Wube Software gave Factorio something players have been asking for 11 years - a full ARM64 Linux port to play anywhere, which is ready for the Steam Frame.
It is already available and shipping on Steam, you just need to currently be in the Experimental Beta updates branch. They're also doing a standalone ARM64 Linux download direct from their website - you can even link your Steam account up to get access to it. So you can play it across any ARM64 system.
Writing in a wordy technical blog post on the official site they go over how it was fully ported, and Valve sent over two development kits to ensure they could get it done. On the CPU side they showed the Native port ran about 11% faster than running through FEX (the x86 and x86-64 emulator for Arm64 Linux funded by Valve) but they were still very impressed with what FEX could do.
As for how it plays:
"2D games running on the Frame do not have access to VR features, so Factorio largely plays the same as it does on the Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch. However, even when in gamepad mode, Factorio will still respond to mouse movements and clicks, which happens to synergize well with the Frame's laser mouse. I have found it very convenient to toggle the laser mouse when using selection tools or clicking rapidly through GUI elements. And, of course, you can connect your Steam Controller to get a very Steam Deck-esque trackpad experience, or even connect a mouse and keyboard to play traditionally!"
They did have some trouble as the "infrastructure for native ARM64 Linux games" isn't fully sorted yet it seems, so they did a clever workaround shipping both platform binaries to all players and just using a script to launch the correct one depending on the platform you're actually playing on.
Factorio is Steam Frame Verified for standalone play.
They also teased that now you can play natively on the Raspberry Pi too, although performance may not be great. And also on Asahi Linux too for MacBooks with the M series processors.
See more from me
You can also find comments for this article on social media: 
hardpenguin 18 Sep 2026
Developers, port more games to arm64, please!
Quoting: TevurHmm... what about the GOG version?What about it? Grab it directly from the Factorio website.
Quoting: sarmadI have a feeling Steam Deck 2 will be ARM based. Is it just me?Possible mix of both x64 and arm maybe?
Aside from that, I think Wube accumulating esperience on arm it's very promising for their future title, it opens so many possibilities!
EDIT: I see they even mention running the game with FEX in the blog post
On the CPU side, performance of the native ARM64 build is about 11% faster than the x86 build running via FEXVery cool.
Last edited by WorMzy on 19 Sep 2026 at 3:28 pm UTC
rustybroomhandle 19 Sep 2026
Quoting: MalGenuine question. Raw power aside (since factorio enthusiasts love to build wide and push the CPU to the limit), is it really enjoyable to play with the frame? Never used one but I have this impression that vr controls are more tiring than m+k or just a regular controller. I can't think why a non vr title would be played on vr if one has a regular setup availableI sometimes play flat games inside VR, streamed from my main PC using Moonlight. My headset has pretty decent resolution, so I get the illusion of a massive curved screen in front of me. I play these with a regular gamepad. I would sometimes lie on my back and play like that with the virtual screen above me.
Quoting: rustybroomhandleI would sometimes lie on my back and play like that with the virtual screen above me.Oh. I've always assumed that that would be very uncomfortable due to the back part of the head mount.
Quoting: TehFreekAh, I see. You can register there with your GOG Multi Player Serial Key and claim a copy from there? Because the site states "Steam key"Quoting: TevurHmm... what about the GOG version?What about it? Grab it directly from the Factorio website.
Quoting: TevurYou can buy and download (BS free archives, if nothing changed) directly from them + Steam key just a bonus.Quoting: TehFreekAh, I see. You can register there with your GOG Multi Player Serial Key and claim a copy from there? Because the site states "Steam key"Quoting: TevurHmm... what about the GOG version?What about it? Grab it directly from the Factorio website.
Last edited by mindedie on 20 Sep 2026 at 8:11 am UTC
Patreon
PayPal