Google to Reportedly Shut Down Assist for Steam for Chromebook in 2026

Google is reportedly dropping help for the Steam for Chromebook Beta programme on the finish of this yr. As per the report, Chromebook customers making an attempt to launch the beta app at the moment are getting a pop-up message informing them in regards to the upcoming discontinuation. The Mountain View-based tech big has reportedly set January 1, 2026, because the date to drag the plug on Steam. After that, even the pre-installed video games will routinely be faraway from customers’ gadgets. The firm didn’t point out a purpose for shutting down the venture.

Chromebooks Will Soon Stop Supporting Steam Games

According to a 9to5Google report, Google is now displaying all Chromebook customers a message informing them in regards to the discontinuation once they try to put in or launch Steam. For now, the beta app works fantastic, however this is not going to be the case beginning in 2026.

The message reportedly reads, “The Steam for Chromebook Beta program will conclude on January 1st, 2026. After this date, games installed as part of the Beta will no longer be available to play on your device. We appreciate your participation in and contribution to learnings from the beta program, which will inform the future of Chromebook gaming.”

Google first began the method of optimising Steam for Chromebook in March 2022 when the corporate began the Steam for Chromebook alpha programme. By November 2022, the alpha programme was closed, and the platform was pushed to the beta section, decreasing the {hardware} necessities. Notably, Steam for Chromebook makes use of the Linux model of the sport, and Google maintains 99 completely different titles which might be suitable with the working system.

However, regardless of shifting to beta, Steam didn’t obtain any main replace afterwards, and the brand new message has now closed the curtains on the venture. Interestingly, help for Steam performed an necessary function in Google’s push for Gaming Chromebooks. After January 1, customers will nonetheless be capable of play Android video games from the Play Store; nonetheless, {the catalogue} doesn’t match as much as what Steam gives.

The solely different choice accessible to Chromebook customers is choosing a cloud-based gaming service corresponding to Xbox Cloud Gaming, NVIDIA GeForce Now, or Amazon Luna.