As per recent reports, Google has decided to unplug the Support for Steam for Chromebook from January 1, 2026. So that clearly means you won’t be able to access Steam games after 1st January 2026. Even pre-installed beta games will be removed automatically.
Google started this project to promote gaming Chromebooks, but it never gained much popularity. The decision marks the end of a major gaming experiment.
Key Takeaways:
- Steam for Chromebook ends on January 1, 2026.
- All beta games will be removed.
- Cloud gaming will be the main alternative.
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Google Confirms End of Steam for Chromebook Beta
Google is ending the Steam for Chromebook Beta programme. The shutdown will officially happen on January 1, 2026. A pop-up message now appears when users open Steam.
It states that beta games will not work after the shutdown. Google thanked participants for testing and sharing feedback. No clear reason for this decision has been provided yet.
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Development Journey of Steam for Chromebook
Google began testing Steam for Chromebook in March 2022. It started as an alpha version for selected users. Back in November 2022, its beta version came out with less requirements. Steam used the Linux version of games for Chromebook.
Around 99 games were officially listed as compatible. Companies like ASUS and Acer even launched gaming Chromebooks. However, the idea failed to attract a large audience. No major updates came after the beta launch.
Why Steam Support is Ending for Chromebooks
Hardware limitations seem to be a major reason. Most Chromebooks have low-power CPUs and integrated graphics. This limits the number of games that run smoothly. Valve’s Proton tool works but cannot fix performance issues.
Steam was a must have part of Google’s gaming push. However, without enough powerful devices, the plan could not succeed.
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Alternative Gaming Options for Chromebook Users
After the shutdown, users can still play Android games. However, the Google Play Store has a smaller library than Steam. Cloud gaming services will be the main alternative.
Options include NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Amazon Luna. These services allow streaming modern console and PC games without heavy hardware. They will remain the best choice for high-quality gaming.
Google decides to unplug the Support for Steam for Chromebook from January 1, 2026. This will remove all Steam beta games from devices. This decision signals the end of Google’s direct effort to make Chromebooks serious gaming machines.
Written By: Roy
Publishing Date & Time: 9 August 2025, 09:57 PM IST
