Google is reportedly dropping assist for the Steam for Chromebook Beta programme on the finish of this yr. As per the report, Chromebook customers making an attempt to launch the beta app are actually getting a pop-up message informing them in regards to the upcoming discontinuation. The Mountain View-based tech large has reportedly set January 1, 2026, because the date to tug the plug on Steam. After that, even the pre-installed video games will mechanically be faraway from customers’ units. The corporate didn’t point out a purpose for shutting down the venture.

Chromebooks Will Quickly Cease Supporting Steam Video games

In response to a 9to5Google report, Google is now displaying all Chromebook customers a message informing them in regards to the discontinuation after they try to put in or launch Steam. For now, the beta app works high-quality, however this is not going to be the case beginning in 2026.

The message reportedly reads, “The Steam for Chromebook Beta program will conclude on January 1st, 2026. After this date, video games put in as a part of the Beta will not be out there to play in your system. We recognize your participation in and contribution to learnings from the beta program, which can inform the way forward for Chromebook gaming.”

Google first began the method of optimising Steam for Chromebook in March 2022 when the corporate began the Steam for Chromebook alpha programme. By November 2022, the alpha programme was closed, and the platform was pushed to the beta part, decreasing the {hardware} necessities. Notably, Steam for Chromebook makes use of the Linux model of the sport, and Google maintains 99 totally different titles which are appropriate with the working system.

Nonetheless, regardless of shifting to beta, Steam didn’t obtain any main replace afterwards, and the brand new message has now closed the curtains on the venture. Curiously, assist for Steam performed an necessary position in Google’s push for Gaming Chromebooks. After January 1, customers will nonetheless have the ability to play Android video games from the Play Retailer; nonetheless, {the catalogue} doesn’t match as much as what Steam gives.

The one different choice out there to Chromebook customers is choosing a cloud-based gaming service similar to Xbox Cloud Gaming, NVIDIA GeForce Now, or Amazon Luna.