How To Play Steam Games On AMD Ryzen-based Chromebooks
At AMD, gaming is in our DNA. We have provided gamers with high-performance desktop, notebook, and console processors that enable high frame rates and smooth gaming for decades. Even still, smooth gaming just wasn’t a realistic expectation for a thin and light laptop. Now that has changed thanks to the advancement of AMD process technology. Available now is the newest addition to our gaming portfolio, Chromebooks powered by Ryzen 5000 C-Series. Specifically, we are happy to share that you can now play Steam Games natively on select AMD Ryzen-based Chromebooks.
Google has been working on Steam on Chromebook, and AMD has partnered with Google to qualify select Chromebook systems for the beta release of the program. Steam on Chromebook is an excellent addition to Chromebook gaming and allows local play, even offline. With Steam on Chromebook, you can run a large swath of AAA game titles on select Chromebook systems via Linux. You can even play exciting titles like Portal 2, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Half-Life 2, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Sid Meier's Civilization V, Left 4 Dead 2, and more. There are over 50 titles qualified and available for Steam On Chromebook to date. You can access the complete list of titles, supported device list, and installation instructions here.
Chromebook System Qualifications
Games can be demanding on your Chromebook, so there are a few system qualifications to ensure you have before installing Steam on Chromebook. In partnership with Google, AMD has qualified Chromebooks with AMD Ryzen 7 5825C and AMD Ryzen 5 5625C processors and at least 8GB of RAM to play select Steam Games. The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 with Ryzen 5000 C-Series is a fantastic option that meets the system qualifications and will provide solid gaming performance. It is available for purchase now.
Steam On Chromebook Installation
If you found your AMD Ryzen-based Chromebook on the supported device list, you are just a few installation steps away from playing AAA games. Follow the steps below to install Steam on Chromebook to your Chromebook.
Note: Dev channel is inherently less stable. We don't recommend trying this on a Chromebook you rely on for work, school, or other daily activities before you switch channels and back up your data.
- On your supported Chromebook, switch to Dev channel. The Dev Channel is for features that are still work in progress, like the beta version of Steam on Chromebook.
- After updating, navigate to chrome://flags. Set both #borealis-enabled and #exo-pointer-lock to Enabled.
- After restarting, open a crosh terminal with ctrl+alt+t.
- Type “insert_coin” and hit enter.
- Follow the setup flow to install Steam.
- Log in with your Steam account and start playing!
We recommend trying games from the list above, as not all games currently are fully prepared. Rest assured, we are actively working to support as many titles as possible.
If you encounter issues, check the known issues list here, then file feedback with a description of your problem and "#steam" so we can triage it quickly.
Ryzen 5000 C-Series Gaming Performance On Steam On Chromebook
With Ryzen 5000 C-Series powered Chromebooks, you can expect 60+ FPS on many game titles, which means you'll see a smooth gaming experience throughout your gameplay. Thanks to Ryzen 5000 C-Series fast single-thread performance and enhanced Radeon graphics, you can experience smooth gaming on a thin, light Chromebook all while enjoying long lasting battery life.
If you’re looking for some exciting titles to start with, try Portal 2, Hades, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, World of Tanks Blitz, The Elder Scrolls V: SSE, or Grim Dawn.
