ARM version of Steam Deck’s Proton layer spotted in testing

The Steam Deck might be the most popular Linux PC ever, though you’d be forgiven if you haven’t realized that its SteamOS software is technically Linux. The Proton compatibility layer is the Steam Deck’s special sauce, allowing games made for Windows to run on Linux without a massive headache. Now Valve is apparently testing a version for ARM hardware.

“Proton-arm64ec-5” is not public, but was spotted in the SteamDB.info database (reported by Tom’s Hardware), with that “arm64” label being indicative of a version of the tool designed specifically for ARM-based devices. ARM hardware is in a lot of different stuff, but most notably it’s the architecture used for mobile devices including phones and tablets. Apple switched from Intel chips to its own ARM-based processors for Macbook laptops in 2020, and the most recent push for ARM-based Windows devices includes “Copilot+” laptops running on Snapdragon processors from Qualcomm.

So, a version of the Proton layer specifically optimized for ARM hardware could open up a lot of options. The most immediate thing that comes to my mind is SteamOS running on Steam Deck-style devices with ARM hardware.

There are already tons of handheld gaming devices that use ARM-based chips, they’ve exploded in popularity since the launch of the Nintendo Switch in 2017 (which also uses ARM hardware, Nvidia’s Tegra X platform). But there are indications that Valve wants SteamOS on hardware beyond the Steam Deck, specifically the Asus ROG Ally family. Another alternative is that Valve is looking into the possibility of an ARM-based Steam Deck itself — the original model based on AMD laptop processors is getting a bit long in the tooth.

Valve could also be looking into boosting the performance of Steam running on Linux devices using ARM chips. ARM-based hardware for gaming typically runs Android, with a focus on mobile games or emulating classic consoles. It’s possible to run Windows game on ARM-based Snapdragon laptops, but you take a huge hit in performance. MacOS runs into similar issues, though it’s less of a concern as Mac laptops and desktops still aren’t of primary interest for PC gamers.

Keep in mind that Valve hasn’t said anything at this point. All I’m doing is speculating on some possibilities and if I’m being honest, going solely on the “arm64” label in that SteamDB entry. But I confess that the prospect of a smaller, more efficient, and possibly even cheaper Steam Deck model running on ARM hardware has me very intrigued.