Steam has been the most popular gaming platform for PC gamers for over a decade. The number of games, ease of use, and overall familiarity make Stream the go-to choice for many today.ChromeOS is the lightweight operating systemthat powersChromebooks and Chromeboxes. It’s great for basic day-to-day tasks online, such as typing documents, streaming media, and browsing the web. Even the morepremium Chromebooksare not considered high-end gaming PCs, but they can install Steam. In the following guide, we show you how to download Steam on a compatible Chromebook model.
Which Chromebooks can run Steam?
Since aChromebookisn’t typically seen as a hardcore gaming device, the list of compatible models is limited.Steam for ChromeOSis currently still in the beta stage. It only supports higher-end Chromebook models. This is expected to offer a basic gaming experience on ChromeOS. For now, don’t expect the same level of fidelity and performance you get on a dedicated Windows gaming machine. Game performance and stability will vary, but Google states the minimum CPU spec is an Intel i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 with at least 8GB of RAM.
As per theSteam on ChromeOS Beta website, the following is a list of Chromebook models that are officially supported:
Why would you want to use Steam on a Chromebook?
Not all games have fancy graphics or require an immense amount of raw hardware power to be played on a Chromebook. Take, for example,Stardew Valley. The game single-handedly changed the farming sim genre. As one of the most iconic indie games in recent years, Stardew Valley is a fantastic experience that’s fun to play and uses pixel art for its graphic style. You should have no problems playing it on your Chromebook. It’sone of the many officially listed gamesthat Google recommends you check out.
The other benefit to playing Steam on a Chromebook is that you can use the same library of games without making new purchases. Granted, the game runs decently. You can play it on your Chromebook now, free of charge. This is great since you may not want another separate ecosystem to manage your games. The PC gaming market already has too many gaming launchers to keep track of.
How to install Steam on a Chromebook
Starting with Chrome OS 108.0.5359.24, it’s possible to switch your compatible Chromebook model to the Beta channel and test the latest Steam on ChromeOS experience. All you do is opt into the official beta and change a setting. From there, you can play games on your Chromebook in no time.
Opt into the Beta channel on your Chromebook
Before installing Steam on your Chromebook, you must change your ChromeOS update channel to the beta builds. It involves doing a Powerwash, which wipes your device. Keep that in mind going forward.
To swap your Chromebook to the Beta channel, do the following:
Complete the installation and open the Steam app
Now that you’re using the beta build for ChromeOS, you’ll activate a quick setting and restart your Chromebook. When you’re done, you can access the Steam app via your app drawer.
To finish installing Steam on your Chromebook, do the following:
Steam on ChromeOS is still a work in progress
Your experience will vary depending on what game from Steam you’re playing on your Chromebook. You can rely on Google’s list of officially supported games, or you can test your own games one by one. Either way, the Steam on ChromeOS experience is still in the early testing phase. Once you activate the proper settings, this is the easiest method of playing Steam on a Chromebook since it’s built into ChromeOS. The best part is that it will eventually make its way to the stable ChromeOS channel.
ChromeOS may not be known as a dedicated gaming platform, but this could change with the newChromebook Plus program. Google is stepping up the minimum hardware requirements for Chromebooks, which should benefit Steam gaming.
