Valve is working on an Android compatibility layer for Linux called Lepton. The project appeared in Steam’s backend database and has been in development for approximately 18 months according to SteamDB records.
Lepton is built on Waydroid. That’s an open-source solution that runs Android applications inside a container on Linux systems. The approach works because Android and conventional Linux distributions both use the Linux kernel as their foundation. It’s similar to the way Proton lets Windows games work on Linux.
The compatibility layer is designed primarily for Steam Frame. That’s Valve’s upcoming standalone VR headset running SteamOS on an ARM-based mobile processor. Valve previously confirmed that Steam Frame will support sideloading Android APK files and that developers can submit Android applications directly to Steam for Frame users.
Waydroid provides near-native performance compared to traditional Android emulation. It integrates Android apps into a Linux desktop environment using Wayland display protocols. The system gives Android applications access to host hardware including GPU and input devices without full system virtualization.
Another compatibility layer for the collection
Steam Deck could also benefit from Lepton. Some games release separate Android and PC versions. The Android build might run more efficiently on Deck’s hardware when the PC version demands too much. Performance overhead should be minimal since the compatibility layer handles API translation rather than CPU instruction emulation.
Valve hasn’t specified whether Lepton will extend beyond Steam Frame initially. The company stated Android apps submitted to Steam will only be available to Frame users at launch. But the infrastructure could theoretically support Android apps on any SteamOS device including future ARM-based hardware.
Lepton expands Valve’s compatibility strategy beyond Proton. Where Proton translates Windows games to Linux, Lepton will translate Android apps to SteamOS. Both projects position SteamOS as a universal gaming platform that can run software from multiple ecosystems without requiring separate hardware or dual-boot configurations.
