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PC Games on Android: DroidDeck Turns Your Smartphone into a Steam Deck

Devices1 min read

DroidDeck is a free, open-source app that turns a powerful Android phone into a handheld for playing PC games, styled like the Steam Deck. You do not need to change the phone's operating system.

What happened

A heise+ guide tested DroidDeck, an open-source launcher app for Android. It gives your phone a Steam Deck-style screen. With it, you can play PC games, including games from Steam and other game stores. When you close the app, the phone works as a normal phone again. The writers tested it on a Xiaomi Poco F8 Pro with a controller clip-on.

Key facts

  • Supported graphics chips: Qualcomm Adreno 730 and the Adreno 800 series. Older 600-series chips work only in an experimental way.
  • Work is underway to support other chips, such as Arm's Mali.
  • Good results need 12 GB of RAM, or ideally 16 GB.
  • The test phone had a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip with an Adreno 830 graphics unit.
  • The recommended Asus ROG Tessen Mobile Controller costs 120 euros.

Why this is possible

A launcher app changes how your home screen and apps look and open. DroidDeck uses compatibility layers, which are software tools that let PC programs run on a phone. Because the phone's own system stays the same, you can go back to normal use at any time.

Why it matters

A strong Android phone can replace a dedicated gaming handheld, which can cost hundreds of euros. This matters most for people who already own a high-end phone. The guide also notes that touch buttons on the screen cannot fully replace real sticks and buttons, so a controller is a good addition.

What to watch

  • Whether support for more graphics chips, such as Mali, is added.
  • How well older 600-series chips improve beyond experimental use.
  • How smoothly demanding PC games run on phones over longer play sessions.

Glossary

DroidDeck
A free, open-source app that turns an Android phone into a Steam Deck-style game device.
Steam Deck
A handheld gaming computer from Valve that plays PC games.
Adreno
The name of Qualcomm's phone graphics chips, which handle images and games.
Mali
A line of phone graphics chips made by Arm.

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