It is possible that you will be able to play computer games on your mobile in the future, and all thanks to Valve

Valve has taken a significant step by investing in emulation technology for Arm-based devices, a move that comes with the announcement of its first device using an Arm chip: the Steam Frame. This device will implement the FEX emulator, an open-source tool initially developed by Valve, which could facilitate the execution of PC games on mobile devices and tablets without the need for specific adaptations.

Valve has been funding technology

The FEX project began under the guidance of Valve, which has been funding its development from the start, as confirmed by Pierre-Loup Griffais, an engineer at Valve, in an interview with The Verge. Griffais emphasized that they started exploring the potential of Arm in 2016, acknowledging that it would require nearly a decade of work to create robust and reliable technology for developers. This approach has led Valve to seek alternatives that avoid the mistakes of the past, such as the limited game library that affected the original Steam Machines.

FEX is not only designed for internal use by Valve; it also aims to become an open resource that other developers can adapt for their needs. Ryan Houdek, a member of the FEX team, thanked Valve for the trust placed in him to lead this effort, emphasizing the desire to make the tool available for a wide range of applications.

Although Valve seems to be focusing on living room, portable, and desktop devices, it has left open the possibilities that its development in emulation could also impact the mobile realm. While it is still unclear whether the company has specific ambitions in this sector, the work they are doing could be a precursor to a future where playing Windows titles on mobile devices becomes an unprecedented reality.

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