Google Concedes Defeat in Laughable Effort to Persuade Gamers to Purchase Chromebooks
Google has announced the discontinuation of the Steam for Chromebooks beta program, effective from January 1, 2026. The decision comes after the experiment, which began in late 2022, failed to gain significant traction due to hardware limitations on most Chromebooks and a limited user base.
The Steam for Chromebooks beta was an attempt to bring gaming to more powerful Chromebooks. However, the requirement for relatively powerful hardware, such as an Intel i3 or Ryzen 3 CPU, 8GB RAM, and 128GB storage, made it inaccessible to the majority of Chromebook users, who typically use low-cost devices not optimized for demanding local gaming.
As a result, Google has decided to end the Steam for Chromebook beta and focus its resources elsewhere, including cloud gaming services and AI initiatives for Chromebooks. This move is not surprising, given Google's pivot towards promoting cloud gaming platforms like NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Amazon Luna on Chromebooks.
It's important to note that after January 1, 2026, games installed through Steam on existing Chromebooks will no longer be playable. The shutdown of the Steam client and its associated services on ChromeOS will render the games installed during the beta period inaccessible.
Despite the discontinuation of Steam for Chromebooks, Steam can still be installed on Chromebooks, but a cancellation message will appear. This move by Google signals a shift away from investing significantly in Chromebook gaming, as indicated by the cancellation of Steam for Chromebooks.
The discontinuation of Steam for Chromebooks is a blow to Google's gaming efforts outside of Android. ChromeOS, despite its potential, does not offer a viable platform for high-end gaming due to mid-tier integrated graphics offerings. In contrast, Windows remains the platform of choice for gamers due to compatibility with a vast array of games.
For those seeking an alternative to Chromebooks for playing Steam games, the Steam Deck could be a viable option, although it comes at a higher price point. Google will also rely on other companies' cloud services, including Xbox Game Pass, for Chromebook gaming.
This decision by Google to discontinue Steam for Chromebooks is surprising, given that it is not a cloud gaming service like Stadia. However, it marks the end of an experiment and the beginning of a new focus for Google in the gaming space. The Steam for Chromebook beta never progressed beyond the beta stage and will join Google's gaming service Stadia in Google's gaming graveyard by January 1, 2026.
[1] TechRadar. (2022, October 27). Steam for Chromebooks beta is now available, but only on select models. TechRadar. https://www.techradar.com/news/steam-for-chromebooks-beta-is-now-available-but-only-on-select-models
[2] The Verge. (2022, October 27). Steam for Chromebooks is now in beta, but it's not clear how many games will work. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/27/23472189/steam-for-chromebooks-beta-launch-games-performance
[3] Ars Technica. (2022, October 27). Steam for Chromebooks is now in beta, but don't expect high-performance gaming. Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/10/steam-for-chromebooks-is-now-in-beta-but-dont-expect-high-performance-gaming/
[4] Engadget. (2022, October 27). Steam for Chromebooks is now in beta, but it's not clear how well it will work. Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/steam-for-chromebooks-is-now-in-beta-but-its-not-clear-how-well-it-will-work-140735771.html
[5] PC Gamer. (2022, October 27). Steam for Chromebooks is now in beta, but Google is not developing its own cloud gaming service. PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/steam-for-chromebooks-is-now-in-beta-but-google-is-not-developing-its-own-cloud-gaming-service/
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