Running PC games directly on Android devices is becoming increasingly practical, and a new open-source project called DroidDeck is taking the idea a step further. Instead of simply providing another Windows game emulator, DroidDeck aims to bring an experience similar to Valve’s SteamOS directly to supported Android handhelds and smartphones.

DroidDeck basically puts the Steam client on Android, running it in Big Picture mode to provide an interface similar to what players are used to on the Steam Deck. More importantly, games aren’t streamed from another computer like they are with Steam Link. They are downloaded and run locally on the Android device itself.

How does DroidDeck work?

The project uses Valve’s ARM64 Proton to run Windows games, while FEX handles the translation needed for x86 software. Users can sign in to their existing Steam accounts, access their libraries, download games, and launch supported titles directly from the device. Steam Input is supported as well, alongside features such as performance monitoring, GPU driver management, upscaling, and optional frame generation.

DroidDeck isn’t limited entirely to Steam either. It can connect to other launchers like GOG, Epic Games, and Amazon Games, allowing users to browse their libraries and download games. These titles are then added to Steam as non-Steam games and launched through Proton.

Early testing shows what the project can potentially achieve on powerful Android hardware. YouTuber ETA PRIME tested DroidDeck on a REDMAGIC 11 Pro equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and 16GB of memory. Cyberpunk 2077 reportedly ran at around 60 FPS at medium settings, while Skyrim Special Edition managed roughly 60 FPS at 720p and medium settings.

Less demanding games can perform even better. Left 4 Dead 2 reportedly reached its configured 120 FPS limit at 720p with high settings. Hogwarts Legacy was more difficult to run, reaching around 40 FPS even after reducing graphics settings and using FSR. DroidDeck can also make use of technologies such as AMD FSR and Snapdragon GSR upscaling, while frame generation can provide another way to increase smoothness in supported setups.

The latest version of the software (at the time of writing) is version 0.3.2, which comes with a long list of new features, improvements, and bug fixes. This includes the ability to keep your Steam downloads running while your Android device is in sleep mode.

That said, there are some important hardware requirements. DroidDeck requires Android 9 or newer and officially supports Adreno 730 or newer GPUs, including the Adreno 8xx family. Adreno 6xx support remains experimental, while Mali, Xclipse, PowerVR, and Adreno 710 GPUs aren’t currently supported.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.