Some folks have raised the possibility of a more affordable Arm-powered Steam Deck, but we don’t think that’s likely.

Valve’s Proton software makes it possible to play many Windows PC games on computers running Linux-based operating system, including Valve’s own Steam Deck handheld gaming PC.

Valve are likely up to something hardware-related again, report NotebookCheck. Their next chunk of plastic and wires – following the Valve Index, Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED – could swap PC gaming’s favoured x86 architecture for ARM, the type of processor favoured by the Nintendo Switch, Macs, and mobile phones.

Valve is bridging its x86 library with ARM framework support for possible Steam games on mobile. The focus on ARM64 hints at expanded cross-platform support for SteamOS. Speculation includes Steam games on mobile and the potential development of Valve's standalone VR headset.

Proton is Valve's solution for running many Windows games seamlessly on the Linux-based SteamOS. The leaked code shows Valve testing this ARM64 version with a wide

On0, Valve pushed changes to a test application visible on SteamDB indicating a massive list of games being tested with its Proton compatibility layer. Interestingly, there now also seems to be an ARM64 version of Proton,

Valve, which operates Steam, the largest online marketplace for PC games, has worked hard to hedge against the possibility of Microsoft turning Windows into a closed marketplace-Linux gaming is taking off and Valve branched out into hardware to run it.

The Steam Deck might be the most popular Linux PC ever, though you’d be forgiven if you haven’t realized that its SteamOS software is technically Linux. The Proton compatibility layer is the Steam Deck’s special sauce,

Valve may be developing an ARM64 version of Proton for Linux gaming. Hundreds of games, like Left 4 Dead, have been tested for compatibility using a new 64-bit layer. The potential for ARM64-based portable consoles opens exciting new possibilities.