If I had to guess, it'll be released as part of the Steam Machine SteamOS update?
this post was submitted on 07 May 2026
88 points (98.9% liked)
Linux
65109 readers
885 users here now
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
Rules
- Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
- No misinformation
- No NSFW content
- No hate speech, bigotry, etc
Related Communities
Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0
founded 7 years ago
MODERATORS
I'm using waydroid and some apps don't work at all even if I installed translation layer. But 90% of the apps should work.
It's not going to be effortless. That's not really the goal. Anything that uses Google Play Services is going to be a problem still as the underlying service layer just mocks out those API calls a la Waydroid. They're working more on the FEX stuff from what I've seen in the repos.
Google Pain Services*
"Fex", that is where I'm a bit more excited. Playing Steam games on ARM and Risc-V can open opportunity to get better gaming handhelds.
MacOS, phones, off-brand handhelds that run SteamOS...that's the goal.
Like you, I am excited about it for the sake of the community, though I'm hard pressed to find any reason to play games on my Android phone as it is. Android games are either ad infested junk that isn't interesting to me, or open source and playable on Linux already.
I've messed around with Waydroid because it sounds cool in theory, but every time I get it installed, I'm like "now what?" I can't think of anything to actually do with it, so I imagine it'll be the same for Lepton.
Still, very cool to have the options, and I'm happy that Linux is getting more attention as a preferred platform such that gaming companies recognize the value in supporting translation layers for it.
I think a SteamOS gaming phone would make sense for Valve tbh. There is a market there that is untapped that they could pursue with gusto! Handheld, PC, VR, and phone would close the loop nicely i think.
Mobile games usually aren't controllable with a keyboard and mouse. Being able to run them doesn't do much good if you can't control them. Most of the games aren't even worth playing. They are infested with micro transactions, which are much worse than ads.
Mobile games usually aren’t controllable with a keyboard and mouse. Being able to run them doesn’t do much good if you can’t control them.
Most Android emulators allow you to bind keys to click or drag on certain regions of the screen.
I tried a few mobile exclusive FPS games through an emulators many years ago and I managed to get the controls feeling pretty close to playing a native PC game.
What about streaming apps: Netflix, Disney Plus, etc. would that be a way to stream 4k video on Linux? IIRC, Firefox or Chromium based browsers on Linux don't allow that.
If so, that would be a great way for those wanting to stream using their Steam Machine, Frame and custom Linux based HTPCs.
No, the DRM wouldn't work at higher levels so you would have the same requirements with regard to 4k.
I had more of a need for android emulation when i was still using subscription services that don't have a native linux version and their webbrowser version is kneecapped. Something like apple music is a good example of that. But i gave up music streaming and starting buying CDs and selfhosting them, so now i'm not sure what need i would have for android emulation honestly. I can't think of any android app that i would want to run on my pc.
valve tends to do that. they might be working on it, they might not.
maybe we will see it come out all of a sudden a few years from now.
I thought Lepton was being built on top of Waydroid? So technically you can already use the core feature of Lepton today.
Is Lepton even officially announced? I assume at the moment Valve is highly occupied with other work. They probably just don't have too much time at the moment.
Yes. Officially announced. Multiple times. IIRC the last time was at GDC, in their presentation deck.