{"slug": "fex", "name": "FEX", "category": "other", "category_name": "Other software", "description": "", "recommenders": 3, "commenters": 4, "warners": 1, "score": 1.945, "rising": 3.0, "first": "2026-09-15", "latest": "2026-10-12", "why": "it plays GTA V and RDR2 almost perfectly, using FEX nonetheless", "why_is_quote": true, "has_verdict": false, "sentiment": {"recommend": 3, "neutral": 0, "compare": 0, "warn": 1}, "spark": [0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 1], "listed": true, "loved": [], "caveat": "", "short_quote": "it plays GTA V and RDR2 almost perfectly, using FEX nonetheless", "icon": false, "domain": null, "github_repo": null, "official_url": "https://fex-emu.com", "pricing": "", "aliases": ["FEX"], "verdict": null, "praise": [{"label": "", "summary": "", "quotes": [{"id": 800833217, "item_id": 50052076, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50052076", "by": "apatheticonion", "date": "2026-10-12", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "FEX lets you run Steam games on phone hardware.", "excerpt": "The lack of polish is a function of the inability to use the hardware. The hardware is tightly gatekept so competition _cannot_ exist. Regulators are the only ones who can force vendors to distribute documentation for and unlock their hardware. Once we can actually target the hardware, open source alternatives will be much better than first party options. You can already see the potential in the open source world. Li", "context": "", "use_case": "running PC games on ARM", "switched_from": "", "story": "Will Linux phones become a viable alternative to the Android/iOS duopoly?"}, {"id": 795356897, "item_id": 49709806, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49709806", "by": "Grisu_FTP", "date": "2026-09-15", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "if i can run that many steam games on my non actively cooled phone already without the frame even being out (Since both use the FEX layer)", "excerpt": "This is everything and much more than i wanted from a VR system, it feels like its designed exactly for me. Also tbh i thought after the steam machine price shock i got that this will be like 200 more. 1. It is SteamOS with desktop mode, the SteamDeck made me really miss that feature on any newer console i use like my ps5 or switch 2. Like even if we just limit it to games, playing games like The Binding of Isaac or ", "context": "", "use_case": "running x86 games on ARM", "switched_from": "", "story": "Steam Frame starts at $1059"}, {"id": 795329504, "item_id": 49708094, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49708094", "by": "sureglymop", "date": "2026-09-15", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "it plays GTA V and RDR2 almost perfectly, using FEX nonetheless", "excerpt": "I think its performance is quite underappreciated. It has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. I have a tiny handheld with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and among many other things it plays GTA V and RDR2 almost perfectly, using FEX nonetheless. And because it's arm, battery life is so much better than on my laptop that I use it as a tiny mini linux laptop now.", "context": "", "use_case": "running x86 games on ARM", "switched_from": "", "story": "Steam Frame starts at $1059"}]}], "caveats": [{"label": "", "summary": "", "quotes": [{"id": 800190515, "item_id": 50011907, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50011907", "by": "0x262d", "date": "2026-10-08", "stance": "warn", "quote": "ran into bugs emulating it with FEX, unfortunately.", "excerpt": "I use the free-tier Oracle server, but: Nextcloud. Minecraft server. I will probably move my Joplin and Wallabag hosting there soon, currently paying for both. I tried running a Valheim server there, but ran into bugs emulating it with FEX, unfortunately.", "context": "", "use_case": "emulating Valheim server on ARM", "switched_from": "", "story": "Ask HN: What do you run on a $5 VPS that's worth keeping online 24/7?"}]}], "who": [], "tags": [], "use_cases": ["running x86 games on arm", "running pc games on arm", "emulating valheim server on arm"], "compared": [], "makers": [], "threads": [{"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49700661", "title": "Steam Frame starts at $1059", "mentions": 2}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50051530", "title": "Will Linux phones become a viable alternative to the Android/iOS duopoly?", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49985548", "title": "Ask HN: What do you run on a $5 VPS that's worth keeping online 24/7?", "mentions": 1}], "sentiment_by_month": {"2025-11": {}, "2025-12": {}, "2026-01": {}, "2026-02": {}, "2026-03": {}, "2026-04": {}, "2026-05": {}, "2026-06": {}, "2026-07": {}, "2026-08": {}, "2026-09": {"recommend": 2}, "2026-10": {"warn": 1, "recommend": 1}}, "quotes": [{"id": 800833217, "item_id": 50052076, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50052076", "by": "apatheticonion", "date": "2026-10-12", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "FEX lets you run Steam games on phone hardware.", "excerpt": "The lack of polish is a function of the inability to use the hardware. The hardware is tightly gatekept so competition _cannot_ exist. Regulators are the only ones who can force vendors to distribute documentation for and unlock their hardware. Once we can actually target the hardware, open source alternatives will be much better than first party options. You can already see the potential in the open source world. Li", "context": "", "use_case": "running PC games on ARM", "switched_from": "", "story": "Will Linux phones become a viable alternative to the Android/iOS duopoly?"}, {"id": 800190515, "item_id": 50011907, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50011907", "by": "0x262d", "date": "2026-10-08", "stance": "warn", "quote": "ran into bugs emulating it with FEX, unfortunately.", "excerpt": "I use the free-tier Oracle server, but: Nextcloud. Minecraft server. I will probably move my Joplin and Wallabag hosting there soon, currently paying for both. I tried running a Valheim server there, but ran into bugs emulating it with FEX, unfortunately.", "context": "", "use_case": "emulating Valheim server on ARM", "switched_from": "", "story": "Ask HN: What do you run on a $5 VPS that's worth keeping online 24/7?"}, {"id": 795356897, "item_id": 49709806, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49709806", "by": "Grisu_FTP", "date": "2026-09-15", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "if i can run that many steam games on my non actively cooled phone already without the frame even being out (Since both use the FEX layer)", "excerpt": "This is everything and much more than i wanted from a VR system, it feels like its designed exactly for me. Also tbh i thought after the steam machine price shock i got that this will be like 200 more. 1. It is SteamOS with desktop mode, the SteamDeck made me really miss that feature on any newer console i use like my ps5 or switch 2. Like even if we just limit it to games, playing games like The Binding of Isaac or ", "context": "", "use_case": "running x86 games on ARM", "switched_from": "", "story": "Steam Frame starts at $1059"}, {"id": 795329504, "item_id": 49708094, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49708094", "by": "sureglymop", "date": "2026-09-15", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "it plays GTA V and RDR2 almost perfectly, using FEX nonetheless", "excerpt": "I think its performance is quite underappreciated. It has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. I have a tiny handheld with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and among many other things it plays GTA V and RDR2 almost perfectly, using FEX nonetheless. And because it's arm, battery life is so much better than on my laptop that I use it as a tiny mini linux laptop now.", "context": "", "use_case": "running x86 games on ARM", "switched_from": "", "story": "Steam Frame starts at $1059"}]}