Chrome OS Changes Hint at Gaming Chromebooks and Tablet; Details Here

Jan. 29, 2022

Chromebooks have gained a ton of popularity in the market in the recent past, especially after the inception of the Coronavirus-led pandemic. The Chrome OS-powered devices are great for digital learning and working from home and come at affordable prices. However, Google is now aiming to take Chromebooks to the next level as the Mountain View giant is currently working on developing gaming-focused Chromebooks to cater to the lucrative gaming market.

Is Google Working on Gaming Chromebooks?

9to5Googlereportsthat Google has been working on enabling support for Steam and other Linux-supported PC games on Chromebooks as part of a projectcodenamed Borealis. As a result, the company has started making small changes to Chrome OS that hint at gaming-focused features.

According to the report, Google has recentlystarted working to enable the support for full-color RGB keyboards in Chrome OS. With this, users will be able to customize individual keys with RGB lighting to create different-colored backlit keyboards. Currently, the feature exists as aninternal commandfor Chrome OS devs to test it out.

Now, one might think that Google is enabling support for RGB keyboards for customizing external RGB-based gaming keyboards that connect to Chrome OS devices. However, with further investigation, it was discovered that Chrome OS’s RGB support will only be available for a select few unreleased devices, hinting at future gaming Chromebooks and a Chrome OS-powered gaming tablet.

Coming to which companies might launch gaming Chromebooks in the future, the report suggests that there are hardware codenames associated with the RGB feature – Vell, Taniks, and Ripple. While Vell and Taniks will be reportedly based on Intel’s 12th-Gen Alder Lake laptop processors, Ripple seems to be an internal codename for laptop or tablet with a detachable keyboard, as per the report.

Furthermore, it suggests that Vell and Taniks Chromebook models could possibly launch underHP’s Omen series and Lenovo’s Legion seriesof laptops. Ripple, on the other hand,hints at a gaming-focused tablet device, much like the latestAsus ROG Flow Z13.

Now, it is worth mentioning that these are very early indications of gaming Chromebooks. Hence, we’d suggest you take the information with a grain of salt and wait for Google or other manufacturers to unveil gaming-focused Chromebooks in the future. So, stay tuned for further updates and let us know your thoughts on gaming Chromebooks in the comments below.

A geek at heart, you’ll find me fidgeting with an iOS device or sitting in front of the laptop, scouring the internet to find interesting technological innovations. In my free time, you’d find me playing Valorant or listening to Pink Floyd.