Chromebooks are turning into gaming laptops. Don’t snort! I’m critical! Now that Valve’s Steam platform is in an early alpha section on Chrome OS, Chromebooks are instantly having access to loads of PC video games, transferring past the small smattering of Android apps they might play earlier than. These video games aren’t streamed over they cloud, both—they play straight on the gadget utilizing its obtainable {hardware}.

I do know what you’re considering: gaming Chromebooks don’t exist, and there aren’t even Chrome OS units with discrete graphics playing cards. That’s true, and for these causes, solely choose units with higher-end parts will achieve Steam help for now. To additional set your expectations, these premium units will solely run less-demanding video games, and solely at 1080p or decrease graphics settings.

While it’s honest to say your Chromebook gained’t substitute a correct gaming desktop or console, with Steam help, it beneficial properties entry to an enormous library of video games. And as we discovered with the Steam Deck, a lot of these titles, notably the older ones, will run simply tremendous with built-in graphics—no want for an RTX 3080 GPU.

If you personal a suitable Chromebook and wish to play PC video games by way of Steam, this information will stroll you thru the steps. Just remember the fact that Steam help on Chrome OS is in an early alpha construct, so doing so earlier than its official public launch is one thing of a danger.