Playing Steam Games on FydeOS with Borealis

Last Updated: 2024-10-28

This guide explains how to set up and play Steam games on FydeOS using Borealis. Borealis allows Linux users to run Steam games seamlessly with the help of the Proton compatibility layer.

What is Borealis?

Borealis is a virtual machine based on Arch Linux, created for running Steam games on Chromiu mOS devices. It uses Proton, a compatibility tool built on Wine, to make Windows games compatible with Linux. Currently, Borealis only supports x86-based devices.

Note: Borealis is experimental, and issues may arise, including potential game data loss. Use cautiously.

Compatible FydeOS Versions

Borealis works on the following versions of FydeOS:

• FydeOS for PC, version 16.1 and later
• FydeOS for You, version 16.1 and later

For the best experience with Borealis on Steam, we recommend at least 4GB of RAM (8GB preferred) and over 50GB of free storage. If your device doesn't meet these requirements, performance may be unsatisfactory.

If your FydeOS version is earlier than 16.1, do not proceed with these steps.

FydeOS v19 and Newer: Quick Setup

For FydeOS v19 and above, setting up Steam is much easier:

1. Search for Steam in the menu at the bottom left and open it.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.

If you are using an older version of FydeOS, follow the manual steps below.

Manual Setup for Older Versions

1. Access the bash shell by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T and type sudo -i.

   In FydeOS v17 and openFyde r114 and later, use sudo -i instead of sudo su.

2. Run the following commands to download and install Borealis (this requires approximately 500MB of data):

   mount -o remount,rw /
   wget https://github.com/secretmem/borealis-dlc/releases/latest/download/borealis-dlc.tar.zst -O /tmp/borealis-dlc.tar.zst
   tar -Izstd -xvf /tmp/borealis-dlc.tar.zst -C /
   rm -v /tmp/borealis-dlc.tar.zst

3. Restart your FydeOS device.
4. After rebooting, search for Steam and follow the instructions to complete setup.

Known Issues

• The “System Backup (beta)” feature cannot fully back up Steam data generated via Borealis.
• After an OTA update, you may need to rerun the setup commands to access your Steam client and games.