We know that Steam is not on PS4 and PS5. We are aware that Steam is not on Nintendo Switch. But is Steam available on Xbox? This question occupies the minds of numerous Xbox One and Series X|S users.
With Steam being a platform for PC games, it begs the question of whether there is any compatibility with the Xbox. After all, Microsoft is the owner of Windows. They have put a lot of effort into making their games available on PC and consoles. Game Pass is a good example of this.
But that being said, it doesn't automatically mean that Steam would be available for Xbox, as Microsoft doesn't own that particular storefront. So in this article, we'll tell you everything you need to know about Steam on the Xbox. If it's even a thing, that is.
Is Steam on Xbox?
Update (22 April 2024): Phil Spencer and Gabe Newell are reportedly in talks to bring Steam to Xbox. However, as of now, Steam is not available on Xbox.
Steam isn't currently available on the Xbox. At least not as a dedicated app. There are, however, other options, that will allow you to access Steam on your console. One option is to use the Wireless Display App, which mirrors your PC to your Xbox. It will then allow you to use your Xbox controller to play the games as well.
It was discovered that an updated test version of the Microsoft Edge browser on the Xbox enabled users to stream games using GeForce Now. Essentially, this uses your Xbox in the same way you would use a PC. You are basically using it as a web browser, rather than using a dedicated app on the Xbox.
Of course, Microsoft may try to shut down this functionality before it gets rolled out further. It's also worth noting that initially, it didn't make all Steam games playable on Xbox. Just those that support the Xbox controller. But in theory, it worked for both Xbox One and Series X|S users.
More recently, however, it's been found that the Edge browser on Xbox offers support for both mouse and keyboard input. So now, you can potentially even play games that don't offer joypad support. You may experience some issues with latency though, which means this might not be an entirely seamless experience.
Can You Play Steam Games on Xbox?
Officially, Steam games are not available on Xbox. Unless, of course, they are games that have also been released specifically for those consoles. It simply wouldn't make financial sense for Microsoft to allow players to buy games from a 3rd party to play on the Xbox.
But as we noted above, there are ways to use your Xbox to access some games from your Steam library. GeForce Now allows access to Steam, as well as to Epic Games. So if you're happy to use your Xbox to access the Edge web browser, you broaden your options considerably.
As mentioned above, the Wireless Display App does allow you to cast your PC to your console, and play your Steam games that way. While it isn't the same as a native app, it's something. An imperfect solution, but certainly better than nothing. We'll continue to hope for a proper client app to become available. But we won't hold our breath.