this post was submitted on 02 Dec 2025
525 points (99.8% liked)
Linux Gaming
22342 readers
670 users here now
Discussions and news about gaming on the GNU/Linux family of operating systems (including the Steam Deck). Potentially a $HOME away from home for disgruntled /r/linux_gaming denizens of the redditarian demesne.
This page can be subscribed to via RSS.
Original /r/linux_gaming pengwing by uoou.
No memes/shitposts/low-effort posts, please.
Resources
WWW:
- Linux Gaming wiki
- Gaming on Linux
- ProtonDB
- Lutris
- PCGamingWiki
- LibreGameWiki
- Boiling Steam
- Phoronix
- Linux VR Adventures
Discord:
IRC:
Matrix:
Telegram:
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
A lot of people here missing the bigger picture:
This could be the start for a Valve-backed Linux phone.
That's a fun fantasy, but this is almost certainly a way to get Oculus games running on the Steam Frame.
They're 100% coming for Oculus' lunch with this one.
I don't think even Meta is eating Oculus's lunch... Making big losses on the Quest iirc.
I didn't really want a full PC on my face. I just wanted cheap streaming from my actual PC. Quest is actually really good for this, but it would have been nice to have something affordable that wasn't from Meta.
I'd literally pay double to not have it come from Meta.
I'm thinking it'll be closer to three times.
Agreed. I run UBTouch on my phone. Waydroid is cool and all, but that's not Valves market. I'm sure they would love to be the store behind every mobile game sale of flappy bird. But that would be one hell of a side quest to try and take over Mobile game sales.
It's at least settings things up for a real Steam Mobile, rather than it being a companion app for PC. I've been on the Valve Phone hype train since the Steam Frame information came out. Most companies wouldn't do it, but I know Valve does a lot of things just because the employees wanted something and they ended up making it a product. I could easily see that happening with a phone.
I'm sure there are reasons but it's always seemed like a lost opportunity that the Steam app doesn't work as an app store for mobile games on phones.
I wouldn't mind a Steam Whistle, if it lets me have privacy and security.
Please Gaben, let this be true.
There's absolutely no world in which Valve releases a Linux phone.
I'd love to be wrong, but given how Valve works, their team size, and simply what works well and what doesn't on SteamOS, I can assure you their software engineers would take one look at modem drivers and DRM for media and nope right out of any phone project.
I love my Deck. If they release a variant with LTE modem (not even 5G) and no controllers, I don't care how thick it is, make it on the same AMD SoC!
My god this. I can't count the number of times I've thought "I wish I could buy a steam deck with the controllers ripped off". At a point, I'd take that and then a cheap nokia flip phone that can do wifi-hotspot and call it a day. Separate all the bs I do on my phone from the calling and texting part.
Check out Legion Go. It has Switch-like removable controllers. Not my choice of device but maybe you'll like it.
I do like the look of that form factor a lot... And I don't see any major red flags in the specs that make me think it won't work with Linux... Thanks!
Isn't steam frame basically a phone strapped to your face? It's arm based, it has a battery, speakers, microphones, cameras, radio, a screen (even two)... all it needs is a GSM module. Software would probably be the biggest issue but that's where linux and all the compatibility stuff Valve has been working on comes in. If it wasn't marketed strictly as a phone but a PC in your pocket I think it could work. Sadly, you're probably right tho.
Bigger trouble would be having to deal with the carriers... Dealing with the carriers is going to be a huge PITA.
Android on linux phones is already a pretty well-done thing. It's the generic Linux kernel on mobile processors that lacks proper radio drivers and low-power states.
Interesting