Google has announced that it will discontinue its Steam for Chromebook Beta program on January 1, 2026. This means that devices will no longer be able to play games installed through the service after this date.
The decision comes as a surprise, given that Steam for Chromebook was launched in 2022 with the aim of pushing mainstream gaming on ChromeOS devices. However, it seems that the program never gained enough popularity, despite its minimal specification requirements.
Initially, the service offered just 99 games, but these titles were often designed for mobile devices and could provide a similar experience to AAA PC games. Users can still play PC games through GeForce Now, which offers over 2,300 streaming options.
Google’s decision not to continue Steam for Chromebook is seen as an opportunity to combine Android and ChromeOS into one seamless operating system. As mobile chips with integrated GPUs improve, the company may reconsider its stance on gaming on Chromebooks in the future.
Source: https://www.tomshardware.com/software/chromeos/google-to-kill-steam-for-chromebook-beta-in-2026-installed-games-will-no-longer-be-available-to-play