Valve Reportedly Expands SteamOS Compatibility Tools Beyond Proton

Valve is developing additional compatibility layers for SteamOS that go beyond its widely used Proton tool, according to a report published by Ars Technica. The outlet described the new system-level components as an effort to extend SteamOS's reach to hardware and software it has not traditionally supported.

Proton, which Valve built on the open-source Wine project, allows many Windows-only games to run on SteamOS and Linux-based systems. It has become a core part of the Steam Deck's software stack and a key reason the handheld device can play a large share of the PC gaming library.

According to Ars Technica, the newly reported tools are intended to address different technical challenges than Proton does. The report said the additions are aimed at supporting Arm-based chipsets, a departure from the x86 architecture that has dominated PC gaming hardware, as well as enabling compatibility with Android application packages, or APKs.

The report characterized these tools as part of a broader push by Valve to widen the range of devices and software that can operate within the Steam ecosystem. Ars Technica did not specify a release timeline or list of supported devices in the excerpt of its reporting.

Valve has not issued a separate public statement addressing the specifics described in the report. The company has previously used Proton and related compatibility technologies to support the Steam Deck and other SteamOS-based hardware from third-party manufacturers.

Further details on the scope, availability, and technical implementation of the new compatibility layers were not immediately available.