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Don't expect a SteamOS phone after the Steam Machine, Valve engineer says
(www.rockpapershotgun.com)
this post was submitted on 03 Dec 2025
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Ok, but who expected that to begin with? Who needed to be told this?
It’s not something I’m expecting, but it’s absolutely something I would love to exist.
When I heard Valve and ARM in one headline, I personally was hoping Valve would build a phone to free us from tyranny
I mean, I kind of expected it. It's a natural progression of them providing alternatives and there's growing demand. People knew they were supporting Fex for a while. It just kind of made sense.
It doesn't make as much sense, to me.
Like sure - they could design a Linux phone with their own polished UI, and Proton so it can run Steam games natively, and that would be super cool! But what about the apps?
I don't think it's a stretch to say that for most people out there a phone is all about apps - in fact, completely synonymous with apps - and the sad truth is that Android and iOS have an absolute stranglehold on the app market.
There have been (and still are) efforts to develop Linux phones, but they are generally seen as rough experiments which for most people require far too much compromise - with one of the most significant compromises being that you give up all your apps.
Valve's recent hardware successes haven't come from making experiments for dedicated nerds, but from making polished hardware devices that you can put in the hands of a consumer and just work, and do everything they expect. That's the strategy.
Now don't get me wrong - I'd love to see a big-hitter like Valve with some financial clout try to make a phone. But this is an arena where even Microsoft failed, and heavens knows how much money they poured into phones before pulling the plug.
I'd love it, but I don't think it aligns at all with Valve's strategy, and I don't expect to see it.
People running away from Google's enshitified android.
Pixel level Linux phone backed by Valve? Sign me up! It would mean a massive boost to the whole Linux on phones dev community. But that dream is now shattered. Dang.
Yeah but there's like 12 other companies that could provide that before Valve and I don't think valve has ever suggested that it's a thing they're planning on. It feels like saying, "McDonald's isn't planning to add barbique steaks to their menu after bringing back the McRib."
Who owns a Linux Phone(?)