Valve's Arm SteamOS Ported to Android Handhelds
Developers have ported Valve's Arm version of SteamOS to Android handhelds like the AYN Odin 2 and Retroid Pocket 6, with mixed game compatibility.
Valve has released an Arm version of SteamOS, and developers going by hashtagbasit and MaSieS4Fun have ported it to Android handhelds. The port can run from a microSD card without wiping internal storage, according to Android Authority.
Supported devices include the AYN Odin 2 family, AYN Thor, Retroid Pocket 6, and AYANEO Pocket ACE, DS, EVO, DMG, and S 2K consoles. Android Authority installed the MaSieS4Fun variant on an AYN Odin 2 Portal and it booted successfully.
Getting the port running requires first installing the Rocknix ABL. In testing, Prodeus ran with variable performance, while Baba is You and Geometry Wars 3 worked after switching Proton versions. Pac-Man Championship Edition DX and Spelunky 2 did not boot.
Background
Valve recently launched the Steam Frame VR headset, which runs on an Arm-based Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. Earlier this year, Android Authority installed the Rocknix Linux distribution on an Android handheld, which includes an official Arm version of Steam.
Quick answers
Which Android handhelds can run the Arm SteamOS port?
Supported devices include the AYN Odin 2 family, AYN Thor, Retroid Pocket 6, and AYANEO Pocket ACE, DS, EVO, DMG, and S 2K consoles.
Does installing the port wipe internal storage?
No, the port can run from a microSD card without wiping internal storage.
What do you need to install first?
Installing the port requires first installing the Rocknix ABL.