Valve has been a big proponent of Linux gaming, and now the company is investing in Android support on Linux. It’s already possible to run Android in a Linux container through Waydroid, but Valve has developed a new fork – and it has officially named it Lepton.
Last month, news broke that Valve would soon support Android games on Steam. This was thanks to a sighting in Steam app changelogs for Walkabout Mini Golf, which added an APK file. The VR title is currently available on the Meta Quest (which runs on a custom version of Android), and may run through the Lepton compatibility layer for Valve’s upcoming Steam Frame VR headset, which runs the company’s Linux-based operating system, SteamOS.
A lot of people here missing the bigger picture:
This could be the start for a Valve-backed Linux phone.
I wondered the same thing, but I don’t think that this will be a big impact for mobile phones. AFAICT there are three blockers for mov8ng from andro8d to linux on a mobile phone:
3: I think the point is to try to build a new walled garden, maybe with lower walls that can be easily hopped over
Despite sleep (the “wake up on every network event” kind of sleep) not being implemented in most PostMarketOS devices, I fucked around with my Redmi and found that the battery lasts much much longer on standby (if I don’t forget to close the apps because they won’t unload themselves)
If you have a whole ass Android container like Waydroid (instead of stuff like android-translation-layer being developed), you can just put MicroG there. Or whole ass Google services, if for some reason you decided it’s a good idea. It’s just Android.
But yeah, hardware support suckzzzz
Christ I want to leave the duopoly so bad
That’s a fun fantasy, but this is almost certainly a way to get Oculus games running on the Steam Frame.
They’re 100% coming for Oculus’ lunch with this one.
I don’t think even Meta is eating Oculus’s lunch… Making big losses on the Quest iirc.
I didn’t really want a full PC on my face. I just wanted cheap streaming from my actual PC. Quest is actually really good for this, but it would have been nice to have something affordable that wasn’t from Meta.
I think that I want a PC on my face
I’d literally pay double to not have it come from Meta.
I’m thinking it’ll be closer to three times.
Agreed. I run UBTouch on my phone. Waydroid is cool and all, but that’s not Valves market. I’m sure they would love to be the store behind every mobile game sale of flappy bird. But that would be one hell of a side quest to try and take over Mobile game sales.
Instead of a text messager, it hits my steam messager.
I open a browser, steam store opens up.
I click on where to download apps, it opens up steam.
I use my bank, it takes it out of my steam wallet.
I have a button to call Gabe.
Gabe only answers twice.
Oooh I hope they partner(ed) with Liberux Nexx, that phone looks like its going to be an excellent flagship Linux phone.
It’s at least settings things up for a real Steam Mobile, rather than it being a companion app for PC. I’ve been on the Valve Phone hype train since the Steam Frame information came out. Most companies wouldn’t do it, but I know Valve does a lot of things just because the employees wanted something and they ended up making it a product. I could easily see that happening with a phone.
I’m sure there are reasons but it’s always seemed like a lost opportunity that the Steam app doesn’t work as an app store for mobile games on phones.
I wouldn’t mind a Steam Whistle, if it lets me have privacy and security.
TM
Android on linux phones is already a pretty well-done thing. It’s the generic Linux kernel on mobile processors that lacks proper radio drivers and low-power states.
There’s absolutely no world in which Valve releases a Linux phone.
I’d love to be wrong, but given how Valve works, their team size, and simply what works well and what doesn’t on SteamOS, I can assure you their software engineers would take one look at modem drivers and DRM for media and nope right out of any phone project.
I love my Deck. If they release a variant with LTE modem (not even 5G) and no controllers, I don’t care how thick it is, make it on the same AMD SoC!
My god this. I can’t count the number of times I’ve thought “I wish I could buy a steam deck with the controllers ripped off”. At a point, I’d take that and then a cheap nokia flip phone that can do wifi-hotspot and call it a day. Separate all the bs I do on my phone from the calling and texting part.
Check out Legion Go. It has Switch-like removable controllers. Not my choice of device but maybe you’ll like it.
I do like the look of that form factor a lot… And I don’t see any major red flags in the specs that make me think it won’t work with Linux… Thanks!
Actually, I kind of want one too now.
I think there is even a Bazzite release for it 😉
Bigger trouble would be having to deal with the carriers… Dealing with the carriers is going to be a huge PITA.
Isn’t steam frame basically a phone strapped to your face? It’s arm based, it has a battery, speakers, microphones, cameras, radio, a screen (even two)… all it needs is a GSM module. Software would probably be the biggest issue but that’s where linux and all the compatibility stuff Valve has been working on comes in. If it wasn’t marketed strictly as a phone but a PC in your pocket I think it could work. Sadly, you’re probably right tho.
Please Gaben, let this be true.
Interesting