Why doesn't Steam get involved in Android Emulation?

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diba89 2025년 4월 28일 오전 11시 31분

There is a sub on reddit r/EmulationOnAndroid where it is discussed how to run games made for other platforms on Android. The most convinient way to play PC games on an Android device is currently Winlator [github.com]. While it is REALLY convinient to use and very recent games run on it, the most asked question is if it can run Steam games, which it currently can't. I just get the games from GOG instead. The project is made by a solo dev, relying on other projects, including Wine, which is also used by the SteamDeck, as far as i know.

This raises the question for me, why Valve isn't interested in this topic. If they get involved here, they could not only sell their games for PC and the SteamDeck, but also for Android, the most common device today. Depending on your hardware you can even run Witcher 3 and similar recent games. By connecting a controller or mouse+keyboard you can even bypass the often critizised touchscreen input.

Steam already has a mobile app with a store, in Steam Link the most advanced onscreen-control editor i have seen so far and with the SteamDeck environment the necessary compatibilty layer. They just have to tie these things together. If a solo dev can do it, why cant Valve do it to?

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HikariLight 2025년 4월 28일 오후 12시 57분

Steam sells PC games.
Not mobile games.
While some of the games may have mobile versions, the version Steam sells is not made for mobile devices.

That and running emulated games without authorization of the IP owner is piracy, and Steam wants nothing to do with that.

HikariLight 님이 마지막으로 수정; 2025년 4월 28일 오후 12시 58분

diba89 2025년 4월 28일 오후 9시 09분

But the SteamDeck is also not a PC. I guess you can say it sells games originally made for PC.

How is that piracy? If I have a legal copy of a game, why does the manufacturer care if I run it on a PC, a smartphone or a toaster? This is not Nintendo, you don't need some internal key of the hardware here.

d3str0y3r 2025년 4월 28일 오후 11시 37분

diba89 님이 먼저 게시:
But the SteamDeck is also not a PC. I guess you can say it sells games originally made for PC.

The Steam deck is a pc and is even advertised as a portable PC for gaming. It comes with linux, but you can install Windows 10/11 or whatever other pc os you want.

HikariLight 2025년 4월 29일 오전 4시 46분

diba89 님이 먼저 게시:
But the SteamDeck is also not a PC. I guess you can say it sells games originally made for PC.

How is that piracy? If I have a legal copy of a game, why does the manufacturer care if I run it on a PC, a smartphone or a toaster? This is not Nintendo, you don't need some internal key of the hardware here.

The Steam Deck runs a custom built OS, it's a handheld PC.

Also, having a legal copy does not give you the legal right to make another copy of it.
Because that copy you made is now an illegal pirated copy.

HikariLight 님이 마지막으로 수정; 2025년 4월 29일 오전 4시 47분

Night 2025년 4월 29일 오전 9시 30분

diba89 님이 먼저 게시:
But the SteamDeck is also not a PC. I guess you can say it sells games originally made for PC.

The SteamDeck is a PC as it runs SteamOS Linux. I'll assume you don't own a SteamDeck...

diba89 님이 먼저 게시:
why does the manufacturer care if I run it on a PC, a smartphone or a toaster?

The digital licence you bought to play a game on Steam is not transferable to other platforms, and even though you purchased it legally it doesn't grant you a legal right to replication or redistribution.

Speaking realistically here, Valve has no logical reason to get involved with emulation of android or android emulation of Windows or PC operating systems. Valve doesn't develop android stuff, and Steam does not sell games for Android or iOS Platforms.

Night 님이 마지막으로 수정; 2025년 4월 29일 오전 9시 33분

StarMann 2025년 5월 2일 오전 9시 19분

I wouldn't say Steam would create a platform for emulation, but i can provide new games designed to play on your phone.

76561198407601200 2025년 5월 2일 오후 1시 10분

diba89 님이 먼저 게시:
There is a sub on reddit r/EmulationOnAndroid where it is discussed how to run games made for other platforms on Android. The most convinient way to play PC games on an Android device is currently {링크가 삭제되었습니다} Winlator . While it is REALLY convinient to use and very recent games run on it, the most asked question is if it can run Steam games, which it currently can't. I just get the games from GOG instead. The project is made by a solo dev, relying on other projects, including Wine, which is also used by the SteamDeck, as far as i know.

This raises the question for me, why Valve isn't interested in this topic. If they get involved here, they could not only sell their games for PC and the SteamDeck, but also for Android, the most common device today. Depending on your hardware you can even run Witcher 3 and similar recent games. By connecting a controller or mouse+keyboard you can even bypass the often critizised touchscreen input.

Steam already has a mobile app with a store, in Steam Link the most advanced onscreen-control editor i have seen so far and with the SteamDeck environment the necessary compatibilty layer. They just have to tie these things together. If a solo dev can do it, why cant Valve do it to?

Valve/Steam is purely for pc gaming and while a phone functions similar to a pc, the architect is much difference hence why you need various wrappers and the likes. Steamdeck is an exception since it is essentially a pc that runs a version of linux. The only concern Valve has with mobile is regarding their app for 2fa and what not, but running games is not their interest, let alone priority. You also mentioned steamlink, that allows you to play on your pc remotely but is limited to that. Besides, the pc market itself is already a handful, i doubt they would want to invest time, money and more staff to android/iphone.