Google is reportedly dropping help 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 concerning the upcoming discontinuation. The Mountain View-based tech big has reportedly set January 1, 2026, because the date to drag the plug on Steam. After that, even the pre-installed video games will routinely be faraway from customers’ units. The corporate didn’t point out a cause for shutting down the undertaking.

Chromebooks Will Quickly Cease Supporting Steam Video games

In response to a 9to5Google report, Google is now exhibiting all Chromebook customers a message informing them concerning the discontinuation once they try to put in or launch Steam. For now, the beta app works high-quality, however this won’t 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 now not be obtainable to play in your machine. 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 section, decreasing the {hardware} necessities. Notably, Steam for Chromebook makes use of the Linux model of the sport, and Google maintains 99 completely different titles which can be suitable with the working system.

Nevertheless, 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 undertaking. Curiously, help for Steam performed an essential function 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 presents.

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