Changes to the code reveal seven Chromebooks that may soon be able to run the Steam client
Google has been reported to be working on a Chromebook version of Steam for some time, but 9to5Google has officially confirmed this.
Google thinks it has found the first seven computers that have been certified by Valve for its gaming platform.
In a list of devices with support for Borealis — the supposed code name for Steam games on Chrome OS — the site found seven Chromebooks, citing a recent update in the Chromium Gerrit code.
A total of six Chromebooks may be identified based on their codenames; they include:
- Volta – Acer Chromebook 514 (CB514-1H)
- Volet – Acer Chromebook 515
- Voxel – Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (CP713-3W)
- Delbin – Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 (CX5500)
- Drobit – Asus Chromebook CX9 (CX9400)
- Elemi – HP Pro c640 G2 Chromebook
Another gadget, codenamed “Lindar,” is still a mystery, although TechRadar has hypothesised that it might be a joint effort between Lenovo and Google.
Those who own one of these Chromebooks should note that the code subsequently emphasises that you must have an 11th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 CPU and at least 7GB of RAM in order to use the Chrome OS update.
All but the greatest Chromebooks are out of the question since Chrome OS devices are recognised for their low-cost and cheery guts, owing to the operating system’s modest processing needs.
As a result of 9to5Google’s investigation, it seems that Google is testing 10th-generation Intel and AMD CPUs in addition to those already in use. Intriguingly, code updates sent by Nvidia email addresses have also been spotted, which might revolutionise Chromebooks’ gaming prospects if Nvidia’s testing with RTX GPUs and ARM CPUs continues.
Assuming you have a high-end Chromebook, or even if you only have a simple one, there’s no need to panic. Not only can you play the top Android games on Chrome OS, but you can also play cloud gaming services like GeForce Now, Xbox Game Pass, and even Google’s own Stadia platform, which is apparently in trouble.
When game streaming has its limitations, most notably the inability to play while on the go due to the need for a constant internet connection, Chromebooks are given credit for being more adaptable than they deserve.
Even if the hardware continues to restrict what may be enjoyed, the option to browse select entries on the Steam storefront would be very appreciated.