Nintendo Switch gains Steam support via latest Proton beta

There's a new Proton update available, and while Valve has released it as a beta update, it brings an important addition. With version 11.0-Beta 1, Proton gains ARM64 support, and a modder has already utilized it to run Steam on the ARM-based Nintendo Switch 1.

Running Windows games on the first-gen Switch isn't anything new, but this Proton beta should make things easier. The modder, @aagaming.me on BlueSky, hasn't tried running any Windows games yet, but has shown that the Steam Linux ARM64 beta runs smoothly on the dated gaming handheld (renewed curr. $213.49 on Amazon).

Speaking of running games, the Proton 11.0-Beta 1 includes FEX-2604 for ARM64EC builds, and as @aagaming.me highlights, the first-gen Nintendo Switch kernel is too old for FEX. So, modders might need to wait for the mainline kernel to see some meaningful changes in terms of gaming.

It's also worth noting that newer ARM-based gaming handhelds, such as the Retroid Pocket 6, can also benefit from this update. @aagaming.me has even offered a "working copy of proton ARM + Steamrt ARM" that users can use through Compatibilitytools.d to run games with this Steam beta client. It will be interesting to see how much of an improvement this method brings over options like GameHub and GameNative.

Valve, however, has pushed this update mainly for the Steam Frame, which is a gaming headset with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This ARM-based device is set to launch soon, and it can act like a standalone gaming headset and run games with compatibility layers.

The beta update also certifies some titles as playable, including Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil, and Warhammer: Vermintide 2. It brings several bug fixes as well, which are all noted in the release note available on Valve's Proton GitHub.

Steam Linux ARM64 beta on Switch

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— aagaming (@aagaming.me) April 17, 2026 at 5:18 AM