DroidDeck
The SteamOS experience on Android: Valve's real Steam client running in Big Picture mode on your Snapdragon handheld, launching Windows PC games through ARM64 Proton — natively, no root, no streaming.
What makes it different: DroidDeck is not Steam Link (no PC streaming) and not Winlator (no Windows VM). It runs Valve's actual Linux ARM64 Steam client under gamescope on your device, and Windows games execute through Valve's own ARM64 Proton build — FEX translates x86 instructions on the fly, DXVK turns DirectX into native Vulkan on your Adreno GPU.
Device requirements
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| GPU | Adreno 730 or newer, or Adreno 8xx (Snapdragon). Adreno 6xx is experimental — DX11 via DXVK 2 may run, DX12 can still crash. Mali, Xclipse, PowerVR and Adreno 710 are unsupported |
| OS | Android 9 or newer, no root needed |
| Storage | ~3 GB for the runtime, plus ~1.1 GB more if you install the optional Linux desktop and emulators — plus space for games |
| Form factor | Built for handhelds with controls; works on phones/tablets with a paired gamepad |
Install in 4 steps
- 1Install the APK
Grab the latest release APK from GitHub and sideload it — the app is not on the Play Store.
- 2Install the Linux runtime
On first open, let DroidDeck pull down its runtime (~3 GB). This is the environment the Steam client lives in.
- 3Press Play and sign in to Steam
Steam itself downloads on first launch. Sign in once — after that it can start offline, straight into Big Picture.
- 4Optional: desktop and extra stores
Install "Desktop & apps" for a Linux desktop with emulators, the Flathub Store for ARM64 Linux apps, and GOG/Epic/Amazon sign-in to pull those libraries into your game list.
DroidDeck vs the alternatives
| Approach | How it works | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| DroidDeck | Native ARM64 Steam client + ARM64 Proton/FEX/DXVK | Games run on the device itself; only Adreno GPUs supported |
| Steam Link / Moonlight | Streams video from your PC | Needs a gaming PC powered on nearby; adds latency; nothing runs locally |
| Winlator / GameHub-type VMs | Full Windows environment emulated on Android | Heavier overhead and messier setup than DroidDeck's native-client approach |
| Cloud gaming | GeForce Now / Xbox Cloud | Subscription + good internet; no mods, no local installs |
Extras worth knowing
Other stores
GOG, Epic and Amazon sign-ins pull their games into your library; Epic's x86-64 launcher even runs through FEX with Proton hooks intact.
Custom Proton builds
DroidDeck-Proton is a GE-Proton build tuned for ARM64 handhelds — install it from the Components page and pick it per-game in Steam's compatibility settings.
AR/VR extras
SteamVR controller emulation (Index, Quest Touch, Vive), plus support for AR glasses like Rokid Max/Air and experimental VITURE Pro 2 head tracking.
Decky plugins
Decky Loader works inside Big Picture, MangoHud overlay for frame stats, per-session FEX presets from Stability to Extreme.
Common questions
Which games actually run well?
Light-to-mid-weight DX11 titles on Adreno 730+/8xx are the sweet spot. Anti-cheat multiplayer games mostly do not work (offline-mode EAC games can bypass the bootstrapper). Expect to experiment per game — this is enthusiast software.
Does it work on Mali or Dimensity chips?
No — the graphics pipeline depends on Adreno's desktop-grade Vulkan via open-source Turnip drivers. Mali, Xclipse, PowerVR and Adreno 710 are unsupported.
Is my Steam account safe?
You sign in through Valve's own client, not a third-party wrapper. Download the APK only from the official GitHub releases — reuploaded APKs are the risk.
Does it need internet to play?
Only for the initial sign-in, game downloads and store sync. Games already installed can launch offline, just like Steam on PC.