Here’s the Twitter thread discussing this
Basically, some different apps were linked to the official steamVR app. These apps are hidden, but the data miner was able to grab some assets from them that included some custom art for Waydroid, which is a Linux program that lets you run Android apps on Linux.
Additionally, I’ve seen comments saying that some valve devs have been making pull requests for the Waydroid github, but I don’t actually have a proper source for that.
A standalone VR headset from Valve has been rumoured for a while, maybe this for getting games targeted at Facebook’s Quest to run.
There are lots of high end android games that this would make available, and we could also benefit from apps like Netflix/etc.
I can’t imagine wanting to play a mobile game on Steam Deck… but having access to other native apps sure sounds like a win. Didn’t consider that.
On Bazzite I believe people use Firefox installed as Android app, so they can simply switch to it for game guides etc, while playing a game, in GameScope/Big Screen/GameMode™
I’m too lazy to test, because I just run it as my daily driver on my Desktop.
But you can do the same with a normal desktop Firefox, none of those things prevent you from switching windows to check things. There must be some other reason why it’s run as an Android app.
The android app has native touch support
so does the linux version if you enable the environment variable
Simple to do but not very known by people
Probably because it’s got a better touch interface than desktop
note: I’ve never tried desktop Firefox in a touchscreen device
Android games on Steam Deck.
Right. Okay.
But why?
I have access to Into the Breach and Slay the Spire on Android but not in my Steam library. I’d enjoy first party support in playing them on my Deck.
Ah. Ok, that makes sense!
Does the Android version already have gamepad support, or would it be touchscreen only?
Some games will refuse to work on Linux but their Android port might work. If Valve can make this process seamless, it could be a gamechanger. Example, Genshin Impact, Wuthering Waves etc
genshin already runs on linux, as the anti cheat pressure lessened in genshin in like 3.8.
also the android version of both wuthering waves and genshin do not have controller support, so they would be very bad examples to port to linux
Before the steamdeck came out, I’ve been actually thinking about buying an android handheld console. The fact that the most android games were pay2win convinced me to wait for something better.
However, getting an android app support, that’s reliably set up, by someone else than me, and basically for free would still be nice!