Almost a decade has passed since the Chromebooks debuted on the market and, beyond some initial reluctance, it is commendable how they have evolved over the years. Presented as equipment initially intended for the educational market, laptops with Chrome OS are no longer those that were limited to working with web applications, and have achieved a very interesting integration with Android apps. And very soon we would also see them trying to earn their space in the gamer sector.
As published by 9to5Google, references have been found in the Chrome OS code about the possible development of up to three new Chromebooks focused on gaming. But what is truly peculiar about this story is that the discovery was caused by a very specific fact: support for RGB keyboards.
Apparently, Google is working to make its operating system for Chromebooks compatible with RGB backlit keyboards. Internal commands have even been found that allow you to customize the colors and their intensity. But what is really interesting is that this new feature would not have been intended as part of a general release, or so that all Chrome OS computers can use external keyboards with RGB lights. On the contrary, the function would be destined —at first, at least— to a small number of devices not yet released.
Chromebooks would make their attempt in the gamer market
By digging into the Chrome OS code, 9to5Google was able to identify three apparent devices that could be gaming Chromebooks with integrated RGB keyboards. One would appear identified under the code name Vell and would be manufactured by Quanta, a company that develops Chromebooks for different brands. However, the report mentions that there are indications that the device in question belongs to HP.
The other laptop has been referenced as Taniks and would correspond to LCFC, a firm that would manufacture Lenovo equipment. In both cases the laptops would use Intel's Alder Lake processors (twelfth generation); this could place them in the segment of the catalog that the two brands allocate to their gaming computers.
The third hardware mentioned in Chrome OS would not be a Chromebook itself, but a detachable keyboard of sorts. It is mentioned as Ripple, and it is speculated that it could be a 2 in 1 or a tablet also intended for video games.
An effort of years
That Google is targeting the gamer market with Chromebooks is not necessarily new. For years, the Mountain View company has been working to make Chrome OS capable of running a greater number of games; and the main challenge is not to be limited to the Stadia catalog. And there Steam could play a key role in making this a reality.
At the beginning of 2020, the first references to the joint work between Google and Valve appeared to bring their large range of games to Chromebooks. As was known at the time, the project involved the use of a virtual machine in Chrome OS to run Borealis, an Ubuntu-based software that would allow Steam to be run.
However, little else has been known about it since then. Luckily, it seems that the idea still stands and the indications found in Chrome OS about future gamer Chromebooks are —to say the least— hopeful.
