Waydroid - Android gaming on Steam Deck

[retrogunner]

I did a quick google search and didn't see anything immediately.

Folks need to bring up in the SteamOS development forums about bringing Waydroid (an Andbox fork) to SteamOS.

Waydroid should allow SteamOS to play Android Games that are:
* not available on PC
* for any user that prefers a mobile version over the PC counterparts (some version are different)
* space saving size difference. I've Android versions of PC games that are a fraction (or substantially smaller) than my Steam copies.
* Having a built-in controller for Gaming with the touchscreen
* freeing space on my Android Phone and Tablets to play on a more performant device.

Oh, and of course, raising the demand (and unit sold) of the Steam Deck being the ultimate vertical gaming platform -- which help make it that much more successful.

[Nemesis]

AFAIK android supports x86 so you can theoretically install android on the deck, which i personally if i can get one would do steamos + windows + android triple boot

[retrogunner]

You could do that. Or just dual boot between SteamOS and Windows 11 as it will run Android Apps.

There's so the hassle of making your nvme have multiple partitions, dealing with Windows bootloader, and most importantly, lost drive space due to two or three OSes.

However, the Waydroid solution is so there is no need to leave SteamOS. Waydroid would allow you to run an Android game as though you have a local non-Steam game install ... like Java Minecraft.

There's also the fact that these solutions would only allow you to run x86 Android Apps which are far fewer in numbers than ARM Android apps. I suspect someone would figure out a way to run them via QEMU's ARM core. I've not heard if Windows 11 will run both x86 and ARM Android Apps.

A lot of this is still theory given the community will want to run Android games (ARM & x86) and someone want to make some internet cred by figuring out how to do it. I'm patient so I'll wait to see what works out.

[Darzai]

You don't need another OS for that. Linux is most often used OS to develop android software. In certain configurations it will run Android emulators better than Windows. It has kernel integration for that.

Using Anbox for example, which work in a similar way as Wine (which Proton is based on), creating a compatibility layer. It basically runs Android within a container on linux.
There is Arc Welder, which uses Chrome browser to test android apps.

[Crotor]

Android is based on Linux so it should be possible

[Darzai]

Crotor a écrit :

Android is based on Linux so it should be possible

Android apps don't run natively on linux. That both use a linux kernel is irrelevant. You still need an emulation layer for Android apps on linux.

[badboyec24]

Windows 11 couldn't be used on the Steam Deck since the screen is only 7 inches. Would Windows 10 work for You? I am not tech savvy, so I don't understand how the operating systems works, I just heard that w11 will not work on screens under 10 inches.

[retrogunner]

I wasn't aware of Windows 11 screen size limitation. I'll be using my Steam Deck as-is -- putting my OS mod's and such on the game partition.

Folks will have to wait until Steam Decks start arriving. I would suspect it would only be usable in the Dock mode without Window OS modding - maybe (that's a thin maybe).

Using Alt-DP (alt display port) requires both hardware & OS combination. I've not heard of any BIOS or hardware yet that supports Alt-DP *without* an OS. It might exist, but I personally haven't heard of it (and I've a Linux PinePhone with the Convergence dock with HDMI out).

I wouldn't be surprised if some Windows modders figured out how to get around that limitation as well (and implement a special bootloader & OS resolution scaling - bleh. gross.)

[Nemesis]

badboyec24 a écrit :

Windows 11 couldn't be used on the Steam Deck since the screen is only 7 inches. Would Windows 10 work for You? I am not tech savvy, so I don't understand how the operating systems works, I just heard that w11 will not work on screens under 10 inches.

It is not possible for the os to know physical display size. But who the ♥♥♥♥ needs windows 11 anyway microsoft said win10 is the last windows and it should stay that way this is windows 8 / vista all over again.

[Silence]

badboyec24 a écrit :

Windows 11 couldn't be used on the Steam Deck since the screen is only 7 inches.

retrogunner a écrit :

I wasn't aware of Windows 11 screen size limitation.

The Limitation is not technical, its for OEMs. The Problem is, with this size you need to enable 150% scaling and with 800p some UI elements could be outside of the visible area. On the cheap Windows Tabletts the workaround was to hold the device vertical.

[Nemesis]

Silence a écrit :

badboyec24 a écrit :

Windows 11 couldn't be used on the Steam Deck since the screen is only 7 inches.

retrogunner a écrit :

I wasn't aware of Windows 11 screen size limitation.

The Limitation is not technical, its for OEMs. The Problem is, with this size you need to enable 150% scaling and with 800p some UI elements could be outside of the visible area. On the cheap Windows Tabletts the workaround was to hold the device vertical.

But resolution is resolution, afaik windows doesnt do anything based on the physical size it only cares about resolution and therefore it shouldnt matter if you have a 20 inch screen with 720p or a 5 inch screen with 720p the "ui elements" should occupy the exact same pixels.

[retrogunner]

I don't about Window's determining physical dimension vs resolution, but Linux has done so for a long time. Here's a much older example solution I've had to use for my HDMI monitors https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1461839

I don't believe the Steam Deck will be using HDMI internally but using a DSI connection. I've not used 'xrandr' on a DSI display but I suspect the DSI LCD physical details (dimensions, resolution, timings, etc.) could be inquired as well - as to prevent physically damaging the display.

If Linux can do it, so could Windows, as these are based on industry standards.

[Nemesis]

retrogunner a écrit :

I don't about Window's determining physical dimension vs resolution, but Linux has done so for a long time. Here's a much older example solution I've had to use for my HDMI monitors https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1461839

I don't believe the Steam Deck will be using HDMI internally but using a DSI connection. I've not used 'xrandr' on a DSI display but I suspect the DSI LCD physical details (dimensions, resolution, timings, etc.) could be inquired as well - as to prevent physically damaging the display.

If Linux can do it, so could Windows, as these are based on industry standards.

Hmm seems you are right i found this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_Display_Identification_Data

[Silence]

Nemesis a écrit :

Silence a écrit :

The Limitation is not technical, its for OEMs. The Problem is, with this size you need to enable 150% scaling and with 800p some UI elements could be outside of the visible area. On the cheap Windows Tabletts the workaround was to hold the device vertical.

But resolution is resolution, afaik windows doesnt do anything based on the physical size it only cares about resolution and therefore it shouldnt matter if you have a 20 inch screen with 720p or a 5 inch screen with 720p the "ui elements" should occupy the exact same pixels.

Pixels are not the only parameter. The density is also important and on 7 inch with 800p is high enough that you need image scaling. with this you are outside of it. of course, you could disable the scaling but then all elements are a bit small to read and touch.

[Darzai]

Still don't see the point of installing Windows on Steam Deck to play android games.

[Silence]

Darzai a écrit :

Still don't see the point of installing Windows on Steam Deck to play android games.

Waydroid and Andbox are Linux Packages. Both use Android and let it run on the Kernel that you already using. No Windows is required.