Sick of SteamOS and want to try something different? YouTuber ED4T has managed to get Android working natively on the Steam Deck.
What’s going on here then? As you may know, it is possible to emulate Android on the Steam Deck by installing Windows 11 then using one of the many Android emulation suites available. This isn’t the route ED4T has gone, though. Instead, ED4T went with a custom version of Android by the name of Bliss OS and installed it on a microSD card. As it’s possible to choose which operating system the Steam Deck boots, it’s just a case of burning the Android image to an SD card and selecting it from the boot menu. Pretty cool, right?
Check out the video below to see Android running on the Steam Deck. ED4T also included a guide to get the operating system up and running.
Before you get too excited, it’s worth noting Android on the Deck currently can’t run any high-end, demanding games. If it’s low-spec stuff like Candy Crush Saga, that should be fine. But more powerful games like Call of Duty Mobile currently crash upon loading them.
What is impressive is just how smooth the actual Android operating system works outside of games. Everything moves as it should and, more importantly, Bliss OS registers the Steam Deck’s controls, Bluetooth functionality, and it even charges without any issues.
While full Android gaming may be off the table right now, the fact so much works with minimal effort is a good sign. I’d wager this is one project to definitely keep an eye on if you fancy testing out Android emulation or have been looking for a way to play Fortnite natively on the Steam Deck. It’ll be the Android version, of course, but if your broadband can’t support cloud streaming, this may be the next best option.
