (CP713-3W)
- ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 (CX5500)
- ASUS Chromebook CX9 (CX9400)
- HP Pro c640 G2 Chromebook
- Lenovo 5i-14 Chromebook
On top of having the right equipment, your Chromebook will also need to have the correct device configurations. Note that if your Chromebook has an i3 CPU or 4GB of RAM, it won't support the alpha version of Steam at all. You'll also need to keep the following things in mind:
- Devices with 8GB of RAM may encounter issues in games that require 6GB of RAM or more.
- Devices with display resolutions greater than 1080p may encounter performance and scaling issues.
How to Install the Alpha Version of Steam on Chrome OS
If you have everything required to run the program on your Chromebook, you can try Steam on Chrome OS. Installing Steam won't be the same as installing other programs and games on Chromebook.
Keep in mind that you'll need to switch to the Dev channel, which isn't as stable. This might bring problems to your Chromebook, so try using a device that you don't use for work, school, or daily activities. What's more, it'd be best to create a backup of all your data before you try it.
The Chromium blog posts also shared the instructions for you to try the alpha version of Steam on your Chromebook. First, you'll need to switch to the Dev channel on your Chromebook. Afterward, you should follow these steps:
- After updating, navigate to chrome://flags. Set both #borealis-enabled and #exo-pointer-lock to Enabled.
- After restarting, open a crosh terminal with Ctrl+Alt+T.
- Type insert_coin volteer-JOlkth573FBLGa and hit the Enter key.
- Follow the setup flow to install Steam.
- Log in with your Steam account and start playing!
What Games Can You Play on Chromebook?
Unfortunately, even the games you can play come with a few conditions. You can't play every game on Steam since not all of them work properly.
However, you can still find many awesome and popular games already, including Portal 2, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Celeste, Half-Life 2, and more. There are a ton of great games you can try, and you can check the game list on the Chromium blog post.
Start Playing Steam Games on Your Chromebook
Even though the alpha version of Steam on Chrome OS has a lot of requirements, it's still a step in the right direction. If you already meet all the requirements, nothing is stopping you from enjoying some Steam games on your Chromebook. And if you're having problems signing in to your Steam account, you should consider checking out some quick ways to fix it.