Valve is creating Lepton, an Android compatibility layer for Linux called, aimed at running Android applications on SteamOS devices. The project, based on the open-source Waydroid, appears targeted primarily at the upcoming Steam Frame VR headset. It builds on Valve's strategy to expand gaming compatibility across platforms.
Valve's Lepton project emerged in Steam's backend database, with records indicating development has been underway for approximately 18 months. Spotted by GamingOnLinux on SteamDB, Lepton is built on Waydroid, an open-source container-based solution that enables Android apps to run on Linux systems. Both Android and Linux share the Linux kernel, allowing Waydroid to provide near-native performance by integrating apps into the Linux desktop environment using Wayland protocols. This grants Android applications access to host hardware, including GPU and input devices, without full virtualization.
Lepton mirrors Valve's Proton layer, which translates Windows games for Linux, by handling API translation for Android apps rather than emulating CPU instructions, thus minimizing performance overhead. The compatibility layer is primarily designed for Steam Frame, Valve's standalone VR headset powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and running SteamOS on an ARM-based processor. Valve has confirmed that Steam Frame will support sideloading Android APK files, allowing developers to submit Android applications directly to Steam for Frame users without additional porting efforts.
A Valve engineer, Jeremy Salan, previously told The Verge that the VR headset would support Android games, enabling the use of the same APKs from phones. This aligns with recent additions to the Steamworks SDK, which now includes support for Android and Linux Arm, added a couple of weeks ago. Steam Frame is set to launch in early 2026 alongside a new Steam Machine and Steam Controller.
While initially focused on Steam Frame, Lepton could extend to other SteamOS devices like the Steam Deck, where Android game versions might run more efficiently on its hardware for titles with demanding PC counterparts. Valve has not specified broader support, noting that Android apps submitted to Steam will launch only for Frame users. This positions SteamOS as a versatile gaming platform capable of handling software from multiple ecosystems.