An open-source project called DroidDeck is bringing Steam and Windows PC games to compatible Android devices without requiring a gaming PC or cloud streaming service. The app runs Steam locally on supported Snapdragon-powered phones, using an ARM64 Linux environment and compatibility software to launch Windows games.
As reported by VideoCardz, YouTuber ETA Prime tested DroidDeck on the RedMagic 11 Pro, which features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor and 16 GB of memory. During testing, Cyberpunk 2077 ran at around 60 FPS on medium settings, while The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition reached a similar frame rate at 720p. Hogwarts Legacy was more demanding, averaging approximately 40 FPS with lower settings and AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) enabled.
Unlike Steam Link, which streams games from another computer, DroidDeck runs supported titles directly on the Android device. It launches Valve’s ARM64 Linux Steam client in Big Picture mode and uses Proton alongside x86 translation to run compatible Windows games. The app also supports GPU driver switching, Snapdragon Game Super Resolution (GSR), and frame generation through Lossless Scaling.
DroidDeck does not require root access or replacing Android with SteamOS. However, the project has specific hardware requirements. Android 9 or newer is required, with full support for Adreno 730 and newer GPUs. Adreno 6xx graphics remain experimental, while Mali, Xclipse, PowerVR, and Adreno 710 GPUs are unsupported.
The runtime occupies around 3 GB of storage, and users must disable Android’s child-process restriction before Steam can launch. Game compatibility also varies by device and title. VideoCardz reportedly got DroidDeck running on the Mangmi Pocket Max but could not launch Raft.
Valve does not officially support Steam for Linux on ARM, and DroidDeck is not affiliated with the company. As a result, users should expect compatibility issues and varying performance across games. Still, the project offers an alternative for players who want to run PC games locally on supported Android hardware rather than rely on remote streaming.
